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Broughton and Garner Deadlock 9-9 in Shortened Game

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Garner, N.C.-  The Broughton Caps were deadlocked 9-9 with Garner after five innings of play on Friday when the game was postponed due to darkness.

Both teams struggled with very tough playing conditions.  In addition to the temperature, which never reached 50 degrees, there was a strong, swirling wind throughout the game.  It turned into a high scoring affair, even though each team only collected four hits, thanks to errors and walks that accounted for the majority of the scoring.

The Caps managed to get off to an early lead in the first.  After Mathis Dean was hit by a pitch, Kyle Ehlers and Henry Sloan reached on back to back Garner infield errors, enabling Dean to score.  Ehlers crossed home on a passed ball which also allowed Sloan to take third.  Senior Warren Grady then made it a 3-0 game with an RBI single to score Sloan.

Garner got some help in the bottom of the first when their lead-off hitter tagged a fly ball to right that got caught up in the swirling wind and dropped.  After the lead-off hitter advanced to third on a ground ball by the next batter, Garner scored on a passed ball to draw it closer at 3-1.  Garner picked up another run in the first to make it 3-2.

Broughton appeared to blow the game wide open in the top of the second.  After Sophomore Harrison Hemric singled to right and advanced to second on a beautiful sacrifice bunt by DH Jon Benefield, Mathis Dean hammered a ball to right center for a double.  Garner thought that they had a chance to throw out Hemric at the plate, but Hemric slid under the throw and Dean, creating some chaos on the basepaths, took third.  Another Garner error allowed Dean to score.  After Joe Barrow walked and Ehlers was hit by a pitch, yet another Garner error enabled First Baseman Penn Sealey to reach and load the bases.  Garner then walked in a run to make it 6-2 Caps.  The swirling wind wreaked havoc on Garner too, after a pop-up by Senior Jim Woods to shallow right center dropped in after being misplayed by their rightfielder, enabling the Caps to score two more runs.  Broughton took advantage of two more Garner errors in the inning to take a commanding 9-2 lead.

Garner drew closer in the bottom of the second, picking up two runs after taking advantage of 4 walks, two hits, an error and a passed ball.  In the bottom of the third, Garner evened the score at 9-9 after four more Broughton walks, another passed ball, a balk and a timely triple by Garner’s Xavier Bussey.  The sun played a major role in Garner’s comeback as the Caps pitchers struggled with the sun, which was setting just behind home plate.

The fourth and fifth innings settled into a fantastic pitcher’s duel as Garner’s Chris Roddennberry and Freshman Fireballer Nolan McLean and Broughton‘s Kyle Ehlers combined for two shutout innings.  The game was called to darkness in the top of the sixth and will be continued at a later date if necessary.

For the second straight game, Broughton did not excel at the plate, but managed to get timely hits when they counted from the bats of Mathis Dean, Warren Grady and Harrison Hemric.  Joe Barrow made a few great defensive plays, including a head over heels grab of a fly ball in foul territory.  Caps Coach Morton showed a lot of confidence in his team’s versatile defense, playing several players in multiple positions and getting solid play from his scrambled infield.

The Caps host Garner on Tuesday at 4:00 in their home opener.  Game time starts at 4:00– be there!!

Broughton Caps Varsity (Overall 0-1-1 ; Conference 0-0)

Broughton Drops Season Opener to Cary

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Cary, N.C.-  Broughton’s 2017 baseball season got off to a rough start on Wednesday afternoon, as the Caps dropped its opener to  the Cary High School Imps 12-1 in a non-conference match-up.

The Caps got off to a slow start, surrendering 4 runs in the bottom of the first inning.  After a lead-off walk, the Imps wasted little time taking control with a RBI triple by Kaden Cotterell.  A Broughton error scored Cotterell and put the speedy Senior Greg Jones on first.  Jones stole second and advanced to third after tagging up on a fly ball to center.  Zach Sides then singled to score Jones and later came home on another Broughton error.

Broughton showed a little life in the top of the second as Senior Henry Sloan tripled and scored on an opposite field single by Catcher Jim Woods to draw closer at 4-1.

Cary answered back in the bottom of the second.  After a two-out single, Cotterell advanced to third on a stolen base and a passed ball.  Jones walked and proceeded to take second.  The Broughton infielders responded and caught Jones in a rundown, however it was not in time to prevent Cotterell from scoring to make it 5-1.

Cary blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth with a parade of seven hits and two walks to take a commanding 12-1 lead.

The Caps had no answer for the big bats of the Imps, who had three players get multiple hits in the contest.  Broughton only collected four hits and played uncharacteristic defense.

Despite the loss, there were several bright spots for the Caps under first year Coach Jere Morton IV.  Sophomore Penn Sealey had a tremendous defensive game at shortstop, adjusting to a difficult hop on a ground ball for an assist in the second and carding two assists and a putout in the third.  Sophomore Pitcher Joe Barrow collected his first hit as a Varsity player with a rocket shot up the middle that glanced off the pitcher who was trying to get out of the way.  Henry Sloan was a solid contributor in centerfield and at the plate and Junior Kyle Ehlers collected a hit and a stolen base.

Broughton will look to rebound on Friday as they travel to face Garner, ranked in the preseason Top-10, at 4:00.