RESERVE DOUBLES UP HEATED RIVALS

BERLIN CENTER OH- Western Reserve clawed back and then some on Wednesday, using a big sixth inning to knock off Jackson-Milton 8-4.

The Blue Jays struck first with a sac fly in the opening frame and tacked on another in the second to go up 2-1. Western Reserve kept pace early thanks to a Hunter Stacy RBI single and then tied it again in the fourth when Peyton Hartzell dropped a liner into center to make it 3-3.

Jackson-Milton briefly reclaimed the lead in the sixth off an error, but that didn’t last long. The Blue Devils erupted in the bottom half for five runs, stringing together four hits and capitalizing on some shaky defense. The knockout blow came off Hartzell’s bat again—he ripped a single that plated two and flipped the momentum for good.

Evan Slaven got the start and battled through six innings, giving up seven hits and four runs—three earned—while fanning a pair. Ross Watkins shut the door in the seventh, tossing a clean frame to seal it.

Hartzell had himself a day from the nine-hole, going 2-for-3 and knocking in three. Stacy chipped in two hits as well, and the Devils showed patience at the dish with six walks—Dotson and Kiraly each drew two. Watkins swiped a pair of bags as Reserve totaled four steals on the night.

Jackson-Milton had some fight, picking up four stolen bases of their own and a few key hits, but couldn’t hang on down the stretch. The Blue Devils are back home Thursday with East coming to town, looking to stay hot.