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Last Friday night the Johnson City Eagles traveled to Kennedy to face the Bruni Badgers for the Area Championship. Johnson City played Bruni in best out of 3 series for the right to advance to the Regional Quarter Finals. In game #1 on Friday, Bruni defeated JC with a bottom of the 7th game-winning run 6-5. Bruni managed to move a runner to 3rd base with 2 outs and came up with a game winning base hit to win the game and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Kris McDonald started on the mound for the Eagles. McDonald went 3 solid innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and striking out 2 Bruni hitters. “ I had heard that Bruni was a very fast team and loved to steal bases so we felt having a left handed pitcher such as Kris would hold their running game down. Kris did a really good job holding runners and taking them out of their game plan.” Commented Coach Rutherford.

Laramie Blackwell came into the game in the 4th inning and finished the game on the mound for the Eagles. Blackwell gave up 3 runs on 3 hits and received his first loss 4-1 of the season as a pitcher.

Offensively, the Eagles were led by William Bullock who went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI’s. Cameron Sasko, Dylan Carter, Wade Pistole and Cody Crofts also added hits.

“After the game the kids were very disappointed in the out come of the first game. Usually in a situation like that, momentum would be with the winning team. I felt, even with a loss, our kids had some momentum because they knew they could play and beat Bruni” said Rutherford.

On Saturday, JC traveled back to Kennedy to face Bruni again in game #2. Johnson City came out victorious 3-2 in game 2 with a dramatic bottom of the 8th winning run. Bruni scored 2 runs in the top of the first but were unable to add to their lead for the rest of the game. The Eagles managed to score a run in the fifth inning to pull within one (2-1) and another run to tie it up (2-2). The game ended in regulation 2-2 which required extra innings. Johnson City, being the home team in this game scored in the bottom half of the 8th to win. Wade Pistole started off the inning by being hit by a pitch. Pistole then stole 2nd and was knocked in by Cody Crofts line drive base hit to right field. “We tried to bunt Wade over with out success so I told Cody to take the pitch the other way to move the runner to 3rd. He really came through when we needed him. Not only did he take the pitch the other way but he drove it for a base hit” commented Rutherford.

Pitching for the Eagles in game #2 was Dylan Carter. Carter gave up 5 hits and struck out 6 as he kept the Badgers off balance with his curveball and change up. Carter pitched a complete game for the Eagles evening his season record at 1-1. “Dylan seemed to get stronger as the game went on. The 95 degree heat could have taken a toll on him but after the game he wanted to pitch some more.”

Offensively, the Eagles were led by Luke Neely (2 for 4), William Bullock and Cody Crofts. Each player managed to get an RBI single to scope Johnson City’s 3 runs. Other Eagles who added hits were Cameron Sasko, Treyler Caulfield, Dylan Carter, Kris McDonald and Kiel Adams.

By winning game 2, the Eagles forced a third and deciding game with the Badgers. In this game JC defeated Bruni 16-7. Johnson City was the visiting team in the 3rd and final game. The Eagles scored 4 runs in the top of the 1st to take an early 4-0 lead. Bruni battled back and scored 2 runs in the bottom half of the first and added 4 runs in the 2nd to take a 6-4 lead. In the 4th inning, Johnson City added 2 more runs to the make the score 6-6. The Eagles then added 2 more runs in the 5th, 4 runs in the 6th and 4 more in the 7th to take a commanding 16-6 lead. The Badgers managed to scratch one run out in the 7th (16-7) but were unable to mount any type of threat in the later innings. On the mound, Treyler Caulfield started the game. Caulfield ran into trouble in the 2nd and had to be relieved by Laramie Blackwell. Blackwell finished the game scattering 5 hits in 6 1/3 innings and striking out 4. Blackwell improved his record to 5-1 on the year with the victory.

Offensively, the Eagles were again led by William Bullock who went 4 for 5 with 4 RBI’s and a double. Luke Neely, Dylan carter and Kris McDonald also had 2 hits apiece. Cameron Sasko and Treyler Caulfield added a 1 for 3 game adding a 16 hit attack off the Bruni pitching staff.

“I was personally very proud of the way the kids handled themselves during the day. There were a lot of highs and lows during the day and they kept battling. The heat could have been overwhelming but they toughed it out. I felt we came together closer as a team because each member of our team was pulling for the other. It was a great day to have a great game.

Please come support these young men in their upcoming series.