Published Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:34 PM
Updated Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:35 PM
Summerville first baseman Aaron Bouronich (pictured) combined with shortstop Zach Dibble and second baseman Branden Millhouse for five double plays Friday.
Knights prevail in extra-innings battle with Wave
Two region champs went head-to-head on the baseball diamond Friday.
Stratford, the 2008 Region 7-AAAA champion, handed Summerville, the Region 8-AAAA champion, a 3-2 loss during a nine-inning battle. The Green Wave (15-7) hosts Richland Northeast for a playoff game Thursday and the Knights (18-4) also host in the opening round. Last week’s game served as a nice warm up for the post season.
“Summerville is a very good team year in and year out so we always expect a playoff type atmosphere for this game and that is what we got,” Stratford coach John Chalus said. “It came down to the end.”
The teams combined for 18 hits, however, both defenses came through in several clutch situations to keep the scoring to a minimum. Stratford had a solid performance from pitcher Chris Hanna, who threw seven innings, striking out seven batters while only surrendering three walks and Tyler Hill, who relieved him and picked up the win after striking out two while walking only one and allowing no runs.
Summerville had an outstanding performance by its infield. Shortstop Zach Dibble, second baseman Branden Millhouse and first baseman Aaron Bouronich combined for five double plays.
Summerville loaded the bases in the first with base hits from Millhouse and pitcher Pat Dolan and a walk from catcher Brett Wheeler. Bouronich came to the plate and walked, which plated Millhouse for a 1-0 Wave lead.
Stratford’s Kyle Legette opened the bottom of the third with a triple and scored off a single by Aaron Preston to tie the score. The score remained knotted until the top of the fifth.
Millhouse opened with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Fletcher. Dolan then smashed a double to drive the senior in for a 2-1 Wave lead. The advantage was short lived as the bottom of the lineup came through for Stratford in the sixth. The Knights loaded the bases and then Legette hit into double play, but pinch runner Andre Colden scored for a 2-all tie that held until the ninth.
In the bottom of the ninth, Stratford’s leadoff batter struck out, but Patric Limehouse reached with a base hit and Preston walked. Cleanup batter Mecho Bohren stepped to the plate and drove in Limehouse for the game-winning run.
Preston led all batters in the game, going 3-for-5. For Summerville, Millhouse, Dolan and Jacob Webb were all 2-for-4.