RIVERA GOES YARD IN SOUTH RANGE WIN OVER WEST BRANCH

CANFIELD, OH- It was the first home-field home run by a South Range Raider since the field was built. That piece of history now belongs to South Range Senior, Ben Rivera. The Raiders ran off with the lead late in the game in a 9-8 victory over West Branch on Thursday. The game was tied at five with the Raiders batting in the bottom of the sixth when Jaxon Anderson drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring one run.

The Raiders built a four-run lead in the sixth inning and then held off West Branch’s charge. West Branch scored three runs in the failed comeback on a single by Nick Wilson, a triple by Cole Bates, and a single by Tristan Ballard.

The Raiders got on the board in the first inning. Ben Rivera‘s sac fly scored one run for Raiders. South Range knotted the game up at five in the bottom of the fifth inning. Raiders scored two runs when Ben Rivera homered.

West Branch scored four runs in the third inning. Wilson and David Cunningham each had RBIs in the frame.

Trey Pancake took the win for Raiders. He went two innings, allowing three runs on four hits, striking out three and walking zero. Brandon Mikos started the game for Raiders. He lasted five innings, allowing five hits and five runs while striking out nine.

Justin Goode took the loss for West Branch. He lasted one-third of an inning, allowing one hit and one run while walking one. Mason Walker started the game for West Branch. He lasted five and two-thirds innings, allowing seven hits and eight runs while striking out one.

South Range tallied eight hits on the day. Jared Bajerski and Brandon Mikos each collected multiple hits for Raiders. Jared Bajerski went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Raiders in hits.

West Branch collected nine hits. Ballard, Wilson, Jared Butler, and Bates each managed multiple hits for West Branch.