SELLERSBURG
Coach John Lawson said it was nice to see his Brownstown Central baseball team swing some hot bats during Friday’s Silver Creek Class 3A sectional game against North Harrison.
The Braves scored four runs in both the second and seventh innings and pounded out 15 hits during a 9-7 victory.
“That’s been our Achilles’ heel lately,” Lawson said referring to some low run totals.
“We played well in some games and had some great pitching. We had a couple 2-1 losses here lately, and a 4-3 loss.
“We did score some runs, which is great to see in the first game of the tournament. We keep preaching that they are capable, and they know they can hit. We did it, we executed. We had a double steal, hit-and-run, got some bunts down. We did some good things and pressured their defense a little bit.”
After the Cougars bunched four hits to score two runs in the bottom of the first, the Braves came back with four hits in the top of the second, plus were helped by two North Harrison errors to take the 4-2 lead.
Ian Martin led off the inning by reaching first base safely on an error on the shortstop. Devon Stuckwisch singled putting runners on first and second. Kyle Kramer laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the pitcher’s throw was wide of first base that allowed Martin to score, and pinch-runner Cam Luedeman to end up on third and Kramer on second.
Gus Hogan hit a sacrifice fly to right field, and Seth Borden and Ty Maxie had single to drive in runs.
Kramer doubled in the fourth inning and scored on a hit by Borden for a 5-3 lead.
The Cougars closed to 5-4 with a run in the sixth before the Braves sent eight batters to the plate in the seventh and scored four runs.
Nick Marling, Kramer and Lambring had singles, and Borden had a double. Borden drove in two runs, while Kramer and Lambring each had one RBI.
Borden finished with three hits, two runs and four RBIs, Kramer had three hits and scored three runs, and Lambring, Sy Zickler and Stuckwisch had two hits apiece.
“A lot of them contributed up-and-down the lineup,” Lawson said as all nine offensive starters either had a hit, RBI or scored a run.
Cody Williams pitched the first four innings for the Braves, Maxie went 2.1 innings, and Zickler finished up. They combined for 11 strike outs and no walks.
“Our pitching was good,” Lawson said. “I won’t classify it as great as it has been. Our pitching has been solid all year. Cody and Ty were good, and Sy came in a tough spot and threw strikes.”
“We get that solid pitching we’re used to on Monday and score nine runs that will be good for us. I’m glad to see the bats come around.”
Silver Creek will play Scottsburg at 11 a.m. Monday. The Braves (16-8) will play the winner of the Corydon-Salem game in the second game Monday. Corydon and Salem played late Friday night.