Updated:
6/11/2023
Baptists Best Brandywine

Brandywine played our second game of the season (third including our forfeit last month), with a quick rematch against Goshen Baptist. Despite another solid offensive showing, Goshen got the better of us, notching a 16-12 victory, and evening the season series. Despite the loss, we nonetheless will run the highlight reel; and action!

As the visiting team, Brandywine could not plate a run in the first, even with two singles. In the bottom half of the set, our defense started out sharply, with two pivotal outs to make it look like we might exit the inning unscathed. However a couple of tough breaks and Goshen capitalizing, had us staring down a 0-5 deficit into the second.

Brandywine was able to get one run in the second, but could not secure the big offensive surge we needed. Thanks to Joe settling in nicely on the mound, he kept Goshen off the board in the bottom half, and BV took a 1-5 score into the third.

The top of the third found our newest player, Daniel Lin (3-3, 3-1B, BB) proudly wearing his dad’s number 12! Daniel lead off with a single, and was later plated by Josh Shannon (1-4, 1B, RBI). Trailing 2-5, we gave up 3 more in the bottom half of the third and found ourselves on the wrong side of a 2-8 score.

The Brandywine bats began to heat up in the fourth, beginning with a Homer from Mike Gardner (1-4, HR, RBI). Following a triple from Mark Cruser (3-4, 3B, HR, 2RBI), singles from Wes and Daniel along with a pair of walks, set the table for Jiah Glavin (3-4, 2-1B, HR, 4RBI) to hit a RBI single. Joe Scalia (3-3, 2-1B, 2B, BB, RBI) answered with a RBI single, and Brandywine got back into the game, only trailing 6-8.

Having given up just one run in the bottom of the fourth, things were looking promising for the good guys. However a quick 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth, followed by surrendering 4 more in the bottom half found BV now trailing 6-13, headed into the sixth.

Our offensive prowess hit its zenith in the 6th, with Brandywine grabbing 5 runs and batting into the 5-run mercy rule. It began with singles from Wes Mah (3-4, 3-1B), and Tim Cura (1-2, 1B, 2-BB), and a walk from Daniel. Mikey Carroll (2-4, 2-1B, BB, 2RBI) hit a RBI single, followed by a three run homer from Jiah. A double from Joe, and a single from Josh allowed Timothy Glavin (2-4, 2-1B, RBI) to end the inning with a RBI single. Just like that, Brandywine showed signs of life only trailing 11-13, headed into the bottom half of the sixth.

Unfortunately, we gave up 3 more in the bottom of the sixth, and we faced an 11-16 deficit headed into our last shot in the 7th. Despite a Home Run from Mark, and three additional base runners, Brandywine could only muster one run in the seventh. So, a 12-16 loss finds us sitting at a 1-2 record. Hoping to even our record on 6-8-23 against ELCA, the Canadians interfered, and we had our first ever “Smokeout” due to the air quality. Our next game will be Monday, 6-12-23 against TCC2.

Big Boppers Battle Baptist Brothers

Softball 2023 is finally here, and its time for our first write-up of the season! After a season opening loss due to forfeit earlier in May, Brandywine assembled a scrappy team to face our rivals from Goshen Baptist Church on 5/22/23. A strong offense and quality pitching from Joe Scalia and Josh Shannon, gave us a 19-8 victory and allowed us to even our record at 1-1.

With Goshen scoring four runs in the top of the 1st, it looked like Brandywine might be off to a shaky start. We were able to secure one run, but gave it right back in the second with Goshen scoring one and taking a 5-1 lead. The bottom half of the second, however showed that our offense was awakening from its winter hibernation! Dylan Cruser (3-3, 1B, 2-3B, 5 RBI) got the party started with a monstrous triple. Tim Cura (1-2, 2B, BB, RBI) plated Dylan with a RBI double. Next came “rookie sensation” Mike Schmelzer (1-3, 1B, RBI) making his Brandywine debut with a RBI single. Not to let his little bro outdo him, Mark Cruser (2-3, 3B, HR, 3 RBI) hit a triple of his own, scoring two runs, and evening up the score at 5-5 to end the second.

In the third, Joe Scalia’s stellar pitching shutout the tough Goshen offense, giving Brandywine the chance to take its first lead of the game. In the bottom of the third, Josh Shannon (4-4, 1B, 3-2B, 3 RBI) continued his perfect night at the plate with his second double of the evening. Two consecutive singles from Tim Glavin (2-3, 2-1B, RBI) and Gabe Brandt (2-3, 2-1B, RBI), along with Dylan knocking in two more, gave BV its first lead of the night at 8-5.

In the fourth, Goshen erased our lead by getting three runs back , evening the score at 8-8, but our offense was not done just yet. Mike Gardner (2-3, 2-1B) got on the bags with a single. Our late arrival, Wes Mah (2-2, 1B, 2B) came up next smacking a double. Next came Mitch Ruoff (3-4, 3-1B, 3 RBI) who sent both base runners in with a 2 RBI single, giving Brandywine a lead they would not give up.

Josh Shannon’s pitching in the 5th, 6th, and 7th inning kept Goshen from scoring another run! That coupled with a continuation of our offensive prowess contributed to 9 more Brandywine runs in the 5th and 6th!! The bottom of the 5th started with Josh doubling, Timothy Glavin, Gabe, and Laird Townsend (1-3, 1B) all singling. Then came Dylan who knocked in 3 with an impressive triple, his second of the night!

In the bottom of the sixth, Mark Cruser lead off with a homer, then came four consecutive singles from Gardy, Wes, Mitch and Ben Murray (1-4, 1B, RBI). Rounding out the nights scoring was a walk from Joe Scalia, and finally a 2 RBI single from Josh. This secured our 19-8 victory over Goshen.

Our next game is June 5th, once again against Goshen. Lets keep up the strong start, and keep on bopping, baby!