Sept6

After a long lay off, a rusty Bruins baseball squad racked up an 8-5 win over a young, but gritty St. Agnes team. This win, which put our record at 4-3, was also to honor the memory of John Gonterman. With jets flying all around us on a beautiful Saturday morning at Kennedy Park, pitchers Tom Newell, Casey Von De Bur and David Wasser combined to give the Bruins their 4^th win of the season. Winning pitcher Newell struck out 5 and gave up only 1 hit. The three Bruins’ aces only gave up 4 total hits.

The Bruins knocked out eight hits and reached twice on errors. The 5^th inning saw the Bruins break open the 1-1 tie. First baseman John Von Behren, who went 3-for-5 for the day, and catcher Trey Dhabalt got on base. Newell, who went 2-4 for the day, then unloaded a bases clearing triple to right center. Third baseman Wasser followed by a big RBI single. Shortstop Tyler Casper kept up the pressure with an RBI double to left. Center fielder Von De Bur then singled to drive in Casper. By the time the dust cleared, the Bruins were up 6-1. We probably would have had more runs in the game, but our eight strike outs handicapped our offense, and we had a couple of great hits land right in the Aces’ gloves. Also a hats off to Peter Murphy who, although not getting a hit, twice battled mightily against the Aces’ pitcher in the 4^th and 5th, fouling off pitch after pitch.

Once again, the Bruins played some great defense, our five errors notwithstanding. Shortstop Casper had a great day in the hole with four fine 6-3 plays and one unassisted out. First baseman Von Behren had another great day at the corner, not only stretching on the Casper cross diamond throws, but also four other unassisted outs. Second baseman Joey Huddleston stuck with a hard hit ball in the bottom of 7^th to get the lead off out at first. (P.S. Von Behren was robbed in the 5^th when neither umpire saw him touch the base on another fine stretch.)

But the bottom of the 7th inning belonged to Trey Dhabalt. Moved in from center to play the hot corner at 3^rd , Dhabalt made a great catch of hard hit liner to his feet to get the second out of the last inning. But Dhabalt was not finished! With two on, the Aces clean up hitter hit a hard ball down the left field line. The two St. Agnes base runners came home and it looked like the Aces were closing in on the Bruins dwindling lead. But an alert Dhabalt saw that the St. Agnes runner had not touched 3^rd. The appeal was made and the plate ump called the runner out to end the game. (Hey - but what do you expect from a Cubs fan !!)

Next game is Monday at 4:30 p.m. at New Berlin. We will leave from the parking lot right after school lets out. Thanks again to our fans and Mrs. Von Behren’s hair spray. See you at the game !!!