WARRIORS NOW ONE WIN AWAY
By Matt Maher
AKRON, OH – The Warriors have been playing some of the best baseball in school history this season and they’ll get one last chance to play together because they just beat Indian Creek 4-2 to advance to the OHSAA DII State Finals on Sunday Morning in downtown Akron!
West Branch started their star pitcher, Beau Alazaus against a hungry Indian Creek team and boy did he deliver! Alazause blanked the RedSkins through 2 innings, only giving up 1 hit and 1 walk in that span. The RedSkins became troublesome in the 3rd where they were able to get the bases loaded for Sylus Hyde who hit a 2-run single to get his team on the board. Alazaus stuck with his game, though, and made quick work of Indian Creek the rest of the way, only allowing a max of 4 batters an inning!
The Warriors saw Sylus Hyde throw to them and they got to him right away. After the first 2 batters were sat down, Hunter Shields got on board via a fielding error and then Alazaus followed with a monsterous triple down the right field line scoring in the games first run!. Hyde figured out the Warriors offense from there and blanked them for the next 4 innings.
The 6th inning came around and West Branch found themselves down by a run. After a 1-out walk from Shields and a groundout from Alazaus, Anthony Perry stepped in and hit a beautiful RBI double to left center and tied the game at 2! Thomas was able to reach on an error in the next at bat and then came Charlie Biskupo who hit a ball just past the 3rd baseman and scored in Perry and gave West Branch their lead.
The Warriors found an insurance run in the 7th thanks to an RBI single from Aaron Tucker and Alazause stood tall in the 2nd half and got the job done! Alazaus finished with 7IP, 5 H, 2 ER and 4Ks.
Est Branch continues to find ways to win no matter how good their opponent is and the results speak for themselves. Another impressive win on Friday afternoon will allow the Warriors to go back to canal Park and compete for the state title. Congratulations to the West Branch Warriors on another amazing win, we’ll see you back in Akron Sunday morning!
