Crusaders eke out 3-0 win over J-M
Darnell Graham
Darnell Graham
Jefferson-Morgan蘑菇视频 Kyle Clayton connects for a single in Wednesday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game against Bishop Canevin at Boyce-Mayview Field.
Jefferson-Morgan pitcher Bryce Bedilion releases the ball during a WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game against Bishop Canevin at Boyce-Mayview Field on May 15. (Photo by Darnell Graham)
Darnell Graham
Darnell Graham
Jefferson-Morgan first baseman Cole Tretinik prepares to tag out Bishop Canevin蘑菇视频 Mike Seitz as runs down the line during Wednesday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Boyce-Mayview Field.
UPPER ST. CLAIR 鈥� Sometimes a team can lose a baseball playoff game in the first inning.
Jefferson-Morgan only allowed two runs in the first inning, but that was more than enough for Bishop Canevin, as the Rockets couldn鈥檛 get the offense going in a 3-0 loss in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs on May 15 at Boyce-Mayview Park.
鈥淲e gave up those early runs and that was it,鈥� J-M coach John Curtis said. 鈥淲e just couldn鈥檛 get enough hits together. The problem all year for us has been getting that clutch, timely hit. We just couldn鈥檛 hit with a runner in scoring position.鈥�
Both pitchers were methodical, and neither one throw a classic gem on the mound.
Winning pitcher Aidan Logan needed 94 pitches to get through five innings. The senior righty scattered three hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Bryce Bedilion was tagged with the loss for the Rockets (7-10). The sophomore lefty went five innings and allowed three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks on 103 pitches.
Jacob Broadwater pitched a scoreless sixth inning for J-M.
Kyle Clayton and Easton Hanko had singles in the first inning, but both were left stranded. The other Rocket hit was a one-out double by Bedilion in the third.
鈥淭he way we started the season, I never thought I鈥檇 would be sitting here in the playoffs and losing to Bishop Canevin 3-0,鈥� Curtis said. 鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of the effort. Bryce pitched a nice five innings and kept us in the game. We got those early hits, but we just couldn鈥檛 sustain anything else against their good pitcher.鈥�
The Crusaders (10-8) scored two runs in the first inning after a RBI double by Michael Aches and a sacrifice fly by Logan.
Bishop Canevin then added an insurance run in the fifth after a sacrifice fly by Braden Logan plated Aches.
Aches earned the save, pitching the final two innings to preserve the win.
The Rockets started out the season at 1-6, but rebounded with a strong second half of the regular season with a 6-3 record. They finished tied for third place with West Greene in Section 2-A.
J-M loses three seniors and return a strong nucleus next spring.
鈥淲e are still young,鈥� Curtis said. 鈥淲e had a sophomore on the mound, a freshman behind the plate and another freshman in right. We grew up this season and we could have easily folded our tents and went home after the slow start. Our seniors battled some injuries, but they really led this team. I can鈥檛 wait for the offseason with this group.鈥�