Michigan baseball: Buchanan brings out a hit parade for another dismantling of Brandywine
BUCHANAN — Pitcher Matthew Hoover believes No. 2-ranked Buchanan is ready for another long tournament run.
Hoover combined with Drew Glavin on a two-hitter Tuesday as the Bucks crushed Brandywine for the third time this season, 13-0, in a Division 3 pre-district baseball game.
"Yes, we're ready for a long tournament," said Hoover, who helped pitch Buchanan to the state semifinals a year ago. "As long as we get production out of the bottom of the order like we did today, we'll be fine."
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Buchanan belted out 16 hits, led by the bottom three in the order, Hunter Carrington, Connor Legault and Logan Grwinski, who combined to go 7-for-11 with six RBIs. First baseman Carrington, who entered the game hitting .200, had three hits and four RBIs. And third baseman Legault, who was batting .161, had three hits, including a two-run homer.
"We've been hitting the ball good of late," Buchanan coach Jim Brawley said. "We've done a better job of hitting our pitches and a better job of getting hitting throughout the order. Everybody is starting to hit. Legault has been working hit butt off ever since he got done with basketball season. He's been in the cage doing extra work. I'm so happy for him. What a great hit (the home run)."
"It was a beautiful day for baseball," Legault smiled. "I was focused at the plate and watched the ball hit the bat. I knew after working in the cages that I was ready to hit the ball hard."
Second baseman Glavin also had three hits to go with two RBIs, Hoover was on base four times with two hits and two walks and rightfielder Macoy West chipped in two hits and two RBIs.
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Hoover is now batting .481 with 43 RBIs, West .469 with 33 RBIs and Glavin .348 with 23 RBIs.
Buchanan will likely go as far as Hoover pitches them. He's 7-0 on the hill with a 1.28 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings. Hoover was not at his best Tuesday, walking two and allowing two hits.
"This wasn't my best outing, but the defense really picked me up," Hoover said.
Brandywine only threatened once, when Hoover walked a pair in the second. But the Bobcats, who finished 17-8, contributed to their own demise with two errors and several other plays that could have been made.
"When you don't field the ball, you don't give yourselves a chance," Bobcat coach Dave Sidenbender said. "When we field, we can play with anybody."
Buchanan will take a 23-4 record into Saturday's Division 3 district, which it hosts. The Bucks face Lawton in a 10 a.m. semifinal. No. 7-ranked Bridgman takes on Constantine in the other semi.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: MHSAA baseball: Buchanan high school beats Brandywine in district game
