Bruning lifts Rams past Mustangs in 9 innings
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Charlie Bruning belts the game winning home run in the ninth inning as the Rams nipped Medina 1-0 at Vets Park this afternoon. The Medina catcher is Austin Mosher.
Doing it both on the mound and at the plate, Charlie Bruning keyed Roy-Hart to a thrilling 1-0 nine inning victory over Medina at Vets Park this afternoon to really tighten up the Niagara-Orleans League baseball title race.
Bruning provided the margin of victory for the Rams as he belted a walk off home run with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning.
On the mound, he blanked Medina over the nine innings giving up 4 hits and striking out 12.
With the win, defending champion Roy-Hart improves to 5-2 in N-O competition and pulls even with front-running Medina (7-2) in the all important loss column.
Wilson likewise pulled even in the loss column at 5-2 by downing rival Newfane (1-5) 4-2.
Roy-Hart also mounted a threat in the opening inning getting two runners aboard via a leadoff single by Charlie Brigham and an intentional walk.
However, Medina pitcher Trevor Luthart quickly got out of trouble with a clutch inning ending strikeout.
Trevor Luthart delivers a pitch for Medina.
Luthart had a sparkling afternoon on the mound allowing just that one hit and striking out 13 before he had to leave the game with two out in the ninth due to the 105 pitch county limit. In fact he retired the last 22 batters in a row that he faced.
Medina mounted a threat in the fourth inning getting the first two runners aboard on bunt singles by Brian Fry and Nate Sherman.
The Roy-Hart defense though came up with a huge 1-3-2 double plate from Bruning to Walker Samanka to Noah Hardy to help get out of the jam as Bruning followed up with a big inning ending strikeout.
The Mustangs threatened again in the sixth getting two runners on via two out singles by Fry and Shrman. Bruning though quickly dashed that opportunity by notching another clutch strikeout.
Medina got the leadoff hitter aboard in the seventh via a walk but couldn’t advance him as two Bruning strikeouts and a groundout to Karl Darling at third quickly ended the inning.
The Mustangs then got two runners aboard in the eighth on a hit batter and intentional walk but again couldn’t capitalize as a Bruning strikeout and a groundout to Thomas Russo at second base wiped out the threat.
Bruning then put Medina down in order in the top of the ninth on two groundouts and a strikeout setting the stage for his game winning home run with two out in the bottom of the ninth.
The game completed an extra innings victory season sweep for Roy-Hart which claimed a 5-3 win in 8 innings over the Mustangs in the earlier meeting.
The contest was played at Vets Park as Roy-Hart’s field at Gasport was too wet to play.
Medina will next visit Akron on Monday and then close out the N-O schedule with contests at Barker on Wednesday and at home against Wilson on Saturday.
Roy-Hart has five N-O games to play next week to finish the league season including two against Barker and one each against Akron, Albion and Wilson.
Wilson 4, Newfane 2
Ian Evans hurled a two hitter with 13 strikeouts and also hit a solo home run to lead Wilson past Newfane 4-2.
Roy-Hart catcher Noah Hardy gets set to tag out Medina runner Brian Fry at home.
Roy-Hart’s Charlie Brigham slides into second as Medina’s AJ Seefeldt tries to control the ball.
