Roy-Hart tops Gowanda in B2 quarterfinal

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Charlie Brigham dives back into first base during the Rams sectional win over visiting Gowanda this afternoon at Gasport.

Surviving a couple of late inning scares, No. 2 seed Roy-Hart defeated No. 7 Gowanda 5-2 this afternoon in a Section VI Class B2 quarterfinal playoff game at Gasport.

Trailing 5-2, Gowanda got the bases loaded in the sixth inning on two walks and an error but Roy-Hart got out of trouble as Charlie Bruning, who came on in relief of his brother Jake in the fifth frame, notched a clutch inning ending strikeout.

Andrew Srock hits a sacrifice fly to drive in what proved to be the winning run for Roy-Hart in the fourth inning.

Likewise in the seventh inning the Panthers loaded the bases on three walks but again the Rams escaped as Charlie Bruning again registered a clutch strikeout to end the threat and the game.

On the afternoon the Bruning brothers combined on an unusual no hitter as Jake walked 6 and struck out 8 in five and two-thirds innings and Charlie walked 3 and struck out 2 in an inning and one third.

At the plate, Roy-Hart jumped out to an early lead by scoring twice in the second inning on a single by Noah Hardy and a triple by Al Xapsos. A single by Charlie Brigham and an error set up the threat.

Gowanda capitalized on two errors to knot the contest at 2-2 in the top of the third as a pair of walks set up the opportunity.

Roy-Hart regained the lead for good at 3-2 by scoring a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Srock. Singles by Brigham and Walker Samanka and a fielders choice play loaded the bases to set up the threat.

The Rams then added two big insurance runs in the fifth inning on RBI singles by Brigham and Hardy. A triple by Gavyn Boyle ignited that uprising which was also aided by a single by Samanka.

Niagara-Orleans League champion Roy-Hart will next host the No. 3 Southwestern in the Class B2 semifinals on Tuesday. Southwestern downed No. 6 JFK 14-10.

The Bruning brothers, Jake, at left, and Charlie, combined to hurl an unusual no hitter for the Rams in the win over the Panthers.