HOLMES TOWNSHIP — Twice, Huron used big innings to grab substantial leads against Wynford.

But both times, the Royals came storming back, setting up late game heroics for Wynford star Grant McGuire.

Trailing 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Royals loaded the bases with two outs with McGuire coming to the plate.

Huron decided to pitch to McGuire, and it proved to be a fatal mistake.

The Wynford senior lined a double to right-center, scoring all three base runners as the Royals overcame two large deficits to beat the Tigers, 9-8, Monday night.

The game was Wynford’s season opener.

McGuire said that, as he stepped into the batter’s box, he was hoping to keep the comeback alive.

“I didn’t want to do anything too big,” McGuire said. “Bases loaded and they decided to pitch to me so they gave me what I could handle, and I did the job.”

The key hit finished a Wynford comeback that saw the Tigers build two big leads in the game.

“Huron is a really good team, and they were throwing their ace,” Wynford manager Tom Smith said. “We gave them three right away and came back and tied it up and had another bad inning and they got the lead. But these guys came back and got the runs we needed late in the game.”

Huron held a 3-0 lead after two innings and scored five times in the top of the sixth, taking an 8-3 lead entering the bottom of the sixth.

But the Royals scored twice in the sixth and four more times in the bottom of the seventh to finish the comeback win.

“That’s a good win,” McGuire said. “They’re D2 now so that will look good on our record.”

Huron nicked Wynford starter, sophomore Jackson Rayborn, for a run in the first and two more in the second.

But the Royals came back and scored three times in the third to square things. Kaiden Blair doubled to open the frame before Drew Johnson added a run-scoring single and Landon Miller had a run-scoring ground out.

The game stayed that way until the sixth when the Tigers appeared to break the game open with five runs off Wynford left hander, junior Hunter Routson.

Wynford, however, didn’t quit, scoring two in the bottom of the inning off Huron reliever, Donny Hartley.

The Royals got a single from Spencer Miller before getting a two-run single from Johnson, who finished with three RBI in the game. Wynford cut the lead to 8-5 entering the seventh.

After Routson set down Huron in the seventh, the Royals finished the comeback.

Collin Hulsmeyer singled and Brett Crall walked before Wes Prenger laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases with no outs.

Blair walked to force in a run to set the stage for McGuire’s heroics.

“We have a lot of young guys; we had two new pitchers throw today and they kept taking the lead on us and these guys never quit, they kept coming back. It was a good win,” Smith said.

Rayborn worked five innings, permitting four runs on five hits. Routson came away with the win.

Huron starter Landon Hobler worked five innings. He allowed three runs on five hits. Hartley suffered the loss.

“That’s a good team that we played so that’s a good win for us,” Smith said.”

Box score

Huron         120 005 0         8      12        2

Wynford     003 002 4         9       10        4

WP: Hunter Routson (0 SO, 3 W)

LP: Donny Hartley (1 SO, 2 W)

HR: None.

Triples: None.

Doubles: (W) Kaiden Blair, Grant McGuire.

Multiple hits: (H) Tommy Ray, Sam Cox.

Records: Huron 0-2; Wynford 1-0.

Next: Tiffin Calvert at Huron, Tuesday; Seneca East at Wynford, Tuesday.