J-M can’t get it started, gets blanked by Canevin
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UPPER ST. CLAIR – Sometimes you can lose a baseball playoff game in the first inning.
Jefferson-Morgan only allowed two runs in the first inning, but that was more than enough for Bishop Canevin. The Rockets couldn’t get it going on offense and fell 3-0 in the first round of the Class A playoffs Wednesday at Boyce Mayview Park.
“We gave up those early runs and that was it,” J-M coach John Curtis said. “We just couldn’t get enough hits together. The problem all year for us has been getting that clutch, timely hit. We just couldn’t hit with a runner in scoring position.”
Both pitchers were methodical, and neither one threw a classic gem.
Aidan Logan needed 94 pitches to get through five innings and picked up the win for the Crusaders (10-8). The senior righthander scattered three hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Bishop Canevin, which improves to 5-3 in the first round since 2012, will play No. 2 seed Vincentian Academy in the quarterfinals next week.
Sophomore lefty Bryce Bedilion went five innings for Jefferson-Morgan and allowed three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks on 103 pitches.
Jacob Broadwater pitched a scoreless sixth inning for J-M.
Jeffrerson-Morgan’s Kyle Clayton and Easton Hanko had singles in the first inning but both were left on base. The other Rockets hit was a one-out double by Bedilion in the third.
“The way we started the season, I never thought I would be sitting here in the playoffs and losing to Bishop Canevin 3-0,” Curtis said. “I’m really proud of the effort. Bryce pitched a nice five innings and kept us in the game. We got those early hits, but we just couldn’t sustain anything else against their good pitcher.”
The Crusaders scored two runs in the first on an RBI double by Michael Aches and a sacrifice fly by Aidan Logan.
Bishop Canevin collected an insurance run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Braden Logan scored Aches.
Aches wrapped up the game on the mound, pitching the final two innings for a save.
The Rockets started the season with a 1-6 record but rebounded with a strong second half, winning six of nine. They finished tied for third place with West Greene in Section 2-A.
J-M will lose three seniors and return a strong nucleus next spring.
“We are still young,” Curtis said. “We had a sophomore on the mound, a freshman behind the plate and another freshman in right field. We grew up this season and we could have easily folded our tents and went home after the slow start. Our seniors battled some injuries but they really led this team. I can’t wait for the offseason with this group.”