LOCAL

SWAPPING WINS: United Linen lads split road baseball doubleheader at Sand Springs

Mike Tupa
Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise

You can’t keep a good Bartlesville United Linen Braves baseball team down for long.

In Tuesday’s league 17U doubleheader, Sand Springs spurted past the Braves, 12-7, in the opener.

But, the embattled Braves fought back to capture the nightcap, 12-6, to claim their 12th win of the season (12-10).

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Sand Springs 12, Braves 7

The Braves made only two errors — but they made a huge difference.

Sand Springs scored five unearned runs on its way to the five-run win.

The Braves offense might have even able to overcome that — if not for a drought of clutch hits.

They certainly game themselves a chance — 10 hits, six walks and two hit batsmen.  But, they also left nine runners stranded.

Sam Hill dialed in with a high-elevation effort at the plate — a triple, single, one RBI and four runs scored.

Jaxon Zaun added three singles and four RBIs, followed by Masyn Dryden and Williams with two hits apiece.

Payton Lemons reached base twice as a hit batsman, while Carson Leach, Williams and Zaun each stole a base.

Hill started on the bump and left after 1.2 innings. He didn’t allow a hit but walked five and allowed two earned runs (two others unearned).

Jaden Davis climbed the hill in middle relief and suffered the loss even though he allowed only three hits and one run, while walking three, in 2.1 innings.

Easton Davis had a rough one-third-of-an-inning on the mound and Dryden finished up the final 1.2 innings by giving up one hit, four walks and two earned runs.

The Braves’ pitchers combined for 15 walks.

Even so, the Braves still had given themselves a feisty opportunity to reverse the result.

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Braves 12, Sand Springs 6

This time the Braves delivered in pressure at-bats.

They left only three runners stranded while dropping Sand Springs like a greasy bowling ball.

Grant Clark and Davis both hammered a double to help fire up the 11-hit offensive assault.

Davis recorded two hits and four RBI’s during his wrecking tour.

Zaun added two singles and two RBIs, while Shawn Tate lashed a single and plated two runs.

Dryden belted two singles and scored a run.

Colton Hainzinger, Benton Blasi and Leach plated one run apiece.

The teams dueled with full, fiery intent the first few innings — until the Braves pulled away in the last two innings.

At the end of the first inning, the Braves led, 3-1. But, Sand Springs tied the game, 4-4, in the bottom of the second.

After three innings, the Braves clung to a one-run advantage, 6-5.

But, the lads from Bartlesville added six more runs — while Sand Springs managed only one — in the final two frames.

Braves’ coaches Ryan Lazo and Adam Steffenson went with only two pitchers.

Clark threw the first 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and only one earned run — about Sand Springs racked up four unearned runs during his watch. He also walked three and struck out three.

Zaun finished up with a solid relief showing — 1.2 innings, two hits, one unearned run, no walks and two strikeouts.