By CAHD MATCHETT
Special to The Leader
The Sylvan Hills A Bruins held off a late comeback by Jacksonville Gwatney to post a 7-6 win at Hickingbotham Field Thursday night.
Sylvan Hills took control early with three runs in the first, and four more in the second inning. JD Miller was the only Bruin to get a hit and score in the game.
Brandon Baioni scored twice, once after reaching on a dropped third strike and another in the second after reaching on an error.
“We couldn’t do anything early in our junior game,” said Jacksonville coach BobHickingbotham. “Too many walks, too many errors and we weren’t hitting like we can.”
Hunter Hesle p reached on an error in the first and scored on a single by Chase Imhoff. The second inning began with Jacob White, Reid Fawcett and Marcus Long each walking and coming around to score. Miller and Imhoff were hit by pitches in the inning.
Jacksonville’s lone hit through the first four innings came on Alex Broadwell’s double in the first inning. The rally in the fifth and final inning began thanks to a single by Derek St. Claire to start the inning. Walks to Levi Moler, Josh Cook, Troy Allen and James Tucker, along with a single by Broadwell, helped Gwatney come storming back. The comeback fell just short with a strikeout and fly out to end the game.
Roberts started on the hill for Sylvan Hills and picked up the win with four very strong innings. Fawcett led the offense with a double, two walks and two runs. Broadwell was 2 for 3 for Jacksonville with a double.
