Falcons clinch share of Section 3-AAA title
WAYNESBURG — The Brownsville baseball team clinched at least a share of the Section 3-AAA title Wednesday afternoon at Meadowlark Park after a 10-1 victory over Waynesburg Central.
The Falcons (10-2, 9-2) can win the section outright with a win at home against Charleroi on Friday. Brownsville extended its winning streak to five games and swept the season series versus Waynesburg.
“It’s huge to get this win and to be one step closer on getting sole possession of the section title,” Brownsville skipper Skooter Roebuck said. “That was one of our goals at the beginning of the season. I think the last couple of games, we have really been aggressive on the base paths and our pitchers are throwing strikes.”
Brownsville pounded out 11 hits and that was more than enough for pitcher Dylan Brosky, who threw a complete game and allowed a run on four hits with nine strikeouts and no walks on 90 pitches.
“The fastball was really working for me today,” Brosky said. “I had good control with it on both sides of the plate. I always try to work both sides of the plate and to keep the hitter guessing. I hit my spots and the defense was solid for me today.”
Despite the loss, the Raiders (7-4, 6-4) have already clinched a playoff spot and will now look to move up in the section before the postseason. Waynesburg travels to Washington on Friday and visits Charleroi on Saturday.
“I think Brosky is the best pitcher in our section and sometimes you just run into a good pitcher,” Waynesburg coach Jamie Moore said. “He is hard to read and we couldn’t get ahead in counts. We had a rough start and gave them a couple of early runs in the opening innings. That can sometimes change the whole complexion of a game.”
The visitors struck first with three runs in the top of the first. Brody Bagwell clubbed a RBI single, followed by two runs scoring on a strikeout-passed ball and an errant throw to first base.
After a scoreless second, the Falcons extended their lead to 5-0 after a RBI single by D.J. Zimcosky and a bases-loaded walk to John Hovanec.
Brownsville made it 7-0 in the fourth, courtesy of a RBI double by Zimcosky and a run-producing single by Brosky.
“The whole entire team, from the seniors to the freshmen puts in the work and are ready to play every game,” Brosky said. “We know the game plan and we just keep it simple. We are getting hyped for the playoffs, but we know the importance of playing as a team and treating every game the same.”
Brosky retired the first 10 batters he faced before a single by Brandon Turcheck broke up the perfect game in the fourth. Trey Rohanna also singled in the frame with two outs, but Brownsville’s ace got out of the jam with a pop out to second.
“To tell you the truth, I was a little bit worried about Dylan today,” Roebuck said. “With all the rain this season, I think this is the first time that Dylan has pitched on normal rest. But he spots the ball up very well and he throws a lot of inside strikes.”
The Falcons increased their lead to 8-0 in the fifth after a RBI groundout by Trevor Stewart.
Waynesburg cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth, when pinch hitter Trevor Stephenson launched a double and scored on a RBI single by Tyler Rush.
In the seventh, Brownsville pushed in two more runs when Colton Dellarose and Bagwell scored on passed balls.
Zimcosky and Rocco Frisco led the offense with three hits apiece.
“Our guys are really aggressive in the strike zone,” Roebuck said. “When teams are throwing strikes and trying to get ahead of the count, we are swinging a way. We have a lot of guys with speed in our lineup, and that puts the pressure on the pitcher because now he has to be aware of us trying to steal bases and getting into scoring position.”
Tyler Switalski was issued the loss for the Raiders, going 3.2 innings and allowing seven runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and three walks on 78 pitches. Rohanna and Evan Zimmer pitched the remainder of the game for Waynesburg.
“This is a tough loss, but we have to put it in the rearview mirror,” Moore said. “Our focus is on Wash High on Friday. I think our pitching is lining up down the stretch. We have to play better on defense and we have to be more consistent at the plate.”