Brummel, Tribe controls Titans; Lexington triumphs

EL PASO — Henry Brummel was in absolute command and received help from his team's offense as Pontiac erupted for seven runs in the first inning in rolling to a 12-0 victory over host El Paso-Gridley in a nonconference baseball contest at South Pointe Park Monday.

Brummel threw 35 strikes out of 58 tosses and struck out five in 3 2-3 innings on the bump. He walked one.

The Indians awarded their hurler with a seven-run advantage before Brummel took the mound. The PTHS hurler was able to help himself before taking the ball with a run-scoring base hit in the top of the opening frame.

The first began with Michael Kuska drawing a walk and Camden Fenton getting hit by a pitch off EPG starter Mason Vandegraft. Logan Barnett followed with a base hit that plated Kuska with the first run, and Brummel did likewise, driving in Fenton to make it 2-0.

Drew Wayman made it three straight base knocks that drove in Barnett. Duncan Eilts, the courtesy runner for Brummel, took second on the play. Zayn Eilts drew a free pass to load the bases. This spelled the end of Vandegraft's time on the bump as the EPG starter gave way to Brady Veselack. Zechariah Landstrom grounded into a fielder's choice that drove in Duncan Eilts to make it 4-0.

Hunter Wilson got plunked to reload the bases and Cayden Masching followed by grounding out that drove in Wayman and turned the lineup over. Kuska singled on a blooper to center to drive in Landstrom and Wilson for a 7-0 lead.

Brummel retired the Titans in order in the bottom of the first inning and then got some more run support in the second as the Tribe plated two more runs.

Barnett led off with a single and then scored one out later when Wayman scorched a line drive to center for a two-base hit. Wayman scored two batters later when Landstrom singled to right to make it 9-0.

Another uneventful inning on the hill for Brummel followed as the fireballing junior struck out three and walked one in the frame.

Barnett doubled with one out to drive in Masching and Brummel followed with a base hit to plate Fenton to make it 11-0. Barnett scored moments later with the game's final tally when Wayman grounded into a fielder's choice.

Brummel retired the first two EPG batters in the bottom of the fourth before yielding to Wayman, who retired the only batter he faced on a pop up to Masching at short.

Fenton threw the fifth inning, setting down three on strikes while allowing a walk to Micah Meiss and a hit to Vandegraft.

Barnett had a double, two singles and drove in two runs to help pace the Pontiac (3-0) offense. The University of Dayton signee also scored three times. Wayman had a double, single and three runs batted in while Brummel and Kuska each had two hits and drove in two runs. Landstrom had a hit and two RBIs. Masching drove in a run.

Vandegraft collected both base hits for the Titans (1-3). He also took the loss on the hill after allowing six earned runs on three hits and two walks before being lifted. Veselack finished up the first and tossed three more frames in relief. He allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks. He struck out two. Landon Foster allowed a walk and fanned two in one inning.

Wayman retired the only batter he faced in relief and Fenton finished up by giving up a hit, a walk and striking out three in one inning.

Lexington 14, Midland 3

LEXINGTON — A three-run first inning put Lexington ahead for good as the Minutemen took care of business in posting a 14-3 victory over Midland in a nonconference baseball game at Keller Park Monday.

After setting the side down in order in the top of the first inning, Kayden Knight drew a lead-off walk in the home-half of the frame to get the Minutemen scoring triggered. Nolan Bowles drew a free pass after Knight stole second and Jimmy Smith followed with a vase hit to plate Knight and get Lexington on the board.

Braeden Barber followed with a run-scoring single and Hayden Sennett singled with two outs to drive in Smith for a 3-0 lead.

Knight ran into a spot of trouble in the top of the second. The Timberwolves were able to load the bases with one out with a pair of singles and a walk. Knight settled in and set down the next two batters on strikes to get out of the jam.

Lexington did major damage in the bottom of the second inning with a six-run outburst. Knight singled with one out to get the ball rolling. He took second on an errant throw and scored when Bowles followed a base hit. Bowles scored three batters later on a bases-loaded free pass to Camden Hardman.

Drake Powell smacked a ringing double that drove in two and Sennett singled to score Hardman and make it 8-0. Jaxson Goodrich lofted a sacrifice fly to drive in Powell and give Lexington a 9-0 lead.

Midland finally got to Knight in the fourth inning when a two-out error allowed the Timberwolves to get on the board. A double added two runs to cut the margin to 9-3.

Lexington got those runs back, plus two more in the last of the fourth with a five-run outburst.

Sennett singled to lead off the LHS fourth and Preston Wiltz walked one out later to bring up Blaine Friedmansky, who singled to plate Sennett. Bowles then singled home Wiltz. Barber singled with two outs to drive home Friedmansky and Bowles for a 13-3 advantage. The last tally crossed the plate when Johnny Grunloh, running for Barber, scored on a wild pitch.

Friedmansky, who came on for Knight in the top of the fourth inning, allowed a walk and a single in the top of the fifth before recording a strikeout to end the game.

Knight got the win after allowing two runs on three hits and three walks in 3 2-3 innings. He struck out nine. Friedmansky fanned one, walked two and gave up a run and three hits.

Barber collected four base hits, including a double, and drive in three runs to pace the Lexington (1-3) offense. Sennett had three singles and drove in two runs while Bowles had two hits and two RBIs. Powell had a double and drove in two and Friedmansky, Smith, Hardman each had a hit and run batted in. Knight and Wiltz each singled and Goodrich singled.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Brummel, Pontiac Indians control EPG; Lexington triumphs on diamond