Errors have hampered the Brandon varsity baseball team this year, most recently against Birmingham Groves May 9.
The Falcons scored 10 runs in the top of the third inning, as a result of five Brandon errors, and went on to defeat the Blackhawks 16-10. Brandon fell to 7-9 on the season.
After Groves scored in the top of the first inning, the Blackhawks countered with five runs in the bottom of the first and one more in the bottom of the second to take a 6-1 lead.
However, the floodgates opened in the top of the third, as Brandon errors led to Groves having the big inning. Jon Eggert went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI against the Falcons, while Matt Cinader and Andy Harding added two hits apiece.
Brandon coach Ron Wagner said the Blackhawks have battled defensive lapses all season.
‘We can’t field the ball,? he said. ‘We’re averaging about four errors per game. We’re actually starting to hit pretty well. Our pitching has been great, but we can’t field behind them.?
Wagner also said the Blackhawks? fielding problems are starting to affect them mentally. ‘I think the kids are a little nervous, because they know they’re making mistakes,? he said.
The Blackhawks were again up and down May 8 doubleheader at Holly. The Bronchos defeated the Blackhawks 5-2 in the first game before the Blackhawks won the second game by the same score. Brandon is now 2-5 in Flint Metro League action.
Brandon earned a feather in its cap with a 12-2 win against Flint Kearsley in the Greater Flint Tournament Sunday, May 7. Cinader keyed the Brandon attack by going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI.
Brandon took a road trip to compete in the Shepherd Invitational Saturday, May 6, and came away with mixed results, going 1-2 on the day.
In their first game of the day, the Blackhawks were shut down by host Shepherd 6-0, with Harding notching the Blackhawks? only hit of the game, a fourth-inning triple.
Harding helped make sure the Blackhawks had a much more enjoyable second game, as Brandon routed Bath 12-1. Harding went 4-for-4 with a home run and two triples, driving in six runs and scoring two.
McNeil helped the Brandon cause by going 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored, and also picked up the win on the mound.
In their final game of the day, the Blackhawks suffered a tough loss when they dropped an 11-10 game to Beal, in a contest that went eight innings. Jake Feltner led the Brandon offense by going 4-for-5 with three RBI.