The St. Mary’s Crusaders made the trip to Brookings from Medford Tuesday afternoon in an effort to stop the BHHS Bruin boys varsity baseball teams dominance in 3A-SD4 Special District 4 league play.
The Crusaders rolled into town with a 4-5 record coming off of dropping 2 of 3 against Cascade Christian last week. Head coach Keith Wallin and his 2021 Bruin baseball team came into the game, the start of a three game series to be completed Friday in Medford, at 9-0, and sent senior right-hander Adam Shew #13 to mound to welcome the Crusaders to Brookings.
Shew went right to work, getting the Bruins out of the top of the 1st striking out the side after allowing a lead-off walk.
The Bruin offense stepped into the box and after consecutive strike-outs, put together two hits and a Crusader passed ball at the plate to get junior Jason DeShon home in a two out rally to start the Bruin scoring in the bottom of the first.
Both teams struggled against the others pitching, as Shew continued to sit Crusader batters down. The Bruin offense seemed to see Crusader pitching well, made solid contact, but Crusaders were continuously where Bruins hit the ball, making it a frustrating afternoon for many Bruin batters.
As Shew refused to let the Crusaders get on the basepaths, the Bruin offense would work some smallball offense in the bottom of the 3rd after senior Payton Armentrout #1 got on on a Crusader fielding error. Armentrout was then moved into scoring position on a Adam Shew single, advanced him to 3rd on an error, and watched him walk home after senior catcher Jacub McCollum worked a bases loaded walk, putting the Bruins 2-0 up after three.
Shew then threw a shut down top of the 4th, striking-out the side in order, on 14 pitches as the game turned into a pitching dual going into the late innings. until the bottom of the 6th. The Bruins jumped on the Crusader reliever, racking up two doubles, two singles, and three walks to put 6 more runs on the board and take a commanding 8-0 lead into the top of the 7th and final inning.
Senior Andrew Burger #19 came in in relief for #13 Adam Shew, and retired the side and the game in order, on 9 pitches to seal the 8-0 win for the Bruins.
Coach Wallin told the Wild Coast Compass after the game…”We definitely came out flat” he said. “Credit their pitcher for throwing well and keeping us off balance. Our pitching and defense is what kept us in the game, giving us the chance to break it open late.”
The Bruins will see these same Crusaders Friday in a double header in Medford to complete the three game series.
