University's Wenkai Campbell (18) reacts after making a catch in center field against Bridgeport on Wednesday. (Benjamin Powell/The Dominion Post)
University drops defensive battle on the road at Bridgeport
BRIDGEPORT — There was an old-fashioned pitchers’ dual on Wednesday night in Bridgeport as the University High School baseball team visited the Class AAA No. 2 Bridgeport Indians for an important sectional matchup.
UHS sophomore James Bryner and Bridgeport junior Carson Curry each had strong outings on the mound for their teams with a solid game from their respective defenses as well. Curry earned the complete game shutout victory allowing only two hits to the Hawks, while only walking one batter and striking out nine.
Bryner threw five innings on the bump for UHS (12-13) and allowed five hits but no runs with three strikeouts.
The lone run in the game came for Bridgeport (20-3) on a sacrifice fly by Rowen Michaelis in the bottom of the sixth inning.
“Tonight was a very competitive baseball game throughout,” UHS head coach Brad Comport said. “James pitched extremely well and has shown us a lot as a sophomore with some good command of the zone. He did a good job of attacking their hitters. Neither team was able to get anything going offensively. We were unable to capitalize on the few opportunities we had the chance to in the game.”
The Indians earned two of their six hits in the first inning and threatened early in the game with runners on second and third with two outs. Mark Biafore sent a high fly ball towards center field that UHS senior Wenkai Campbell caught after he tripped and fell onto his back.
UHS got its first hit of the game in the top of the third as Brock McDonough hit a single to left field but the Hawks were unable to capitalize.
The same proved true for the Indians also as they put runners on base every inning at bat but were shut down by Bryner and the UHS defense.
“It was a very clean baseball game tonight by both sides,” Comport said. “They were able to capitalize on the little things that make all the difference in the game of baseball. The team that does that is normally the one that wins a game like that.”
UHS senior Brodee Latocha relieved Bryner to begin the bottom of the sixth inning. BHS senior Dylan Duvall singled to lead the inning off then a bad hop in the infield caused an error that gave the hosts runners on first and second.
A sacrifice bunt moved the runners over to second and third, making way for Michaelis to come to bat with one out. He sent the 3-2 pitch to center field and brought Samuel Ramano home from third for the only run of the game.
“This is a tough result but this game shows us we are right there with the best teams,” Comport said. “We can hold our heads high and have confidence. In baseball, it can be any given day and we will continue to try and find ways to build momentum heading into the postseason.
