By Shirley Shuman
The Eagles, on their way to last night’s sectional championship game against Herbert Hoover, beat Clay, Roane, and Lewis. They lost to Lewis in their first sectional game but eliminated the Minutemen in Saturday’s game.
Against Lewis, Tyler Baldwin pitched 6.2 innings. He struck out seven while giving up six earned runs. Braxton had scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and led 6-5 when Baldwin left the mound. In as relief for the last 0.1 inning, Adam Dobbins allowed two earned runs and two unearned runs on two hits as Lewis ended the game with a 9-6 win.
Offensively, Dobbins was 2 for 4 at the plate, and Baldwin was 3 for 5. Jesse Flint, 2 for 4, drove in two runs.
Wednesday the Eagles, with Isaiah Mowery starting on the mound, defeated Clay 12-2 to remain a sectional contender. Mowery struck out five in the five innings he pitched. He allowed two earned runs on four hits. In relief, Kolton Kniceley went one inning and struck out the side after allowing one hit.
Against Clay, the Eagles had only seven hits. Mowery was 1 for 1 and three walks with an RBI. Beau Liston drove in two runs with his one hit, and Logan Baldwin was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
Braxton outscored Roane 10-8 Thursday. Because of pitch count restrictions, Coach Jamie Lemon used four pitchers against the Raiders. Logan Baldwin started and pitched 1.2 innings, giving up 4 runs—only one of them earned. Dobbins pitched two innings and struck out three, and Liston struck out the side in the one inning he was on the mound. Kniceley went 2.1 inning and struck out one.
The Eagles came up with 13 hits against Roane. Dobbins, Kniceley, and Flint each were 2 for 4 at the plate. Dobbins drove in one run, and Kniceley and Flint each sent two runners home. In that game, Tyler Baldwin was 2 for3 with an RBI, and Mowery 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
Saturday Braxton shut out Lewis 3-0. Kniceley got the win with 12 strikeouts in 6.1 innings and no earned runs. Tyler Baldwin got the save as he finished the game. Offensively, he was 1 for 2 with one RBI. Flint went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Last night the Eagles faced Herbert Hoover, the only undefeated team thus far in the sectionals. If Braxton won the game, the two teams will play again tonight for the championship. If Hoover won, the Huskies will be sectional champs.
Coach Lewis was optimistic looking toward last night’s game. He said that his players “have come out the last three games and played really well.” The coach added, “The loss to Lewis may have awakened them.” Braxton’s coach is confident that his team is capable of beating Hoover or any other team if “the right[Braxton] team shows up with the right mindset.”
See additional photographic coverage on Page 14 of this issue.
