Showalter Shines and Ninth Inning Rally Secures Win for Bridgewater

By Mitchell Broughton

A nine-run ninth inning rally leads the Bridgewater Reds past the Montezuma Braves 9-4 at Montezuma Ruritan Park last night. 

Making his first appearance in 2020, highly touted James Madison pitcher and former Turner Ashby High School standout Justin Showalter continues his dominance from the 2020 NCAA season. Showalter struck out ten in seven innings, allowing just four hits, one walk, and two runs. Waring Garber came in relief in the eighth, striking out three to grab the win for the Reds.
 
Both teams struggled offensively early on and the game was scoreless until a Corbin Lucas single drove in the first run of the game in the sixth. In the ninth it was Lucas’ three-run home run that capitalized a seven-run rally to break the tie. Also pitching in for the Reds were shortstop Derek Shifflett, who got on base four times and drove in a run, and second baseman Tanner Moyers, who had two doubles on the night. It’s also important to note that Bridgewater left 18 runners on base, ten in scoring position.

On the mound to start the games for the Braves was George Mason pitcher Matt Sykes, he was relieved by Derek Ryan in the fourth. Both combined for ten strikeouts, three hits, and only one unearned run. That duo kept the game tight, but it was the three relievers after who struggled to get in a rhythm. 

Despite the early-on struggles facing Showalter, the top of Montezuma’s lineup finally got going late to tie the game going into the final inning. Jacob Haney’s RBI double opened up the scoring for the Braves in the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, center fielder Jeremy Wagner homered, driving in two runs in a last-ditch effort to come back from a seven-run deficit. 

Bridgewater moves to 2-1 on the season and will travel to Rebel Field to take on New Market this evening. Montezuma, falling to 1-3, will host Broadway tonight as well — both games scheduled for a 7:30 first pitch. 

FINAL: Bridgewater 9 Montezuma 4. Winning pitcher: Waring Garber. Losing pitcher: Grant Thomas.
— Around the League: Broadway's offense stays hot. The Bruins (2-1) beat Grottoes (3-1) 11-5 and handed the Cardinals their first loss of the season. Tyler Ault and Josh Jones combine for nine hits, four doubles, and six RBIs. 

A pair of home runs from Grant Thompson and Henry Delavergne lead the New Market Shockers (2-1) past the Clover Hill Bucks (2-1) 10-3. 

Elkton (1-2) opened up the evening with a five-run first inning, capitalized by a Tristan Gordon grand slam, to secure their first win of the season. The Blue Sox defeat the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks (0-3) 11-3.
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