Knoch's Alex Altmire celebrates with the bench after hitting a leadoff triple in the top of the seventh inning to launch a rally against Freeport that forced extra innings Thursday afternoon. Knoch scored two runs in the top of the ninth and hung on for a 6-5 win to clinch the outright section title.

FREEPORT — A missed opportunity for Freeport led to a golden one for Knoch and the Knights made sure to cash in.

The Yellowjackets had runners on second and third base with no outs in the bottom of the eighth of a 4-4 game Thursday afternoon, but Knoch relief pitcher Lance Cotton managed his best Houdini imitation, escaping the jam with no damage done of the scoreboard.

In the next half inning, Knoch received a two-out double from Ethan Sloane before a throwing error allowed him to score the go-ahead run. Ben McMillen then stroked an RBI-single that plated Evan Wynn with what turned out to be the winning run in the Knights' 6-5 extra-inning victory at Freeport Community Park.

The win clinches the Section 1-4A title outright for Knoch (14-1, 13-1), whose only loss to date was a 5-3 setback to the 'Jackets in mid-April.

Cotton allowed a solo home run to Ben Beale in the bottom of the ninth, but the 'Jackets could not score the tying run.

Read the full story in Friday's Butler Eagle.