Grottoes Clinches Second Seed in Win Over Broadway

By Nolan Potts
Grottoes scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back as they defeated the Broadway Bruins by a score of 11-3.

Dylan Nicely drove in the first run of the game on an infield single. Three batters later, Tucker Garrison hit into a fielder’s choice and brought home another run, and then the next batter, Jaden Rose, hit an RBI single to center field to make the score 3-0.

The Cardinals (15-8) would tack on a run in the fifth, sixth, and eighth innings, as well as scoring four runs in the seventh inning.

Grottoes had 14 hits, with Dylan Nicely’s three hits leading the way. Clayton Michael had two hits, while nine other players all had one hit each. Garrison had two RBI, while Rose, Dalton Nicely, Cam Irvine, and Theo Wood all had one RBI each.

Broadway (10-13) scored a run in the fifth, sixth, and ninth inning and got three hits from Conner Michael two hits each from Brody Bower, Seth Moomaw, and Jayden Nixon. Carl Keenan had a hit and drove in two runs, while Noah Leonard also had a hit for the Bruins.

Marcus Smith went the first six innings on the mound for Grottoes and earned the win after giving up eight hits, two runs to go along with no walks and four strikeouts. Cam Irvine picked up the save after going three innings and allowing just one run and striking out two.

With the win, Grottoes will be the number two seed in the upcoming playoffs and host either Montezuma or Broadway in the first round. They have their regular season finale on Thursday night when they host the Massanutten Mountaineers. Broadway will be the number six seed and play Clover Hill in the first round if they win on Thursday against Bridgewater, or if Montezuma loses to Stuarts Draft on Thursday. If Broadway loses and Montezuma wins, the Bruins will be the seventh seed and play the Cardinals in the first round. 

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