Sept18

Revenging Monday’s one-run loss, the Blessed Sacrament Bruins took the first round IESA regional game from Springfield Christian with a very convincing 11-3 win.

The score book told the tale: 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 4-2, 6-2, 11-3. Tom Newell pitched a tremendous complete game, allowing only fours while striking out 12 of the 32 batters he faced.

Newell’s finest hour came in the sixth inning. A tired Newell walked the first two CES batters. The third CES batter reached base on a fielders choice, scoring one run, as shortstop Tyler Casper tossed to second baseman Joey Huddleston to get the first out on the lead runner. Newell then struck out the next batter. The number 8 CES batter reached first on a n error and Newell walked the number 9 batter to load the bases. Newell then had to face the CES lead off batter who had rocked the ball hard to the outfield at each of his three prior at bats. Newell rose to the occasion, striking out the CES lead off man on four pitches, with catcher David Wasser sealing the out on a 2-3 put out.

Once again the Bruins defense kept the team in the game. The first inning saw third baseman Grant Bitzer make a fine 5-3 put out to get the first out of the inning and then make a solid catch of a pop up by CES’s number 5 hitter to end the inning. The second inning started off with the lead off CES batter being put on first. But catcher Wasser fired down to Casper at second to nail the stealing runner. Newell took control in the 3^rd and 4^th, striking out 5 of the next 8 batters he faced. The third inning saw the CES lead off man hit a one out triple to the fence. But the Bruins stranded him at third as Newell struck out the next batter and right fielder Peter Miller made a fantastic inning ending catch at the right field fence after running way over from his position in the field. After Newell took the steam out of CES with the bases loaded strikeout in the 6^th, the Bruins took control in the top of the 7^th to end the game. Newell had the lead off hitter ground out back to the mound. Left fielder Danny Schafer then hauled in a deep fly to left. After the next batter walked, shortstop Casper made quick work of the last CES batter with a game ending 6-3 cross diamond throw to John VonBehren at 1^st to end the game.

Offensively the Bruins racked up 6 hits, including Newell’s double and Casper’s triple, and reached base on 6 walks (Bitzer twice) and 5 CES errors. The Bruins capitalized on their base runners with aggressive base running to keep the pressure on the visitors.

The big hitter of the day was Joey Huddleston, who went 2 for 3 and reached on an error. Other big hits were contributed by centerfielder Trey Dhabalt (whose great back up plays in the outfield kept the CES runners contained), first baseman VonBehren, shortstop Casper (a big triple), right fielder Miller and left fielder Peter Murphy (who was one for one as well as reaching on a walk!!)

The next regional game is Saturday at 10 a.m. in Pawnee (I’m not sure where). We will leave from the school parking lot no later than 8:15 .a.m. Our opponent will be the number 1 seed in our region, CTK. Be there !!.