The Bruin boys varsity baseball team was on the road to Medford to take on the undefeated Cascade Christian Challengers earlier in the week to start a three game series, taking a home win against the Bruins in a close hard fought game. Friday was scheduled to be a double header at home to complete the series for the Bruins, however, weather in the area forced the games to be moved to Medford.
Although the games were geographically ‘home’ games for the Challengers, the schedule change still gave the Bruins credit for ‘home’ games, sending Cascade Christian to the plate to start the first game. Bruin head coach Keith Wallin sent junior right-hander Kyle Burger to the mound for the Bruins in the first game, getting the lead-off Challenger batters out in order on three routine pop-outs. The Bruins would get the lead-off on after a # 15, Seth Valliere double, but fail to get the run across the plate.
Burger would retire the Challengers scoreless in the second and third innings, before the Bruin offense would score the first run of the game in their half of the third inning. The Bruins would rally with two out in the bottom of third, stringing together 3 singles to score 2, giving the Bruins a 2-0 lead.
In their second time through the line-up, Cascade Christian caught up to Kyle Burger pitches in the top of the fourth, taking an 0-2 pitch for a solo home-run before adding three singles, a double two walks and sacrifice bunt to put 5 runs on the board.
The Challengers would add more runs in later innings, but the Bruins would not recover,dropping the first game of the day, and the second in the series 2-8.
In the final game of the series, both teams came to field determined to take home the win, and in the first inning both teams put runs on the board in attempts to establish an early lead. Junior right-hander Seth Valliere to the mound, and the Challengers got three singles to start the scoring, getting one across the plate. The Bruins top of the order answered with a lead-off walk, a single and a fielder’s choice to get 1 home and tie the score.
The Challengers would homer to take the 1-2 lead in the second inning, before the Bruins would catch up to Challenger pitching in the bottom of the third inning, adding 2 runs to take the lead back, 3-2. In the bottom of the fourth, the Bruins would break the game open, adding 5 runs giving them a comfortable 7-2 lead.
The Bruins would add another run before taking the 8-2 win and split the series 1-2. The Bruins are scheduled to take on the 6-3 South Umpqua Lancers at home with the first pitch at 4:00pm.
