Fantastic pitching game in my opinion. Beechwood starter Josh Bertke threw 6 innings of 1 run ball. He had some excellent defense behind him by the shortstop. I'm sorry that I do not know his name. Beechwood played small ball and played it better than Holy Cross. Steve Rickels continued his hot hitting going 2-3 and making all the plays at short. Stewart pitched well enough to win; especially with very little offense. First time at Beechwood's new field and I must say WOW!!

Fantastic pitching game in my opinion. Beechwood starter Josh Bertke threw 6 innings of 1 run ball. He had some excellent defense behind him by the shortstop. I'm sorry that I do not know his name. Beechwood played small ball and played it better than Holy Cross. Steve Rickels continued his hot hitting going 2-3 and making all the plays at short. Stewart pitched well enough to win; especially with very little offense. First time at Beechwood's new field and I must say WOW!!

 

The shortstop for Beechwood is Zach Larimore. This was a great game to watch.

The shortstop for Beechwood is Zach Larimore. This was a great game to watch.

 

Larimore had a webgem tonight... Diving stab going towards third and throw from his knees to get the runner

Beechwood was solid on pitching and defense, could use a few more hits....great game...

Beechwood is very young..3 seniors, 2 juniors

Smith is a pretty nice guy to have available as a closer. He dominated the seventh.

Cant say I loved the field... the out field looked rough. I wanna say it is atleast a 430 shot out to right center. The line from first to second will all be dead grass come seasons end by the way it looks now.

Smith is a pretty nice guy to have available as a closer. He dominated the seventh.

I agree; but I firmly believe Bertke would have finished the game out. My charts had him at 80 pitches: 50 strikes and 30 balls. Pretty awesome for a sophomore pitcher facing a strong senior laden Holy Cross team. Beechwood brought in Smith for the 7th inner for the 8th, 9th, amd 10th hitter. I'll agree he earned a save;but I doubt he threw much harder than Bertke!

I agree; but I firmly believe Bertke would have finished the game out. My charts had him at 80 pitches: 50 strikes and 30 balls. Pretty awesome for a sophomore pitcher facing a strong senior laden Holy Cross team. Beechwood brought in Smith for the 7th inner for the 8th, 9th, amd 10th hitter. I'll agree he earned a save;but I doubt he threw much harder than Bertke!

 

So are you second guessing the coaches for bringing a kid that earned a save in a 1 run ballgame ?

If Bertke had issued a walk to the first batter then a double that tied the game would you have been the guy to say they kept him in too long? You doubt Smith "threw much harder than Bertke"...is that a bad thing?

I agree; but I firmly believe Bertke would have finished the game out. My charts had him at 80 pitches: 50 strikes and 30 balls. Pretty awesome for a sophomore pitcher facing a strong senior laden Holy Cross team. Beechwood brought in Smith for the 7th inner for the 8th, 9th, amd 10th hitter. I'll agree he earned a save;but I doubt he threw much harder than Bertke!

 

Let me clear this up for you.... He did!

 

No slight to Bertke at all though. He pitched a heck of a game.... Saying that Smith is nice to have available as a closer is not putting down Bertke.

I agree; but I firmly believe Bertke would have finished the game out. My charts had him at 80 pitches: 50 strikes and 30 balls. Pretty awesome for a sophomore pitcher facing a strong senior laden Holy Cross team. Beechwood brought in Smith for the 7th inner for the 8th, 9th, amd 10th hitter. I'll agree he earned a save;but I doubt he threw much harder than Bertke!

 

Actually, he pitched to the 9th, 1st, and 2nd hitters. The ninth batter tried bunting and he struck out #1 and #2 batters. Although Bertke throws very well for being only a sophomore, Smith definitely threw harder. Can't wait to see Bertke when he's a senior. By the way, this was a great game to watch. Very few errors. I think one on each of the SS. HC's run was unearned and one of BW's runs was unearned. Overall, a great high school game.