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Mason pitches Brownstown past Mulberry Grove

BROWNSTOWN – Brownstown did not always capitalize on its opportunities last Thursday, but putting at least one runner in scoring position each inning gave them leverage against Mulberry Grove.

Forcing the Aces to “make the big play” in a 5-2 Bombers win, Brownstown coach Ken Milano said that even though his team left 11 runners on base during the game, getting them on base was a step in the right direction.

“We noticed that we’ve been struggling offensively,” Milano said. “We got guys on, but we’re still looking for that key hit.”

It took the Bombers until the top of the fourth to get on the board. Colton Hunter led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on an infield grounder and scored on a Matt Sefton single.

Dustin Lawson would also score that inning after he walked and advanced home on a costly Mulberry Grove error.

The Aces had an opportunity to rally back in the bottom of the frame, though. Brandon Elam opened the inning with a single, and courtesy runner Cody Quick advanced to second on a fielder’s choice.

Jesse Jernigan then roped a single, but Quick was retired for the third out at the plate, ending what could have become a scoring rally.

“We made them make the play,” Aces coach Justin Joiner said. “We forced them to do it, and they did it.”

After a quiet fifth, the Bombers added another run in the sixth, using four walks and a couple of errant pitches to score.

The Aces once again tried to answer back, putting runners on second and third with one out, but Bryce Mason used pinpoint control to leave the next two Mulberry Grove batters watching strike three go by.

“That’s Bryce Mason being Bryce Mason,” Milano said. “He is able to buckle down when the going gets tough.”

Joiner opted to lift his pitcher, Billy Nelson, before the seventh inning, replacing him with Jernigan, but he was proud of Nelson for keeping the game close.

“Billy just did a great job,” Joiner said.

The Bombers’ offense found its stroke once again in the seventh, scoring two more runs stringing together a couple walks and hits.

Facing a 5-0 deficit, Joiner gathered his team outside the dugout and pleaded for inspired play before the bottom of the seventh, telling his team there was no better time than then to string together some hits.

The team responded as Nate Ketchem was hit by a pitch and Zach Heilig and Jake Hart both singled.

Ketchem eventually was thrown out at home, but Heilig and Hart scored after a Jesse Sloan single and an Elam sacrifice fly to center.

That would be all the Aces would muster, but Joiner was still pleased with the team’s overall effort.

“We stayed in the game,” he said. “We never quit. We didn’t get our heads down.”

Notes
The game was originally scheduled to be played at Mulberry Grove, but the Aces agreed to travel to Brownstown after a transportation issue arose.

Other Games

Saturday, Sept. 18
at Windsor Tournament
Putnam County 17
Mulberry Grove 0

The Aces recorded just three hits in a 17-0, five-inning rout by Putnam County at the Windsor Tournament on Saturday. Ketchem had two hits and Nelson recorded the third.

at Windsor Tournament
Mulberry Grove 11
Ramsey 7

Mulberry Grove found its hitting stroke against Ramsey later Saturday afternoon, defeating the Rams 11-7.

Ketchum was strong again, hitting a single and a triple and scoring three times in the win.

Tuesday, Sept. 14
vs. Ramsey
Mulberry Grove 13
Ramsey 3

The Aces defeated Ramsey 13-3 in five innings last Tuesday. Heilig picked up the win for the Aces after allowing just two hits and striking out five.

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