The West Greene baseball team went on the road on Thursday and came out on top of a back-and-forth battle with North Greene 8-5.
“This was a tough game. North Greene is a really good team, they hit well, field it well and throw it well,” West Greene coach Adrian Sauceman said. “We are fortunate to come out of this one with a with win. It was good to see the boys fight back and play with that never-say-die attitude. They believe that they are never out of a game until the last out is made.”
The Buffaloes started the day by jumping in front 2-0 in the top of the first inning. Conner Campbell led off the game by firing a line drive into centerfield. He then stole second and third and scored the day’s fist run when Kaven Greene sent a chopper through the left side of the infield.
Braden McCamey followed by splitting the right-center gap with a double that allowed Greene to score.
McCamey had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks and one RBI. He also earned the win on the mound in a tough seven-inning effort. He struck out nine, walked two and allowed 10 hits.
“Braden was a dog today. I think he only gave up one earned run, but his defense did not play well behind him today. He just kept pounding the zone,” Sauceman said. “Then at the plate we tweaked a couple of things with his approach, and he is always open to doing whatever you suggest. He’s a really good hitter, he hits it hard, and he seems to come up big in clutch moments.”
The Huskies swung in front 4-2 at the bottom of the second inning. Tyler Bitton led off the side by reaching on a booted groundball. Jackson Britton then reached on a bases-loaded walk. The first run scored when Aidan Halley put down a surprise bunt that was thrown away at first base. Jake Dufffy then pushed across two runs with a double deep in the right-center gap. Duffy went on to score on a passed ball.
After the three costly miscues McCamey struck out the final two batters of the side.
In the third inning North Greene took advantage of two more Buffalo errors, but a tough 5-3-2 double play on a bunt by Jackson Britton ended the inning with no damage done.
In the bottom of the same inning West Greene scored three runs to take a 5-4 lead. McCamey led off the side with his second double of the day. Jhonen Bath then skipped a groundball over second base. Both runs scored when Jacob Greene pulled the ball down the first base line. Brandon Hunter scored the go-ahead run when Bronson Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt.
In the top of the seventh inning the Huskies put the pressure on Bath, and he responded with the biggest swing of the night. The side started Ethan Carpenter and Jayden Cox each reaching on singles, and with two outs and first base open the Huskies chose to intentionally walk McCamey.
Bath stepped in the box next and launched the first pitch he saw deep into the left field corner for a bases-clearing double that put West Greene in front 8-4.
“It was the right call to walk Braden and load the bases, but Jhonen roped that thing and scored three runs with a double. I think they may have made Jhonen a little mad,” Sauceman said. “We put him in that spot in the lineup because we realize people will just walk Braden if there is an open bag. He has provided good protection behind him.”
North Greene got one run back in the bottom of the seventh, but could not complete the rally. Isaac Gaby led off the side by smacking a single through the left side. Another single by Brady Malone put Gaby on second and then Owen Pierce hopped a groundball past the third baseman for an RBI single.
The game ended when Campbell caught a line drive at first base and caught the runner off the bag for a double play.
At the plate West Greene earned nine hits with Bath going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
The Huskies earned 10 hits with Gaby going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Malone went 2-for-3 and Duffy had a double.
On the mound Malone took the loss. In six innings he struck out eight, walked one and allowed seven hits.
Thursday was North Greene’s first loss of the season, and the Huskies are now 7-1. West Greene improves to 9-4. The two teams will be
