By Jeff Patrus
Sports Writer
Once again, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s dashed the Brandon baseball team’s hopes for continuing in the Division 2 state playoffs.
St. Mary’s pitcher Kyle Miller shut down the Blackhawks, allowing only a second-inning single to Mark Butzu and striking out eight as the Eaglets defeated the Blackhawks 4-0 in the opening round of districts June 1 at Brandon.
St. Mary’s (14-12), the defending Division 2 state champions, advanced to take on Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in the district semifinal June 5 at Brandon. The district championship game was held later that day. The Blackhawks finished their season with a record of 21-15.
Last season in districts, the Blackhawks took the Eaglets to extra innings before losing a 6-5 thriller.
Brandon coach Ron Wagner said a combination of Miller’s pitching and some untimely errors (all four of St. Mary’s runs were unearned) spelled defeat for the Blackhawks.
‘He wasn’t that much faster than all the pitchers we’ve seen, but he kept the kids off stride all game,? Wagner said of Miller’s pitching. ‘I thought we played well enough to win, but we just didn’t hit.?
Wagner also said the Blackhawks? inexperience (they started four sophomores against St. Mary’s) was a factor. ‘In the past, when we’ve lost close games, it’s because of inexperience,? he said.
The Blackhawks managed only one base runner (on a walk) after the second inning. The Eaglets took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but Brandon senior Roy Reynolds settled down and held off the Eaglets until the sixth inning, when St. Mary’s scored twice. The Eaglets added an insurance run in the seventh inning.
Reynolds, in his last game for the Blackhawks, threw a complete game six-hitter, striking out five.
In addition to Reynolds, the Blackhawks will lose four other seniors to graduation: Jacob Cinader, Derrick Kratt, Eric Muzzarelli, and Joel Pappas.
The young Blackhawks will return plenty of players for next year’s team. The returnees include juniors Andrew Burch, Butzu, Derek Foyt, and Derek Cowell, and sophomores Jeff Carroll, Andrew Harding, Tony Kraydich, Ray Reynolds, and Andrew Spry.
Despite the number of injuries the team suffered throughout the season (particularly Pappas, who was slated as the Blackhawks? #2 pitcher and missed almost the whole season), Wagner said it was a pleasure coaching this year’s team.
‘It almost seemed like there wasn’t a season,? he said. ‘There were no internal problems, and the season seemed to go by so quickly. I’m going to miss these kids that are leaving the program.?
With Roy Reynolds and Pappas graduating, there will be a big void on the mound for the Blackhawks next season.
‘I don’t know who our #1 or #2 pitchers will be next year,? Wagner said. ‘Hopefully, someone steps up and takes those roles.?