Bradford Majors cruise past Warren, 11-2
Playing as the visitors, Bradford leapt out to a 6-0 lead after the first inning. Eli Haynoski led things off with a single to third base. Center fielder Maddon Splain singled in the second spot then Magnus Miller crushed a double to plate Haynoski and Splain for a 2-0 game.
Batting cleanup, Kohen Pantuso patiently drew a full count and then the walk to put two runners on when second baseman Jameis Furlong came to the plate with two outs. The count full once more, Furlong cracked a roller back through the middle infield for a two-run single.
Big-hitter Michael Ferchak and third-baseman Bentlee Confer both walked on four straight balls. Catcher Caleb Weart came to bat and ripped a single to score both Ferchak and Furlong. Confer would be left on base, but Bradford had already posted a 6-0 advantage after its half of the first.
Warren responded with one run in the bottom of the first, as a couple of errors in the field allowed the coin-flip home team to grab a run against the dominant Eli Haynoski on the mound for Bradford.
To start the second, Kaiden Christjohn walked, Haynoski singled and Splain tagged a base knock to load the bases. An errant throw saw Christjohn and Haynoski cross home for an 8-1 game, while Splain advanced to third. He would score on a passed ball just a few pitches later, making it 9-1 BRLL.
Both teams went scoreless in the third, despite a triple raked into right field by Ferchak in Bradford’s half. BRLL would, however, add a run in both the fourth and fifth.
With one out in the top of the fourth, Christjohn grounded out to plate Weart, who had earlier reached on a hard-hit single.
Then with two outs in the fifth, Pantuso crushed a line-drive solo home run over the center field fence for an 11-1 game, his teammates waiting appreciatively at the plate after he trotted ’round the other bases.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth, Furlong came on in relief and surrendered a line drive into right field that scored one, but promptly drew a grounder to Weart, then at third base, for the fielder’s choice third out.
Both squads were scoreless in the sixth for the 11-2 final.
“I was extremely proud of how the kids played,” said BRLL Head Coach Eric Haynoski. “When you practice as hard as these kids have the last few weeks it slows the game down. They are prepared for just about every situation and have shown that in the last two games.”
Haynoski threw three innings for Bradford, allowing one hit, striking out seven and walking none. Brock Crappio fired one and two-thirds innings, giving up no hits, striking out three and walking three. Furlong closed things out over one and one-third innings, allowing one hit, striking out one and walking one.
Haynoski, Splain and Weart led BRLL at the plate, each going 2-for-3, while Miller, Furlong and Weart collected two RBI each. Haynoski, Splain and Pantuso each crossed home twice, and Ferchak and Confer both collected a pair of free passes.
Warren drops into the elimination bracket and will host Potter/McKean at 6 p.m. Thursday, while Brookville hosts Punxsutawney.
In the winner’s bracket, Bradford (2-0) advances to play at 4 p.m. Saturday at DuBois.
“We have a mighty battle against DuBois Saturday,” Coach Haynoski said, “but the other coaches and I will make sure that our kids are ready.”
