By By DON EDEN / Niles Daily Star
BERRIEN SPRINGS – Brandywine had the pressure of being the No. 1 ranked team in Division 3, but achieved a school record for victories as it defeated Lakeland Conference foes Bridgman 7-0 behind the two-hit pitching of senior Jake Harris and Berrien Springs 4-3 to win the district baseball crown.
The Bobcats (28-8) also achieved their first comeback victory of the year in the title game as they overcame a 3-0 deficit to score a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.
"This was one of the two toughest losses we have had but Brandywine is a quality team that is well coached and wish them luck," commented Berrien Springs coach John Donley. "We have high expectations and the future is always bright, but it just didn't work out this year."
Berrien Springs scored all the runs in the top of the fifth without a hit as a throwing error gave the Shamrocks the lead as all the runs were unearned off Bobcat junior pitcher Dan Reidenbach.
"Our pitching really stepped up today as we did not give up an earned run and our most reliable during the regular season (Taylor Ort) broke his wrist at work this week," Brandywine coach Dave Sidenbender said. "The injury made it an easier decision on who to pitch and both (Harris and Reidenbach) came through with huge performances."
Reidenbach also helped with the bat as his single through the middle plated both senior Noah Udell and sophomore Jesse McCombs who had singled and doubled respectively before him in the bottom of the sixth.
Senior Cameron Ondresky started the seventh with a single to right field and moved to second on a wild pitch. Harris sacrificed him to third base and then scored on a wild pitch.
"I was determined to start the inning right and it was nice to come up with a big hit," said Ondresky. "It is nice to have the number one ranking but we need to focus on the regional now."
Classmate Shane Bankston followed with an infield single and junior Zach Edquist hit a sharp single to right field. Bankston escaped disaster as a failed squeeze attempt was averted as he made it back to third base and then was out on a collision at home after a ground out to the shortstop.
The very next pitch went behind the catcher once again and Edquist became the hero by crossing home plate with the winning run.
"Those three runs were tough to overcome but Ondresky had a key hit with Harris sacrifice being huge," stated Sidenbender. "Bankston came back from the throwing error by not getting down and the hit from Edquist was huge."
The trio of Harris, Ondresky and Udell will continue playing together at Lake Michigan College but the Brandywine careers are not over.
"It is real exciting to win the district two years in a row and we have a target on us for being number one," commented Harris.
"All the seniors need to pick up the intensity and the team will have to prove we deserve being top ranked by being determined not to lose," concluded Udell.
Berrien Springs was without the services of senior star Chris Hass, who had shoulder surgery and will play at Kalamazoo Community College nest year.
"We really missed Chris not only with his pitching but hitting as well," said Donley. "The kids played hard and had opportunities that we need to take advantage of but it is a fluke to give up runs on wild pitches like we did today."
Constantine will be the next obstacle for the Bobcats when they travel to Bronson Saturday to face the Falcons in the second game of the regional
"Constantine was one of our many rainouts that we had this year but they played well last year and were ranked earlier this year so they will be tough to beat just like everybody," noted Sidenbender.
Championship Game
Berrien Springs 000 030 0 – 3 4 1
Brandywine 000 002 2 – 4 8 3
WP – Dan Reidenbach (BW, 9-2) and Cameron Ondresky
LP – Jordan Carrigan (BS, 5-2) and Ryne Siebenmark
2B: Greg Toliver (BER), Jesse McCombs (BR), Zach Edquist (BR)
Records
Brandywine 28-8, Berrien Springs 24-9
Second Game
Bridgman 000 000 0 – 0 2 2
Brandywine 000 106 x – 7 7 1
WP – Jake Harris (BW, 7-3) and Cameron Ondresky
LP – Jay Magro (BR) and Dan Zarobsky
Record
Bridgman 19-15
First Game
Buchanan 000 000 1 – 1 2 1
Berrien Springs 200 020 x – 4 7 1
WP – Greg Whitehead (BS, 7-0), Jon Shembarger (7, S) and Jordan Carrigan
Tyler Knisley (BU) and Brandon Jackson
2B: Jordan Carrigan (BS)
Record
Buchanan 11-19