By HUNTER O. LYLE
BRADFORD, PA – Wearing the Owls’ black and red for the final time, the Bradford baseball team bowed out of the season with a 13-4 loss to St. Marys.
Playing through a disappointing season that included a 1-5-1 record through their last seven games, the Owls (5-10-1) missed out on a trip to the District 9 Class 4A playoffs. Realizing that sooner rather than later, their matchup with St. Marys (9-8) would be the last time picking up the bats this year.
“We just wanted to finish strong and play the game right and play the game hard,” said Bradford head coach Eric Haynoski.
The Dutchmen wouldn’t have to wait to punch their ticket on base as they quickly put two on with a walk and single. After striking out in their third at-bat, Ben Paul cracked a double that drove in the first run of the day. Immediately after, Cameron Coudriet grounded out to first which gave Tysen Beimel enough time to close the distance between home plate. Although Bradford would find the third out via Brody Haviland strikeout, offense wouldn’t materialize in the initial appearance at the plate, being dispatched in just three batters.
However, in the second, the Owls would start to pick up traction. Finding three outs in four Dutch sluggers, Bradford then put two men on with back-to-back walks. With one out, Evan Whitmore would put the Owls on the board with an RBI single that brought in Haviland. That would be all Bradford had to offer in the second though, as they suffered back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.
Brody Haviland rounds third on his way to home during the Owl’s 13-4 loss to St. Marys on Monday. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
Taking to the plate in the top of the third, St. Marys began to break things open. Despite striking out in their initial at-bat, they would pick up some momentum with a deep shot into centerfield from Ben Reynolds who earned a spot on third. Right after, Paul tallied his second RBI, this time a single, to put the Dutch up by two. Another single and a walk would load the bases before Mason Nicklas hit a shot into the infield. Although Haviland fielded it for an out at home, a subsequent overthrow to first, which flew deep into left field, gave up two more Dutch runs.
“I thought we were extremely sloppy for it being the end of the season. We were starting to hit our stride a little bit,” said Haynoski, “and then today with the errors we had, I think we just kind of fell apart mentally and didn’t come prepared to play.”
Both teams would have to wait until the bottom of the fifth for the action to pick up again. Through the bottom of the third to the top of the fifth, base runners would sparsely fill the diamond as defense took the driver’s seat. However, after swapping Haviland for Maksim Demic on the mound, the Owls sent the Dutchment back to the dugout before finally driving in another run.
After Owen Degolier was hit for a trip to first, AJ Lama crushed a double into the outfield, scoring the Owls’ third run of the day. Two batters and two outs later, Demic would drive in Lama with a single past St. Marys’ second baseman, cutting the deficit to just a pair of runs. But after opening the door to home plate, the Dutch would steamroll through during their next trip to the plate.
Their first two batters reached on a walk and single before a short bunt would result in a St. Marys score. After fielding an out at second immediately after, Paul recorded yet another RBI to erase the Owls’ effort and grow the lead back to four. From there, the Dutchmen would load the baes before scoring on a wild pitch. After reloading the bases once more, they would leave all three stranded with two consecutive outs, but they didn’t have to wait long for another try as they forced an Owls’ three-and-out in the bottom of the sixth.
Shortstop Tarren Reese fields a ground ball during Bradfords’ final game of the season. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
With the outcome almost inevitable, Bradford imploded. Despite getting two outs in just as many batters, constant errors would erode any silver linings. Back-to-back misfieldings would put two Dutchmen on first and second before Jackson Vollmer sent them both in with a single. A double and walk loaded the bases before another double and another overthrow would score all three.
The Owls’ would score their final run of the season in the bottom of the seventh. Mitch Brinsky reached second after sliding into first and forcing an overthrow, followed by Lama’s walk and a drop pitch that put Brinsky in scoring position. With one out, Tarren Reese knocked a single past the infield, scoring Brinksy. However, the mountainous lead in front of them proved too much to handle and as the deflated Owls limped across the finish line, their season shut its doors.
Seniors Lama and Whitmore both finished their final game of their high school career 2-for-3 with Lama scoring once with one RBI and Whitmore tallying one final RBI. Tarren Reese ended 1-for-4 with an RBI while Mitch Brinksy made the most of his one appearance at the plate with a hit and a score.
“I want the kids to take out of this just never to give up. This is high school sports. You’re going to face a lot of obstacles in life and just don’t ever give up,” said Haynoski. “Don’t ever let anybody tell you no and work your butt off. Be a good leader and lead by example.”
AT BRADFORD
R H E
St. Marys 203 003 5 13 10 1
Bradford 010 020 1 4 7 6
SMA: Paul (X SO, X BB), … and catcher
BRD: Haviland (6 SO, 4 BB), Demic (5) (2 SO, 3 BB), Tar. Reese (6) (0 SO, 0 BB) and Demic, Haviland, Lama
