By Jordan Holland
The Marietta Times
LANCASTER - Beverly/Lowell Post 389/750's 27-game winning streak has come to an end, and Todd Engle's squad will have to go through the loser's bracket in order to win state.
After the 2-0 loss to Wayne County (23-15), Engle pointed out that all hope was not lost.
"I always like to refer back to the 2006 team," Engle said. "That team lost the first game and came all the way back through to win. Hopefully that will be the case for us. It's going to be a long week, but it has been done before. We can do it."
Fact Box
Wayne County 2, Beverly/Lowell 0
Wayne 100 100 000 - 2 5 1
B/L 000 000 000 - 0 6 2
WP: Brumfield 9 IP, 5 SO, 4 BB
LP: Sawyer (6-1) 5 IP, 1 SO, 4 BB
Barnas 4 IP, 4 SO
Wayne hitting: Taylor 2-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR; Miller 0-3, 1 run; Vernier 0-2, 1 RBI; Scott Williams 2-4
Beverly/Lowell hitting: Kern 2-4; J. Ullman 2-2; Satterfield 2-3
Next game: Beverly/Lowell vs. Mt. Vernon Post 136 at Lancaster High School field at 10 a.m. today
"We try to learn from every game," Engle continued. "We've kind of gotten away from the little stuff. It's been awhile since we've had to clutch up and get that two hit."
Beverly/Lowell (36-5) left-hander Evan Sawyer started on the mound and suffered his first loss of the season, even though he allowed just one earned run. That run came in the top of the first, when Brandon Taylor launched a solo shot over the fence in left-center field.
Sawyer's counterpart Corey Brumfield hurled a complete game shutout, allowing six hits, striking out five and walking four to earn the victory.
Sawyer, who struck out one and walked four, allowed an unearned run in the top of the fourth. After a walk to Blake Miller, Ian Vernier squared to bunt. When Vernier missed the ball, Miller was caught in no man's land, but the pickoff throw sailed into right field, allowing Miller to advance to third. Vernier would then hit a fly ball deep enough to center field to bring in Miller and give Wayne a 2-0 advantage.
Beverly/Lowell actually had more players reach base then Wayne did, but hit into three double plays to kill rallies. The biggest blow was in the bottom of the second. Landon Kern led off with a single to right field, followed by a Clay Ullman walk. Jake Ullman then attempted a sacrifice bunt, but legged it out for a single to load the bases with nobody out.
Tim Grosel came up and hit a line drive, but right at the first baseman, who caught it and promptly tagged first for the twin killing. Brumfield then struck out the next batter to escape the jam.
"We got locked up," Engle said. "Good pitching beats good hitting. (Brumfield) had us off-balance. He also had an above average pick off move.
"We couldn't really run on him, which took a big part of our game away. Now you've got to get three hits in row to get a run. That's not easy to do."
Ben Barnas relieved Sawyer in the sixth, and pitched four scoreless innings while striking out four batters.
Kern, Jake Ullman, and Jordan Satterfield combined for Beverly/Lowell's six hits.
Engle's club will be back at it today at 10 a.m.
It will face Mt. Vernon Post 136 at Lancaster High School, and will play again at 7 p.m. should it win.
Kordell Antill and Zach Eddy are the scheduled starters for today. The order has not yet been determined.
