Playing with

Playing with “J. G.”on their hats, the BSS Bruins beat the New Berlin Pretzels by a score of 6-4. The team dedicated the win to John Gonterman.

Greg Larson was the winning pitcher, tallying 8 strike-outs. Hats off to Larson who has racked up both of the Bruins wins. Jacob Wear came in late in the 6^th inning to relieve Larson. Given the ball with the bases loaded, Wear struck out the Pretzels’ big hitter to retire the side and then struck out three of the last five Pretzel batters to seal the win for the Bruins.

The twelve strikeouts helped the Bruins through what at times turned out be a handful of defensive muffs. There were, however, highlights. Shortstop Wear had two putouts to first. Second baseman Joey Huddleston had one putout to first and a good stop in the 3^rd inning on a tough grounder. Larsen had three putouts to first base and one to second base. First baseman John VonBehren made a good catch on a foul ball to his far left. The second inning saw Tom Newell make a tough stop of a hard hit ball to third. David Wasser and Newell did the job behind the plate.

Offensively the Bruins bats came alive. The 1^st inning saw Newell single and Wear smack a double to center, but the Bruins couldn’t score. In the 3^rd inning, the Bruins sparked. Dhabalt and Katalinich singled. Newell walked and Wasser singled as BSS started racking up the runs. Wear and Larsen followed with good hits to keep the runs going. Casey Sheehan drew a walk and Huddleston put a single to right. The Pretzels’ fielding finally caught up with the Bruins but not before BSS had put 5 runs on the board to overcome an early 2-0 Pretzel lead. The 4^th inning saw Brooks Fortune lead off with a good hit to right field followed by Newell and Wasser hits, but the Bruins could not push any runs home. Sheehan started off the 5^th inning with single and was driven in by a Huddleston triple to center field. Joey’s three-bagger was erased on a judgment call by the umpire as to whether second base was touched; but notwithstanding, it was a great hit and it gave the Bruins an extra insurance run. Jack Duncan also had a good 5^th inning hit to right but Jack was “robbed” by a diving catch by the Pretzel right fielder. The Pretzels closed the gap to 2 runs in the top of 6^th inning. The Bruins looked like they were going to keep the Pretzels tied up as Fortune lead off the bottom of the 6^th with a nice double to center, but the Bruins couldn’t score. Fortunately, Wear brought the Bruins home in the 7^th, stranding Pretzel runners on the corners. [P.S. Stay tuned for further adventures of the Wear “bat throw”; or as some would say, “Whoa Jacob, what did you ever do to that umpire?”]

Next IESA game is a doubleheader Saturday at Schlitt against St. Aloyisious. Our first SRD games 6 p.m. Thursday at Schlitt against Little Flower. Come out and enjoy the games !!