Saints Split Home Opener

Kenny Hernandez

Liberal, KS – The Seward County Baseball team waited 356 days to host an official NJCAA contest at Brent Gould Field here in Liberal. Despite the weather giving a scare in the morning, the teams were able to compete in two well-fought games with each team taking a game .

In Game 1, Sam Berberich led the Saints from the mound pitching 7 strong innings, allowing six hits. He allowed two runs which came in the top of the 1^st after a base clearing triple gave the Cougars an early 2-0 lead.  However, the Saints would respond immediately. After Kase Johnson got going with a single, Wyatt Grant doubled to left field. This allowed Braden Boisvert to single in two runs to tie the game up in the bottom of the 1^st.

After a 1-2-3 top of the 2^nd, the Saints found all the runs they would eventually need. Kase Johnson provided the first RBI with a sacrifice fly scoring Javier Bojorquez.  Both Grant and Boisvert followed with singles, each scoring 1 run, to push the lead to 5-2 Seward.  Berberich would carry the team the rest of the way, retiring fifteen of the next seventeen batters.

After quick break to dress up the field, the two teams returned for game 2.  Again, 1^st inning scoring was the story as a combined 7 runs were scored in the 1^st frame.  Colt Bartling was the starting pitcher, but after three errors by the Saints defense, the Cougars were able to push 4 runs across the plate.

Realizing they needed to get back in the game, the Saints responded in the bottom of the 1^st. Wyatt Grant started the scoring with fielder’s choice scoring KP Werner on the throw.  After an error by Redlands scored another run, George Gallardo knocked in two runs on a line-drive double to center field.

The score would hold until the 6^th with Redlands CC added another run to take a 5-3 lead.  In the bottom of the 7^th, the Saints would rally behind the top of their lineup.  KP Werner reached base on a single to leftfield.  Kase Johnson was able to get his 1^st RBI of the game with a triple-scoring Werner.  Grant followed up hitting a clutch single with two strikes and two outs to left field tying the game at 5 each.

Redlands however responded again, scoring in the top of the 8^th and then again adding an insurance run in the top of the 9^th.  This run would prove crucial and the Saints almost made the comeback in the bottom of the 9^th.

After two quick outs, Wyatt Grant got it started with a nice single to left.  Braden Boisvert was able to outrun a groundball to third, bringing the game-winning run to the plate.  Peter Goldy stepped up to the plate and nailed a line drive right down the right-field line scoring Grant and pushing pinch runner Kody Bigford to third.  After a passed ball allowing Goldy to take 2^nd base, all the Saints needed for the win was a base hit.  However, tonight was the night as George Gallardo flew out to right to end the game. Redlands CC won game 2 7-6.

Colt Bartling started the game and gave up only 1 earned run in 5.1 innings pitched. Eric Turner took the loss in relief, pitching 3.2 solid innings and only allowing 2 earned runs.  The two teams face off again on Saturday at Brent Gould Field