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Chiefs' miscues give Eagles the edge

 
Published March 21, 2001|Updated Sept. 9, 2005

A sixth-inning rally lifts Brandon past a youthful Chamberlain team, 6-3.

Brandon and Chamberlain took the term "youth movement" to a new level Tuesday night during the second day of the Saladino Tournament.

Both teams spread freshmen and sophomores all over the field as each coach hoped the other team would make the most mistakes. The winner of that battle was Brandon coach Greg Parris as his Eagles escaped with a 6-3 win.

The game was delayed for 45 minutes after a 25-minute injury delay in the sixth inning and two rain delays, including one in the top of the seventh.

Brandon's big break came in the top of the sixth when Jonathan Palencia and Chris Connett hit back-to-back singles. Freshman Angel Sustache then lined a two-run triple to leftfield and scored on Chase Kelly's sacrifice to put Brandon (7-5) up 4-1.

Chris Cates followed Sustache with a walk and later scored on Ryan Spence's single.

Chamberlain (4-8) could only muster a one-run response in the bottom of the inning as Brandon starter Josh Sawyer allowed a single and a triple before striking out the final two batters to steal any momentum Chamberlain might gain.

Sawyer (4-3) earned the win, pitching seven innings, allowing three runs on 11 hits while walking none and striking out eight.

"Josh Sawyer had a lot to do with this win tonight," Parris said. "That's the way he's thrown all year. I think that's the hardest he's been hit all year. We've struggled defensively and offensively all season; we haven't been able to put it all together in one performance because of young mistakes."

Brandon was helped by some inexperienced play from Chamberlain's band of freshmen and sophomores. The Chiefs turned basic plays into untimely misadventures, helping the Eagles retain baserunners and post hits.

"We misplayed a ball in the outfield, missed an exchange on a double play, messed up a rundown we just didn't execute," Chamberlain coach Dick Rohrberg said. "The things we work on in practice we just don't do in the game and I don't know why."

The game was delayed 25 minutes in the sixth when Chamberlain's Keelan Cottle dislocated his right knee sliding into home. Cottle lay on the ground for 20 minutes with ice packs on his knee before an ambulance showed up at the field.