BRANCH LOCKS DOWN MOONEY OFFENSE
STRUTHERS, OH- Tuesday’s showdown at the mound was a nail-biter, but West Branch squeaked by Cardinal Mooney with a 1-0 victory. Aaron Tucker was solid as a rock for West Branch, punching out five and walking just two across seven shutout innings to snag the win.
Both sides were challenged on the basepaths as each team were picked off of first base at least once in the contest.
The lone run came in the fourth when Hunter Shields cracked a single to bring a runner home. Tucker and Shields were in sync, knocking two hits apiece and setting the pace for West Branch.
On the flip side, Cardinal Mooney’s Jonathan Brenner matched Tucker’s seven innings but allowed that crucial run among six hits. Despite his strong showing, he walked away with the loss.
Shields wasn’t just swinging; he was everywhere on the field, handling seven plays without a hitch. Cardinal Mooney’s defense was on point too, with Gabe Saunders swinging a hot bat with two hits and Vince Gentile locking down the infield.
Both teams flaunted some slick glove work, with Cardinal Mooney turning two double plays to keep things tight.
West Branch is gearing up to host GlenOak next Wednesday, hoping to carry the momentum forward, while Mooney will host Howland in the nightcap tomorrow night at 7pm.
