By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Sylvan Hills gave itself plenty of opportunities with eight hits, and Cabot’s pitching helped the Bruins along with nine walks, all of which came in the final three innings.
The junior Optimist Bruins made the most of those gifts on their way to a run-ruled 9-1 win in five innings over Centennial Bank on Monday afternoon at Kevin McReynolds Field.
Blake Hannon took the win for Sylvan Hills with a complete-game effort at the mound. Hannon gave up a walk and allowed two hits. He also fanned four along the way.
Cabot starting pitcher Taylor Barnhill kept the Bruins at bay in the first two innings, but the bottom of the third was a sign of things to come. Sylvan Hills took a 2-1 lead after three, and added three more scores in each of the final two frames.
Chad Wisely relieved Barnhill in the bottom of the fourth, while Weston Conard closed for Centennial Bank in the fifth.
It was bases on balls that closed the deal for the Bruins in the bottom of the fifth, although Austin Spears led off the inning with a solo home run over the left centerfield wall to give Sylvan Hills a 7-1 lead.
Justin Cook followed with a single but was picked off second by Conard. The next five Bruins batters walked, though, to secure the final two runs needed to push the game past the eight-after-five run rule.
Centennial Bank’s only score came in the top of the third inning. Tyler Cole led off the inning with a walk, and Zach Uhiren plated him two batters later with a double to left field.
Sylvan Hills leadoff Cain Cormier singled, and an outfield error allowed him to reach third. A passed ball scored Cormier to tie the game. Trey Sims walked, and scored on a double down the third base line by Lance Hunter to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead after three.
The Bruins’ lead quickly grew in the fourth when Hunter smashed a triple that bounced off the left centerfield wall to drive in three runs after Michael Lock had singled and Cormier and Sims had walked to load the bases.
It was 8-1 after Hunter scored on a passed ball.
Hunter was 2 of 3 for Sylvan Hills with a triple, double, and four RBI. Spears was 2 of 3 with a home run, and Cormier was 1 of 2 with two walks, good for a RBI and two scores. Sims was 1 of 1, but reached three other times on walks, all of which ended up as scores.
