With the top spot in 7A District 9 on the line, the Braden River Pirates (12-7, 7-1) came alive late to defeat the Brandon Eagles (13-4, 6-2) in Bradenton 3-1.
Hits and runs were few and far between in this district matchup. Braden River ace Ryan Duncan (7 IP, 3 H, 7 K’s) and Brandon star BJ Carter (6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 K’s) were in control, as expected, most of the night.
Locked in a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 6th inning, junior James Boldin hit a one-out double to gain momentum. After Carter intentionally walked freshman Colin Apgar, who scored two of Braden River’s three runs, a subsequent passed ball advanced both runners. The Pirates scored the go-ahead run with two outs, as pinch-runner Jack Milner came home on another passed ball. Sophomore Colin Goda added an insurance run with an RBI double to score Apgar.
Duncan (5-1) shut the door retiring the final three batters, ending the game retiring 12 batters in a row.
Carter (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season and allowed his first earned run.
Up next for Brandon, the Eagles face the Middleton Tigers Thursday. Braden River will host Riverview Wednesday.
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