LIZTON – Without conference implications, North Montgomery and Tri-West began preparations for sectional action next week in what soccer fans would call a friendly.
As much as there can be a baseball friendly, it was the Bruins with a 6-4 win over the Chargers.
After an 11-inning affair Monday at North, and with TW having clinched the Sagamore Conference outright championship, the intensity wasn’t quite there for either team, but with playoffs around the corner, both coaches wanted game practice over anything else.
As it was, the Bruins took advantage of nine walks and four hit batters to get three runs in the third to take a lead, and then came back with a run to tie it in the fourth after the Chargers got one.
The home team, who moves to 18-5 overall and 12-1 in the conference, got the last two, go-ahead runs in the fifth, and turned things over to their bullpen.
“It just came down to pitching tonight,” North coach Matt Voorhees said. “We emphasize making the fewest mistakes possible. We played well defensively, but those nine walks and four hit batters are mistakes. We just weren’t pounding the strike zone. We couldn’t find the plate consistently.”
Jarrad Kirsch started for the Chargers and went three innings. The ace of the staff was on limited duty with sectionals around the corner.
“We wanted to limit him,” Voorhees said of his junior. “Getting him more rest for next week was more important than tonight.”
Roman Utterback came in for the fourth inning, and went two innings, but gave up the lead and picked up the loss. Corbin Meadows came in to pitch the last inning.
Overall, the three gave up six hits and struck out eight.
“We were flat tonight,” Voorhees said, as his team falls to 14-11 on the season and 8-5 in the Sagamore. “After 11 innings last night, and with championship to play for, we just didn’t bring enough energy. Congratulate Tri-West however, their pitchers did a good job, and they are conference champs for a reason.”
The Bruins boss agreed.
“We are just a team that finds ways to win,” second-year coach Nick Spence said. “We didn’t have a lot of energy after the big game last night, but just like all year, we got a pitch when we needed, a hit when we needed. We managed to take advantage of some of those walks and hit batters, and made some plays in the field.”
The Chargers scored in the first when Kirsch reached on an error. He moved up on a Brookes Walters hit and scored on a wild pitch.
Utterback scored the first of his two runs in the second with the first of his two hits. The junior, who also had a pair of hits in the Monday loss, singled and scored in the fourth. Kirsch drove him in in the second and Dyson got the RBI in the fourth with a bases-loaded walk.
The Chargers fourth run was scored by Austin Sulc, who doubled and scored in the fourth.
Tri-West was led at the plate by Reid Benner with two runs scored. The hero of the 11th inning Monday, the senior walked three times. Jack Catt had a pair of RBI with a single in the fifth, and reached base two more times by getting hit.
“Four of the six runs Tri-West scored were by guys who were walked or hit,” Voorhees pointed out.
The Bruins used three pitchers as well, after using their ace, Isaac Pierson, to get the win Monday at North.
They started Chase Holland and the junior went into the fourth inning, giving up all four North runs. Lucas Kirby, who also threw an inning Monday, went another inning Tuesday, and closed the door on a bases-loaded threat by the Chargers. Brady White threw the last three innings without allowing a hit.
“These are competitive pitchers,” Spence said. “They kept us in it, and our bats got us a couple runs. We are at 18 wins now – I’m hoping we can find a way to a 20-win season.”
Both teams have plenty of baseball left before the playoffs.
The Bruins have a game with Brebeuf Wednesday, at WeBo Friday and then play Crawfordsville in the first game of the tournament next Wednesday at C’ville.
The Chargers are home against Central Catholic Thursday, travel to South Friday and then host Greencastle Monday before taking on state-ranked Western next Wednesday.
“I just want to give Dylan Braun a hug shoutout,” Voorhees said of his senior catcher. “He caught 18 innings in the last 24 hours, and he has done such a superb job. It’s great to see Roman (Utterback) get those four hits. He is a real threat on the bases, so getting him on is big. He has improved so much through the season. We have three left, and we need to use all three as good primers for next Wednesday.”
