Bruins Pitching Proves Too Much for Reds

By Leyton Pullin
The Broadway Bruins would take Game 3 in the best of 5 series over the Bridgewater Reds by a score of 2-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
 
Game 3 would get started with offense right away for the Reds as Derek Shifflett would hit a lead off single in the top of the 1st but would get stranded thanks to a Broadway double play to end the inning. Shifflett also got the start for the Reds as he would rack up 2 punch outs early in the bottom of the 1st including one on RCBL Player of the Year Chase Dealuater. Josh Jones would lead off the bottom of the 2nd for Broadway with a single. Travis Reifsnider would follow him with a triple off the right field wall to score Jones giving Broadway the 1-0 lead.
 
In the top of the 3rd Bridgewater would put another runner on as Mason Mitchell would single but then would be put out as part of a fielder's choice to end the inning. Then the lightning came. Both teams were forced to stay in the dugout for a 1:45 delay which usually would cause players, especially pitchers to tighten up and miss their locations but both Shifflett and Trent Abernathy would come out of the delay with their best pitches of the night.
 
Trent Abrenathy would go on to throw 5 shutout innings striking out 6 and allowing 2 hits none of which came after the delay. Shifflett would cruise up until the bottom of the 5th before he would strike out Kevin Rush to start the inning but would then walk Bryce Strawderman. Tyler Ault would deliver with a RBI double to score Strawderman to extend their lead to 2-0. Ault would then get thrown out at third by Catcher Johnathan Sexton on his way back after a pitch to end the inning.
 
Chase DeLauter would come in to pitch for Broadway in the top of the 6th and would walk Mitchell to open the inning but would settle in to strike out the next two hitters he faced. The top of the 7th would be a different story as Michael Fyvie would lead off the inning with a single before DeLauter would strike out two more Reds and then hit Brett Thorpe to put two runners on for Shifflett. Shifflett would deliver with a big double to right field only scoring Fyvie to get the Reds on the board, but still trailing 2-1.
 
Bridgewater would get one final chance in the top of the 9th as Anthony Piccolino came in for the Bruins to attempt the save. Ferrum outfielder Grey Sherfey would open the inning with a single to right field to put the potential tying run on base. Brett Tharpe would then step into his role in the 9 hole spot in the lineup with a sacrifice bunt to move the speedy Sherfey into scoring position. Derek Shifflett would come up next and strike out looking. Mason Mitchell came up with 2 as the final out for the Reda as he would fly out to Josh Jones in right field to end the game.
 
For Broadway they take Game 3 in a tight one thanks to their pitching staff. Trent Abernathy, Chase DeLauter, Liam McDonnel, and Anthony Piccolino combined for 1 run, 11 strikeouts, and 5 hits to lift the Bruins over the Reds. Manager Chip Abernathy has been confident in his pitching staff all year long as they came around for the Bruins in Game 3. Game 4 will take place on Thursday at 7:30 at Ruritan field in Montezuma as Broadway will have a chance to punch their ticket into the RCBL Championship Series.