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Brooke Uses Its Speed

Bruins steal seven bases in win vs. Indian Creek

Photo by Cody Tomer Brooke pitcher Nick Leonard delivers to the plate during Tuesday’s home game against Indian Creek.

WELLSBURG–Time and time again, the team that uses its speed on the bases to put pressure on the opposing defense wins the ballgame.

Brooke baseball coach Ron Ujcich Jr. made sure his players understood that before the game. They got the message.

The Bruins used the basepaths as a track Tuesday, stealing seven bases on their way to a 5-2 victory over visiting Indian Creek.

“We were aggressive on the basepaths,” Ujcich said. “We had a big discussion with them (Monday) about being more aggressive on the bases and about getting more aggressive leads to put pressure on the defense to make plays. I think we did a pretty good job of that.”

Brooke out hit Creek by an 11-4 count, slugging at-least two hits in each of the first four frames, while the Redskins managed just two hits through four stanzas.

The Bruins also plated a run in each of the first four innings.

“We got some key hits when the guys were in scoring position,” Ujcich said. “We got an early lead and it worked out for us.

“I do think we sat on the lead a little too much. I thought we had some scoring chances there where we could have put it away but we didn’t, but we’ll take a 5-2 victory any day of the week.”

The hosts received an outstanding starting effort from Nick Leonard on the mound, as he gave up just two hits, while striking out five and walking a pair in five innings pitched.

Garret Jackson finished the job in the final two segments.

“Nick Leonard threw a great game for us,” Ujcich said. “To some degree he tried to throw a little too hard instead of staying within himself, but he was able to find it when he needed to and got us the key outs.

“Then, Garret was able to come in and he did a nice job to close it out.”

Freshman Isaiah VanDine took the hill for Creek, leading a youthful pitching staff. He struck out two and did not walk a batter in five innings, before classmate David Ferroni completed the final three outs.

“We threw two freshmen (Tuesday),” Creek coach Mike Cottis said. “That is kind of the nature of our pitching staff. We are very young. Three freshmen actually throw for us with two sophomores and a junior in the starting rotation.

“That’s the hand we were dealt this year but they are all good kids and they come every day ready to work. The score didn’t show it but we’re getting better and that is the most important thing.”

Brooke leadoff hitter Josh Richie kicked off his three-hit performance in the first with a double to the corner in left. Joe Dawson followed with a RBI single.

After Dawson was thrown out trying to swipe third, Leonard singled, stole second and advanced to third on an error.

Jake Bailey drove him home on a groundout to give his squad a 2-0 edge.

A Dalton Valero double and a Richie RBI knock in the second made it 3-0.

Leonard led off the third with a single and a steal and moved to third on an error before teammate Nick Langley provided a sac-fly to right to extend the lead to 4-0.

The final run for Brooke came in the fourth when Richie supplied a two-out single, stole second and scored on a RBI hit off the bat of Dawson for the 5-0 advantage.

Indian Creek plated a run in the fifth when Klay Cottis raced home on a passed ball and the final run scored on the last play of the game when Josh Speaker sent a rocket to the fence in left to score Josh Maurer. However, Speaker was thrown out at second to end the game.

“We were showing a lot of character and gave ourselves a chance there in the seventh,” Mike Cottis said. “He hit a missile to the fence and the kid made a great throw into second. What are you going to do?

“We have one senior on the team but he is injured so we were playing with all underclassmen and to play a team that’s senior latent and to battle like that shows heart.”

With the win, Brooke improves to 4-5, while the Redskins drop to 0-6.

“It can be tough when we played maybe three games over the last two weeks,” Ujcich said. “To come out here after being in the gym and play baseball, we’ll take it. It’s something we can build off of and move forward.”

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