B.B. baseball opens season 2-4

The Blind Brook boys’ varsity baseball team has dropped to 2-4 after beginning the season at 1-2. The Trojans had a bit of a wakeup call against Briarcliff before taking down Irvington and losing to Pleasantville in a game that was called early due to darkness.

Briarcliff beatdown

On Thursday, Apr. 4, the boys played host to non-league rival Briarcliff, looking to add a tally in the win column. Senior Chris Hauryluck got the start on the mound and threw five strong innings of six-strikeout, one-run baseball. Unfortunately, errors hurt the Trojans in the third inning as a couple miscues allowed the visitors to take a 3-1 lead. It would only go downhill from there, as the group scored just one more run, while giving up 14 more. It was an embarrassing and uncharacteristic performance from Blind Brook, who ultimately suffered a 17-2 mercy rule defeat at the hands of the Bears. Senior Andrew Winton and junior Bradley Rosen provided the RBI’s.

Win over Irvington

The boys returned to the diamond on Monday, Apr. 8, looking to bounce back against a decent Irvington team. Senior Chris Bucci got the nod, putting together his best outing of the season. The Trojans got the bats going early, scoring three runs in the first inning thanks to two RBI’s from Hauryluck and a sac fly from senior Anthony Marks. They were solid defensively and continued to produce at the plate, opening up a 7-0 lead and never looking back. The game ended with that very score, as Bucci threw the complete game shutout, giving up just two hits and a walk while striking out seven. Marks led the club with three RBI’s, followed by Hauryluck’s two, and senior Noah Swartz’s one. Seniors Zach Zimmerman, Hauryluck, and Winton, the first three hitters in the lineup, all scored two runs apiece. With the victory, Blind Brook advanced to 2-4 overall.

Loss to Pleasantville

The next day, Tuesday, Apr. 9, pitted the Trojans against the defending Class B champion Pleasantville Panthers. Hauryluck took the mound yet again and tossed another solid game, only giving up two earned runs. It was a tight game the whole way, with neither team able to gain any sort of multiple-run lead. The Trojan bats were streaky, with Zimmerman, Winton, and Hauryluck each driving in runs. Unfortunately, a couple defensive mistakes put the Trojans down 5-4 in the sixth inning, when the umpires made the decision to call the game due to darkness. In a game they feel they could’ve won should it have continued, there’s nothing they can do but look forward.

“Although we have been off to a slow start, we are improving,” said senior Harris Blumenthal. “Our team is starting to gel, and we can feel the momentum starting to come our way.”

The boys took on Keio after press time on Wednesday, Apr. 10 and will host them two days later, on Friday, Apr. 12 at 4:30 p.m. They will then host Lourdes on Wednesday, Apr. 17, also at 4:30.