The Parsons Project: Unity two-hole hitter delivers key hit in win over QND

Published 11:12 pm Wednesday, May 20, 2026

QUINCY — Mendon Unity had twice taken the lead, only to see Quincy Notre Dame tie the game up going into the seventh inning of Wednesday’s baseball game at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield.
The Mustangs once again took the lead in the top of the seventh inning when Asher Gray drove in Sawyer Allen, but Unity two-hole hitter Elijah Parsons knew his team needed more runs.
“We had men on base, so I wanted to get them in,” said Parsons. “I didn’t want to get to a position where I would see curveball, so I just jumped on the first pitch because I saw it well.”
With the bases loaded, Parsons came through with a clutch three-RBI double to clear the bases and take a four-run lead.
Those insurance runs proved vital because QND scored one run in the bottom half of the seventh, and Parsons’ hit secured a 8-5 win for the Mustangs.
“We talk about battling with guys on base,” said Unity head coach Tyler McAllister. “This has been one of the most complete offensive teams we’ve had, where in the past the top of the lineup has really been our go-to and the bottom just kind of fills it out. That’s not us now. We can hit from top to bottom, and the guys battle.”
Unity’s lineup finished with 12 hits, and the Raiders did not help their own cause by making four errors.
“They had us down for four errors, but I think I counted eight errors,” said QND head coach Rich Polak. “You can’t win any games with eight errors. Now, they swung the bat pretty good today. We were leaving pitches over the middle. We didn’t walk as many as we normally do, but (Unity) put some good swings on it and we didn’t make the plays.”
The Mustangs got on the board in the second inning when Jayce Huntley singled home Allen, and pushed another runner across the plate in the third when Adler Gray drove in Ayden Wittler.
QND tied it up in the bottom of the third after Rowan Stegeman singled to score Jayce De Jaynes and Kaden Marth.
“That was a big swing for Rowan in that inning,” said Polak. “That was big. It brought us up to 2-2.”
That did not phase Unity as they took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning when Adler Gray drew a bases loaded walk, but the Mustangs had their next three batters retired and stranded the bases loaded.
Unity then added another run in the sixth after Carter Rolando hit a sac fly to score Wittler.
“We knew that we were never out of this game and we could easily win,” said Parsons.
The highlight of the game for QND is when Tyler Goestenkers hit a two-run home run in his first varsity at bat to tie the game 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth.
“We brought him up last week from JV,” said Polak. “He had a great year down there and his BP has been really good. It was just an opportunity to get him in there and get a swing before postseason. He put a good barrel on it and he did what he was needed to do.”
The one-two punch of Frese and Parsons at the top of Unity’s lineup provided the punch in Wednesday’s win.
Frese went 3-for-4 with a walk, double and four runs, while Parsons went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a stolen base.
“Avery and Elijah got back on track,” said McAllister. “They’ve had a couple of rough games hitting wise, so it’s nice to see them get back on track. We know it’s there for Elijah, so we’re not taking him out of the two-hole because we know his ability level and he showed it today. It was good to see.”
Adler Gray got the start and had a no decision after pitching three-plus innings with two strikeouts, while allowing five walks, two hits and one earned run.
Allen got the win after pitching three innings in relief with four strikeouts, while allowing three hits, no walks and one earned run. Frese pitched the seventh inning in relief and had two strikeouts and allowed two hits.
“Our pitchers battled their butts off,” said McAllister. “It’s a situation where that’s a good team, top to bottom of the lineup wise, they can do a lot of things. We came into the game and wasn’t sure who’s going to throw later based on the situation. Sawyer was ready to go. Avery was supposed to pitch tomorrow, but he wanted the baseball today. So nice to see the competitive fire in those guys and wanting the baseball.”
QND starting pitcher Eli Johnson also had a no decision after pitching four-plus innings with eight strikeouts, while allowing two earned runs.
“Eli was okay,” said Polak. “I didn’t think he had his great stuff today. He only walked one. His velo wasn’t were it normally is. He hasn’t pitched since Camp Point, so it’s been 11 days since he’s pitched. We had a lot of games that were rained out, so I’m not making excuses for him. He couldn’t find his rhythm.”
Samuel Klauser pitched a scoreless fifth inning in relief with one strikeout. Marth was tagged with the loss after pitching two innings with two strikeouts, while allowing five hits, one walk and two earned runs.
Up next for Unity (11-7) is a home game against Barry Western at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The Mustangs will host Camp Point Central in the regional semifinal at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
“Senior night tomorrow at home against Western, and we play Camp Point in the regionals on Wednesday,” said McAllister. “Hopefully we can get a third one there next week for the title game, but we’ll see what happens.”
Up next for QND (13-16) is their regional quarterfinal game against Beardstown at 1 p.m. on Monday, which will be held at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield.
“We’ll have the regional game against Beardstown, and they’re going to come in and give us a good challenge,” said Polak.