Swartley, Sherfey Propel Bridgewater Over Montezuma

By Nolan Potts
Bridgewater catcher Caden Swartley hit two home runs and drove in three runs, while center fielder Grey Sherfey had three hits and drove in three as the Reds scored two runs in the top of the ninth to defeat Montezuma by a score of 9-8.

Montezuma led 6-4 heading into the fourth inning. Bridgewater would score one in the fifth to tie the game at 6-6, and they would add another in the seventh to take a 7-6 lead on an RBI single by Sherfey that scored Malachi Simmons.

In the bottom of the eighth, Montezuma would tie it at 7-7 on an RBI single off the bat of Dylan Rankin, and then would take the lead two batters later on an RBI single from Josh Lallo.

In the top of the ninth, Braves’ pitcher Roman Borders retired the first two batters of the inning. Colton Harlow would then pinch hit for Sherfey with two outs, and he would reach on an error to extend the inning. The next batter was Swartley, and he hit a home run to left field to give the Reds a 9-8 lead.

Harlow, the former James Madison University pitcher and a former 2018 MLB draft pick in the Colorado Rockies’ organization, stayed in the game to pitch and to try to pick up the save. Kelly Hackley led off with a single, but the left-hander struck out the next three batters to seal the win for the Reds in just his second appearance on the mound this summer.

Lallo and Kyle Armstrong each had three hits for the Braves (10-13), while Rankin, Tyler Morley, and Gavin Rush each had two hits. Tyler Smith also had two hits for Montezuma, one of which was a home run, and also had four RBI in the game.

For the Reds (19-4), all nine starters tallied at least one hit, with Sherfey’s three hits and Swartley’s two home runs leading the way. Malachi Simmons and Cam Herron each also had one RBI a piece. Thomas Knight, Garett Van Meter, and Ryan Costello all had scoreless relief appearances for the Reds. Brett Tharp pitched the eighth inning and picked up the win, and Harlow earned the save.

The regular season finale for both teams is Thursday night. Bridgewater travels to Broadway, while Montezuma travels to Stuarts Draft.

The Reds will be the number one seed in the upcoming playoffs and host eighth-seeded Elkton in the first round. Montezuma will be the number six or seven seed, depending on how the games go tomorrow night. If they’re the sixth seed, they’ll play Clover Hill in the first round. If they’re the seventh seed, they’ll play Grottoes in the first round.

 

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