Gates Mills, OH- On Tuesday the Gilmour Academy Lancers (4-0) welcomed in the Willoughby South Rebels (1-0).
Gavin McArthur led off for the Rebels and grounded out to short. On the next pitch James Miller flied to center, before Giovanni Holmecki went down on strikes. Tommy Mcrone lined out to leadoff the bottom half of inning number one. Jake Kavic reached base with a 1-out single to center. Tommy Moe popped out, leaving Kavic at first. Jesse Shepherd drew a four pitch walk and with two on and two out, Deaglan Bryant flew out to center ending the inning.
Jeremiah Atwell led off the second with a fly out to left. Aaron Gillispie drew a walk before trouble began to brew. The next batter Joe Schimizzi was plunked by a pitch from Bryant. A fielders choice by Niko Frizell left runners on the corners with two outs, before Frizell was caught on a steal attempt. A pair of strikeouts and a fly out retired the Lancers quickly in the bottom of the 2nd.
The Rebels went down 1-2-3 as the defense behind Bryant helped send the game scoreless into the bottom of the third. Kavcic bunted and beat the throw which was followed up by a base hit by Mcrone to get things brewing for the Lancers. A perfect sacrifice bunt advanced the lead runners. Moe drew a walk which loaded the bases setting up Jesse Shepherd who went down on strikes. Not all hope was lost as wild pitch brought home Kavcic breaking the scoreless tie in the 3rd. The inning ended on a pop out.
Miller got the 4th inning started off with a double followed by a Holmecki single to put a pair of Rebels on the corners looking to do damage. Atwell grounded into a fielders choice but a run scores as the Rebels tie it up at one run a piece. A ground out followed by a fly out ended the inning, but it was a whole new ball game tied at one. Mcrone drew a walk for Gilmour, but a nicely turned double play erased it moments later. Moe drew a walk and the next batter Shepherd reached on an error. Bryant grounded out to the second basemen McArthur ending the inning.
It was a dominant pitching performance for Bryant in the 6th striking out the side. The only trouble was a 1-out single but the runner never advanced past first base. Jacob Lowery and Christopher went down quickly with a pop out and ground out respectively. Nicky Laseki came up clutch for the Lancers, hitting a monster 2-out solo homerun and breaking the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 6th. Kavcic singled to right, but Mcrone went down swinging sending this game to the 7th.
A sharp line drive off the bat of Gillispie to second is caught. A single by Gabe Hanslik brought the go-ahead run to the plate. But the stout defense of the Lancers came through big again as they turned a game-ending a double play. That gave the Lancers their 5th straight win to begin the season.
Deaglan Bryant went the distance allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits in 7 innings. He struck out 5 while walking only 1 batter. Jake Kavcic led the offense 2 for 3 with a run scored while Nicky Lasecki was 1 for 3 with the big homerun.
James Miller was 2 for 3 with a double for the Rebels.