Finishing up a three game series on Friday, the BHHS Bruin varsity boys baseball team hosted the 5-2 South Umpqua Lancers, who lost to coach Wallin’s Bruins earlier in the week 2-9.
Coach Wallin handed the ball to junior right-hander Jason DeShon #16 for the start, who’s curve ball kept Lancer batters off balance in the first game of Friday’s double header. With the exception of an infield error, Deshon retired the Lancers getting a ground out, a pop out and a strike out to start the game.
The Bruin bats gave DeShon all the support he needed, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first of the opening game. DeShon retired the Lancers in order in the top of the 2nd and the 3rd, before the Bruin offense would strike again, taking advantage of two Lancer errors and a hit batsman to put 5 more runs on the board.
DeShon would go on to pitch a 5 inning full game, walking 0, and striking out 10 on his way to no-hitter and a 10-0 shut-out.
In the late game of the double-header, senior right-hander Andrew Burger #29 took the mound for the Bruins, already sitting 2-0 in the series. Burger struck out the first batter he saw on 4 pitches, and then left too much of a 2 and 1 pitch over the plate. The second batter of the game scored the Lancers first run of the afternoon after sending the ball over the left field wall. Burger then sat down the next two Lancer batters on 6 pitches to retire the side.
In the bottom of the 1st, Bruin small ball tied the game with senior infielder Payton Armentrout #1 getting on after third strike passed ball, stealing third after advancing to second on an Adam Shew #13 single to center field, and then scoring on an Andrew Burger fielders choice infield grounder to tie the game at 1-1 after one.
The lead-off Lancer got on in the top of the 2nd before Burger sat down the side in order, on a pop fly and two strike-outs. But the Lancer pitching kept the Bruins off the basepaths, until the Bruins strung together a walk and two hits to put another runner across the plate and take a 2-1 lead into the 4th.
Burger would then pitch a shut down top of the 4th, sitting down the Lancer batters in order on 9 pitches sending the Bruins back to the plate up 2-1. Between the bottom of the 4th and the bottom of the some good pitching and excellent defensive infield play kept the score 2-1 Bruins until the top of the Bruin line-up would work Armentrout around the bags to score and take a 3-1 Bruin lead.
The Lancers would tighten the score to 3-2 in the top of the 6th, only to be answered by the Bruins in the bottom of the 6th, making the score 4-2 going into the final inning of regulation. After striking out two in the top of the 7th, the Lancers put together two doubles off of Burger, bringing the score to 4-3 Bruins, with 2 outs and the tying run in scoring position. Burger struck out the next batter looking in 3 pitches, ending the game 4-3 Bruins. Burger threw a 7 inning complete game, striking out 11 and sealing the three game series for the Bruins.
Talking with coach Wallin after the game, “Great week for the guys” he said. “We really committed to making some changes at practice…and it paid off. Give credit to South Umpqua with a tremendous effort, Friday’s game was one for the ages.., Hopefully we can keep it going.”
The 9-0 Bruins will see the 4-5 St. Mary’s Crusaders at home Tuesday to kick-off a 3 game series.
