Rossford, Ohio a victim vs. BHS baseball
KNOXVILLE — Despite managing just four hits, the Bearden High School baseball team notched a comeback victory Friday, April 2.
The Bulldogs were opportunistic as they drew nine walks and got a pair of late extra-base hits in a 9-7 victory over Ohio’s Rossford High School in a battle of Bulldogs in the DeMarini Classic at Phil Garner Ballpark.
“I’ll be honest with you, this game was hard to watch,” Bearden head coach John Rice said. “You had kids (on both teams) who didn’t want to swing the bat.
“They left it in the umpire’s hands today and that’s not what you want to see in a high school baseball game,” he added. “You want to see guys hitting the ball and you want to see guys playing defense.
The homestanding Bulldogs (3-3) also saw their pitchers issue six walks and hit multiple batters, which helped Rossford (2-4-1) claw its way back into the game and take a lead after falling behind 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
But trailing 7-5 in the fifth inning, Bearden came up with a pair of big hits as freshman catcher Brooks Wright, a freshman and University of Tennessee commitment, led off the frame with a home run.
Rossford relievers then walked the next three BHS hitters. With two outs, Bulldogs senior third baseman Bryson Trammell came up with a three-run triple that would be the game-winning hit.
“That was just a great hit by Bryson, and Brooks had a big home run,” Rice said.
On the mound, Bearden relief pitcher Tripp Spencer, who picked up the win, threw 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, surrendering just one walk. He recorded four strikeouts and fanned the last three Rossford hitters he faced.
“That was a good job by Tripp,” Rice said.
The Bulldogs had to come from behind to notch a win but they got off to a fast start by scoring four runs in the opening frame.
Bearden scored multiple runs despite managing just one hit.
Nelms walked and scored when Rossford starter Brandon Swope uncorked a wild pitch.
Wright was hit by a pitch and lifted for courtesy runner Owen Evon, who also came home on a wild pitch.
Ty Seritt singled in the frame and Griffen Oros walked. Both scored when Drew Sliwinski reached on an error.
Rossford pulled to within 4-3 in the top of the third before Bearden got another run in the bottom of the frame as Bailey Redmond drew a bases-loaded walk that plated Seritt, who reached on a two-base error.
The visiting Bulldogs scored four runs in the fourth off Bearden reliever Ethan Seagrist, who walked Andrew McMannis and gave up a single to Carter Hollstein and then hit four consecutive batters before giving way to Spencer, who struck out Jacob Tuczynski to end the inning.
