In between a disappointing middle, the Blackhawks had a satisfying beginning and ending as they hosted the Brandon Invitational April 30.
The Blackhawks defeated Lake Fenton 8-5 in the opening game of the invite, before losing to Clarkston 13-7 in the second game. However, the Blackhawks rebounded to defeat Detroit Henry Ford 15-0 in the consolation game.
Ann Arbor Pioneer won the invitational by defeating Clarkston in the championship game.
Brandon’s record is currently 10-8 overall and 2-4 in the Flint Metro League following a doubleheader split against Holly May 2. Holly won the opener 5-4, while Brandon took the nightcap 9-1.
Brandon got out of the gates early against the Blue Devils, scoring three runs each in the first and second innings. Andrew Harding led off the game with a walk, then stole second and headed to third on a wild pitch.
Mark Butzu then hit a sacrifice fly to right to drive in Harding with the game’s first run. Derek Foyt then doubled in Butzu, and later scored himself on a passed ball to give Brandon a 3-0 lead.
Brandon pitcher Jeff Carroll battled out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first, then the Blackhawks increased their lead to 6-0 in the second.
The Blackhawks added two insurance runs in the fourth, as Andrew Burch hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Butzu, and Matt Collier drove in Foyt with a single.
Carroll picked up the win for Brandon, allowing two runs in the first three innings, before Andrew Hyde picked up the save by pitching the final three innings.
The Blackhawks were deluged by a steady onslaught of Clarkston runs in the second game of the tourney. The Wolves scored two runs in the first inning and four more in the third inning before exploding for seven in the fourth inning.
The Blackhawks tried to come back with four runs in the top of the fifth, but the Wolves? lead was simply too much for the Blackhawks to overcome.
‘We hit the ball well, but we allowed too many walks,? Brandon coach Ron Wagner said. ‘They put their hits together more than we did.?
Harding went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI in the loss, while Tony Kraydich also went 3-for-3, with two runs scored.
Brandon had little trouble defeating Henry Ford in the consolation game, scoring seven runs in the first inning, five in the second and three in the third.
Ray Reynolds was the winning pitcher for the Blackhawks, and also drove in three runs. Travis Spry also had three RBI for the Blackhawks.
The first game of the Blackhawks? doubleheader against Holly featured a pitchers? duel between the Bronchos? Eric McLeod and Brandon’s Foyt. McLeod limited the Blackhawks to one hit (by Harding), while Foyt threw a five-hitter with four strikeouts.
The nightcap featured a solid all-around performance from Harding, who allowed only two Holly hits on the mound and went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI.
Brandon’s offense was clicking in the second game against the Bronchos, as they collected 11 hits. Brandon was also helped by poor Holly defense, as the Bronchos committed eight errors.
‘We just jumped on them from the beginning,? Wagner said.
Brandon struggled against Flint Kearsley in the opening round of the Greater Flint Tournament April 29, losing to the Hornets 8-1.
The Hornets scored three runs in the first inning, which would prove to be all they would need. The Blackhawks scored their lone run in the sixth inning when Harding reached base on an error and scored on a single by Butzu.