OAK RIDGE, Pa. (D9Sports) — The Brockway Rovers used a three-run first inning and a clutch double play with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh to down homestanding Redbank Valley, 4-2, Tuesday afternoon in the opening round of the District 9 Class 2A playoffs at the Oak Ridge Field.
(Photo: Tyler Serafini, Brockway. Photo by Cory Geer)
“We’ve played in five or six 1-run games this year, and unfortunately we were on the wrong end of most of them,” Brockway manager Terry Moores aid. “But that built us to this point.”
After taking a 4-0 lead thanks to a Jesse Johnson home run in the fourth, Brockway had to hold on for dear life to get the win, especially in the seventh when Redbank Valley loaded the bases with just the one away.
The seventh looked like it would go quickly for the Rovers when Cameron Travis was first-pitch swinging and flew out to center field for out No. 1.
But Tyler Serafini, the Brockway starter and winner, walked Cole Wolbert and had to be pulled because he had reached the pitch limit of 100.
Andrew Trunzo relieved but immediately struggled walking the only two batters he faced loading the bases.
Moore then went to Santino Inzana, who on his fourth pitch was able to get Bryan Layton to line out to second baseman Trunzo, and Grayson Harman was doubled off second to end the game.
“They just hung on,” Moore said. “I’m proud of the effort they gave today. The kids remained calm, and they did their job when that line drive was hit. They weren’t nervous about making a play.”
Redbank Valley manager Craig Hibell explained that his team was trying to tie the game on the line drive.
“We had the bases loaded with one out and our three and four hitters up but the line drive out just didn’t go our way,” Hibell said. “Grayson is one of the fastest kids in the league, so if that ball gets through were going to send him and play aggressively.”
Brockway set the tone early with the three-run first with all three runs coming with two outs.
Jesse Johnson drew a walk, and Trunzo followed with a single off Layton before Matthew Clark was hit by a pitch loading the bases. Angelo Inzana then ripped a ball into right field where it was misplayed by right fielder Wolber allowing all three runs to score.
“Jesse did a great job working out a walk,” Moore said. “Andrew and Angelo with the singles and great baserunning got us out to a great start.”
Layton, who had 11 strikeouts in the game, avoided further damage by getting a third strikeout in the inning, but Hibell said the damage was done.
“We didn’t put ourselves in a position to succeed,” Hibell said. “We gave up three runs on one hit. It wasn’t anything that they did. We just did it to ourselves.”
Brockway added to its lead in the third when Johnson led off with a solo home run to left making it 4-0.
“I didn’t really think four runs was going to be enough today, but Tyler (Serafini) really did a great job today on the mound,” Moore said.
Serafini, who struck out 10 Bulldogs of his own, continued to roll through the Bulldog’s lineup until the fifth when Redbank was finally able to crack the scoreboard.
Jonah Henry leadoff with a single, and after a Logan Wadding strikeout and a Nick Smith fly out, Travis singled and Wolbert and Harmon both walked forcing in a run making it 4-1. Blaney Brooks then singled home Travis pulling the Bulldogs to within 4-2 after five complete innings.
“We got down 4-0, and it looked like we were dead,” Hibell said. “But we were able to battle back and give ourselves a chance late in the game. I can’t say enough about their character.”
Redbank Valley had a chance in the sixth when Wadding singled with two outs and stole second, but Smith struck out looking to end the threat.
Brockway will face Cranberry in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Cranberry.
BROCKWAY 4, REDBANK VALLEY 2
Score By Innings
Brockway 301 000 0 — 4
Redbank 000 020 0 — 2
BROCKWAY — 4
Player, Position, AB, R, H, RBI
Hunter Antonuccio rf 4000, Erik Botwright lf 4000, Jesse Johnson 1b 2211, Andrew Trunzo ss-p-2b 3120, Matthew Clark c 2000, Jesse Wood cr 0100, Angelo Inzana cf 3012, Jarrett Esposito 3b 2000, Zach Foradori ph 1000, Jon Wood 2b 2000, Sanrino Inzana p 0000, Tyler Serafini p-ss 2000, Zane Puhala cr 0000. Totals: 25-4-4-3.
REDBANK VALLEY — 2
Player, Position, AB, R, H, RBI
Grayson Harman cf-p 2001, Blaney Brooks 3b 1011, Bryan Layton p-ss 4000, Hunter Martz cr 0000, Scott Toth c 3000, Jonah Henry 1b 3110, Logan Wadding lf 3010, Nick Smith ss-2b 3000, Cameron Travis 3110, Cole Wolbert rf 1000, Riley Robson pr 0000. Totals: 23-2-4-2.
Errors: Redbank Valley 2, Brockway 0. LOB: Redbank Valley 7, Brockway 4. DP: Brockway 2, Redbank Valley 1. HR: Johnson. SB: Trunzo, Serafini, Brooks, Wadding. HBP: Clark (by Layton).
Pitching
Brockway
Serafini — 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 10 K
Trunzo — 0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
S. Inzana -0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Totals 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 10 K
Trunzo faced two batters in the seventh
Redbank Valley
Layton — 6.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 11 K
Harman — 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Totals 7 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 11 K
Winning pitcher: Serafini
Losing pitcher Layton
Save: S. Inzana
