By Natalie Dillon
ndillon@
themonroetimes.com
BELOIT — Brodhead-Juda, self-dubbed the Cardiac Cardinals for winning three walk-off games this season, was on the wrong side of a walk-off May 14 against Turner at ABC Supply Stadium, home of the Beloit Sky Carp. The Trojans scored the only run of the game on a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the eighth inning.
“I know we didn’t come out on the right side, but that’s a program-changing loss for us,” Brodhead-Juda head coach Aaron Guilbault said. “I’m so happy and so proud of them in every facet of the game. All of our guys top to bottom battled and fought.”
The battle began right away in the top of the first, as Gabe Bockhop crushed a one-out double to left field that one-hopped the wall — 345 feet away. David Masloske then drew a four-pitch walk. Clayton Elliott attempted to bunt both runners into scoring position, but he was called out of the box and runners had to stay put. Ryan Searls then flew out to left, leaving two runners left on base.
Turner left runners on in the first, too, as Evan Senobe walked the first two batters. He settled in, getting Fernando Tillery to strike out looking, but walked Zack Ries to load the bases. After a mound visit, Senobe got Andy Buckley to ground out. Ryan Searls fielded and threw home to Bockhop for the force. Ethan Halon then flew out to left, stranding the bases loaded.
“It’s been our Achilles in most of our games this year — the first inning,” Guilbault said. “It’s good when we can come out of it with no runs.”
The next two innings were without much offense, as Turner starting pitcher Buckley and Senobe wracked up two strikeouts each.
In the top of the fourth, Masloske and Elliott stung the ball but flew out to center. Ryan Searls then lined a two-out single to center and stole second. It was Brodhead-Juda’s first hit since the first inning. Buckley escaped the inning unscathed, as he got Sam Searls to fly out to left.
The Cardinals left another runner on in the fifth, as Tyrin Foster hit a two-out single to left, turning it over to the top of the order. Senobe grounded out, late to the bag by half a step.
Brodhead-Juda inched closer in the sixth, putting a runner 90 feet from home. Masloske crunched a one-out double to left that one-hopped the fence. Elliott grounded out to third, but Masloske was able to advance on the throw. Ryan Searls drew a four-pitch walk, putting runners on first and third. He attempted to bait a throw with a delayed steal, but Turner let him go without a throw. Sam Searls then grounded out, leaving runners stranded.
Senobe erased a two-out double in the bottom of the frame with a flip to first, putting the bats in his team’s hands once again for their last chance to score.
Max Pinnow reached on an error, as the ball took an errant bounce and hit Cesar Alfaro in the face. With two strikes, Kohen Sawle laid down a sacrifice bunt that nearly landed in no-man’s land for a base hit, but Buckley threw him out. Foster drew a five-pitch walk, chasing Buckley from the game.
He still played a crucial role in the inning at shortstop, chasing down a foul ball to retire Senobe. Bockhop then flew out to center, leaving two runners stranded.
Senobe entered the bottom of the seventh at 97 pitches. Jayden Piccione reached on a bunt single on the first pitch of his at bat. Senobe then hit Aiden Berg, prompting a mound visit from Guilbault. Brayden Ward laid down a sacrifice bunt that Senobe fielded and threw to third, but it was too late to get Piccione.
The fielder’s choice chased Senobe from the game, giving Elliott three inherited runners with no one out. Elliott struck Tillery out on three pitches and got Ries to line out into a double play to send the game into extra innings. Ryan Searls went to his knees for the catch and flipped to Sam Searls at third to double up Piccione.
“It’s incredible to see the resiliency in these kids. That’s a spot where — maybe earlier this year or in year’s past — we hang our heads and it is over,” Guilbault said. “There’s something a little different with this group and these kids. That was huge and a big momentum swing.”
Brodhead-Juda wasn’t able to take advantage of the momentum swing, though, as relief pitcher Jayden Mosely mowed through the heart of the Cardinal order 1-2-3.
Buckley led off the bottom of the eighth with a single up the middle. Halon moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, and Elliott intentionally walked Noah Pfundheller to create a force out at each base. Mosley reached on an error to load the bases, and Piccione — who reached on a bunt single in the seventh — executed a suicide squeeze to score Buckley.
“Turner is solid. Maybe they are down a little bit this year some people will say, but they just reload,” Guilbault said. “They have great kids and compete. They’ve been here before and know how to win. It was a great game.”
The Cardinals received five hits from five different people — Ryan Searls, Bockhop, Masloske, Pinnow and Foster. Elliott suffered the loss, giving up one unearned run on one hit. Starting pitcher Senobe threw six scoreless innings, striking out eight.
Although the loss hurt Brodhead-Juda in Rock Valley-Rock standings, the Cardinals are still in contention for a league title. They must win their last three conference games — including a rematch with Turner May 16 — to share the title with the Trojans.
“We control our own destiny. We aren’t going to shy away from it. We know what we have to do — go out and win three straight baseball games to be where we want to be at the end of the year,” Guilbault said. “Regardless of what happens in these next three games, I’m so proud of these kids. I’ve been coaching nine years to get a team and young men to a point, and this is the point. I’m happy.”
