This Friday, May 15, the varsity boys’ baseball team fell to the Ballard Bruins in a game that ended with the invocation of mercy rule.
The night began with a recognition of the team’s four seniors: Kaden Bauman (#1, 12), Anthony Holt (#4, 12), Wes Cameron (#5, 12) and Jacob Sanford (#29, 12). Each player was escorted by their family members.
First inning:
The first inning began with Manual on the mound. Nolan Taylor (#8, 9) was pitching. The Bruins were able to make it to third base on their first hit. When the second Ballard player went to bat, he hit the ball but got out. The Bruins managed to get a run. Not long after, they struck out.
In the bottom of the first, Cameron was the first to bat, and he struck out. Preston Jolly (#32, 11) went to bat, and hit the ball, but the Bruins caught it and got him out. Next up was Aiden Jenkins (#12, 11), who got to first base. Bauman went to bat next and also got to first base. However, as Sanford went to bat, Bauman attempted to steal a base and got out. The first inning concluded 1-0, with the Bruins leading.
Second inning:
Taylor was pitching again, and the first Bruins player struck out. The next Ballard player made it to first base, and shortly after attempted to steal second. Cameron was able to catch the ball and get the Bruins out.
Sanford went to bat and hit the ball but was out before he could make it to first. Soon after, Christian Brandt (#27, 11) got out in the same manner. Next up was Holt, who was able to make it to first base. Jaiden Greenwell (#18, 10) went to bat and made it to first base as well. Shortly after, the Crimsons got their third out, and the inning concluded 2-0.
Third inning:
In the third inning, Lewis Mather (#38, 11) was pitching and the first Bruin at bat struck out. The second Bruin made it to first, as did the Bruin who batted after him. One of the Bruin players stole a base and made it to third. The next Ballard player in the lineup got a walk, and the Bruins got a run. Soon after, Bauman caught the ball and was able to get the Bruins out.
Mather was first to bat for the Crimsons, and he struck out. Cameron followed and made it to first base. Jolly was next, and he got out. Soon after, Jenkins struck out, and the inning was over, 3-0.
Fourth inning:
Holt pitched for the fourth inning. The first Bruins player at bat got a walk, and another Bruins player hit the ball and ran to first. Following this, another player got a hit, and the two Bruins on base were able to run home. Shortly after, Ballard got another run, and then a fourth run. Daniel Nemes (#8, 9) took over the pitcher’s mound, and the Bruins got another run. Not long after, Cameron helped get the Bruins two outs, and their third out followed shortly.
Bauman was first at bat, and he made it to first base. Shortly after, Sanford got a walk. Following this, Brandt, Holt and Greenwell all struck out. The inning finished with a score of 8-0.
“There’s no way to defend a walk. So, the more free bases we give them, we’re just putting ourselves in a hole. And I think if we’re gonna make a run in the postseason, we’ve got to have our pitchers throw strikes and it starts there,” said head coach Ryan Blackwell.
Fifth inning:
Brady Hemmerle (#10, 9) pitched the fifth inning. The first Bruin struck out. Sanford caught the next hit and got the Bruins out. A few plays later, however, the Bruins were able to get two consecutive runs. Soon after, the Bruins struck out, and the Crimsons returned to bat.
Kaden McCormick (#9, 10) was the first at bat and quickly struck out. Cameron got a walk. Jolly and Jenkins were next, and they both struck out. The game concluded after this inning with a score of 10-0, as a result of the mercy rule.
“You know, disappointed that we sent our seniors out this way, but I have a good feeling that they won’t let it happen again, that we’ll make a run here, and we’ll turn the page on Wednesday,” Blackwell said.
“Big disappointment for sure, but it definitely gives us things we need to work on as we head into the postseason,” Sanford said.
The Crimsons next game is the KHSAA Region seven tournament. Their opponent is not yet set but it will be the winner between the Atherton Raven or the Eastern Eagles. The game will take place at Derby City Field and is set to start at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20.
