Late score pushes Quincy All-Stars past Bronson in Fair Baseball Tournament

COLDWATER — Capping off an exciting day one of baseball at the Branch County Fair Youth Baseball tournament, it was the Quincy All Stars facing off with the Bronson All Stars.

The Bronson team is comprised of numerous players from across the robust Bronson Youth Baseball League, while the Quincy All Star roster consists of members from both the Village travel team and the QBSA league. If Monday’s game is any indication, the future of baseball in Branch County will be an exciting one.

Quincy used a big three run fifth inning to break open a close 2-1 lead for Quincy on Monday night as it was the Orioles going on to take the round one win by the score of 5-1.

The scoring started early for Quincy as a lead off walk for Joe Gray kicked off the game. After Gray took second via the steal he was brought home on a fielder’s choice off the bat of JJ Wright, giving Quincy the 1-0 lead.

Both pitching staffs and defenses settled down and controlled the game a bit, keeping things close throughout the next few innings.

Quincy got back on the board in the bottom of the third inning and again it was thanks to the base running of Gray and the bat of Wright. After drawing a walk to start the inning, Gray moved all the way to third via the steal with no outs. Wright then took a 1-2 count and hit a deep fly ball to centerfield, a ball hauled in near the fence by Bronson centerfielder Owen Losinski. Gray looked to tag up on the play but Losinski made things close, delivering a dime from the centerfield fence that led to a close play at the plate. Gray was called safe on the exciting play, just squeezing in under the tag of Bronson catcher Bryce Lundstrom, giving Quincy the 2-0 lead after three full innings.

Bronson finally got on the board in the fifth inning and it all started with a infield single from shortstop Mikel Sias. Sias created havoc on the base paths for the Vikings, stealing second base and then moving to third on a passed ball. Sias then took advantage of a little inattentiveness from the Quincy pitching staff, stealing home on the throw back to the pitcher from the catcher, scoring on the play and closing the score to 2-1 after the top of the fifth inning.

Quincy broke through with three big runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to essentially put the game away, an inning that kicked off with a Gray hit by pitch. Benny Travelbee then laid down a beautiful bunt that was mishandled, leading to a throwing error. The error allowed Gray to score from first and Travelbee to advance all the way to third on the play, giving Quincy the 3-1 lead. Travelbee eventually came home on a steal, giving Quincy a 4-1 lead. JJ Wright then drew a walk and was promptly moved around the bases thanks to a Bryson Estlow double deep into the game in left centerfield, putting runners at second and third with no outs. Wright eventually would score on a passed ball, pushing the Quincy lead to 5-1.

Bronson’s defense managed to get out of the inning with two strikeouts and a throw out at home on an attempted steal, keeping the score at 5-1 heading to their final at-bat.

Bronson’s offense could get nothing going in the final at-bat however, going down in order, with Quincy taking the 5-1 win.

Seth VanStelle took the win on the mound for Quincy after throwing three innings in the start, allowing one hit and one walk with five strikeouts.

Matthew Taylor finished off the game on the mound, earning the Save, throwing three full innings, allowing one hit and one run with six strikeouts.

Leading the Quincy offense was Bryson Estlow with a single and double and a walk. Also adding to the Quincy win was Joe Gray with two walks and three runs scored; Benny Travelbee with a single and a run scored; and JJ Wright with two Rbis, a walk and a run scored.

Connor McClelland took the tough loss on the mound for Bronson after throwing three innings in the start, allowing one hit and two runs with four walks and five strikeouts. Bryce Lundstrom pitched solid in relief, throwing two innings while allowing two hits and three runs, two earned, with four walks and three strikeouts.

Mikeal Sias had the only two hits of the game for Bronson, going 2 for 2 with a single and a double with a run scored. Also adding to the Bronson effort was Austin Slone with a walk.

With the win the Quincy All Stars improve to 1-0 for the tournament while Bronson falls to 0-1. Quincy will kick off day two of the tournament versus Coldwater who is also 1-0 for the tournament, beginning at 4:30 p.m. while Bronson will face off with Union City in the nightcap, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Reporter: Late score pushes Quincy All-Stars past Bronson in Branch County Fair Tournament