Broadway Blanks Massanutten

By Nolan Potts
Broadway got a stellar pitching performance from right-hander Wesley Landis and the Bruins scored all four of their runs in the first inning as they shutout Massanutten by a final score of 4-0.

In the top of the first inning, the first two batters were retired, but number three hitter Micah Canterbury hit an 0-2 pitch out of the ballpark to make it 1-0 Broadway. Brody Bower would then reach on an infield single and Noah Leonard followed that up with a double to make it 2-0. Ethan Burgreen would walk and then Miguel Fajardo would get hit by a pitch to load the bases, and then Micah George and Connor Michael would each draw bases-loaded walks to make the score 4-0.

That was more than enough run support on this night for Wesley Landis. The right-hander, an RCBL rookie who pitches collegiately at Wheeling University, had a no-hitter going into the eighth inning. Drew Hawkins, the number eight hitter for the Mountaineers, hit a chopper directly over second base. Broadway shortstop Carl Keenan made a great play on the ball, but Hawkins narrowly beat it out at first base. It would be the only hit Landis allowed in his eight innings of work to go along with three walks and six strikeouts.

After the first inning, there wasn’t much offense to talk about for either team, and the pitching for Massanutten was solid, as well. Cole Orr, the starting pitcher who plays at Ferrum College, settled down after the rough start and pitched a scoreless second and third inning before turning it over to Mason Sawyers. Sawyers, a right-hander at Hood College, went four innings and allowed just one hit and struck out two. Andrew Baugher would then pitch the eighth and ninth innings and did not allow a hit while striking out three.

Landis departed after eight innings and 109 pitches and turned it over to Dawson Moomaw for the ninth. The Mountaineers got two runners on in the ninth inning and got a baserunner to third base for the first time in the game, but Moomaw was able to strand runners on first and third to preserve the shutout.

Massanutten (12-11) is back in action on Thursday in their regular season finale at Grottoes, while Broadway (10-12) will travel to Grottoes on Wednesday and then will host Bridgewater on Thursday.

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