MADISON — Opportunity knocked. No one answered, so it knocked again.
And again. And again. And again.
Finally, in the top of the 14th inning of what turned out to be a marathon affair between Big Eight Conference baseball rivals Middleton and host Madison Memorial May 29 at Mansfield Stadium, the Cardinals came to the door.
Catcher Tyler Vogt drew a two-out walk, his fourth base on balls of the contest, stole second and third, then scored the winning run on an error.
Relief pitcher Brody Kalscheur slammed the door in the bottom half, working around a pair of walks to preserve a 4-3 victory.
“It was a close call. I probably should have fouled that one off, but at least it worked out,” Vogt said of taking the full-count pitch that got him aboard.
Then the wheels were in motion.