Taylor and Shue Keep Broadway Alive

By Leyton Pullin
Facing elimination, the Broadway Bruins picked up a win over the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks 8-6 behind a good start from Jett Shue and a 2 home run night from Caleb Taylor.

Broadway jumped on top right out of the gate as Justin Lohr drew a lead off walk on a 10 pitch at bat before Jett Shue followed him with a triple bringing Lohr in to score. Next to the plate came Caleb Taylor who grounded out to second base but allowed for Shue to score and push the Bruins in front 2-0.
The D-backs had a chance in the bottom half of the first as they loaded up the bases before a Bob Funk fly out ended the inning.

Broadway extended their lead in the bottom of the 4th inning. The Bruins put two runners on to open the inning before Kevin Rush delivered with a 2 RBI single to push the lead to 4-0 for the Bruins.

Stuarts Draft attempted to strike back in the bottom half of the inning as Tyler Wilcher got the first base hit of the night for Draft with a lead off double. Funk followed with a walk to put runners on the corners after a wild pitch. Next to the plate came Lucas Adam. The D-Backs used some nifty baserunning as Funk took off for second but stopped half way when Taylor made the throw down allowing for Wilcher to take off and score easily at the plate to cut the lead to 4-1. Later in the inning Grayson Bush came to the plate with Funk at third base and laid down a perfectly placed bunt to allow everyone to reach easily and score Funk to make it 4-2.

Broadway would put up runs in the top of the 5th and 7th as Caleb Taylor hit a two-run homer and then followed with a solo shot in the 7th. Broadway added another in the top of the 7th on an Isaac VanMeter sacrifice fly to stretch the lead to 8-2.

Stuarts Draft loaded the bases again in the bottom of the 7th but was destined to not leave them stranded as Bush was the first hitter up with the bases loaded and drew a walk to bring Cody Bartley in to score. Calen Owens came to the plate next with the bases jammed and crush a high fly ball to deep right centerfield that hit off the top half of the wall for a stand up double clearing the bases and driving home 3 runs for Stuarts Draft. Zach Roberts came up next and walked but the D-Backs ended up stranding both he and Owens as Hass struck out at the plate to end the inning with the score now 8-6.
Stuarts Draft would have a chance in the bottom of the 9th as Doug Pollock reached on a fly ball that was dropped by the second baseman but he would be left stranded as Owens was retired on strikes to end the game.

For Broadway Jett Shue and Caleb Taylor highlighted the night. Shue went 6.1 IP giving up 4 runs, 3 earned, and struck out 6 in the win on the mound. Taylor was the force at the plate for the Bruins as he had 4 RBI and 2 homeruns.

On the flip side Stuarts Draft struggled with runners on base as the D-Backs left 12 runners on base including twice where the bases were left loaded with no runs scored in the inning. Will Mullins takes the loss for the D-Backs as he gave up 6 earned runs over 4 innings of work.
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Game 4 will take place at Broadway High School on Wednesday August 4 as Stuarts Draft still leads the series 2-1 and has a chance to punch their ticket into the championship series against New Market who locked up their championship berth with a sweep of the Bridgewater Reds.