Groton fights back to defeat Brooks 6-5

Groton overcame an early 4-0 deficit with a 5 run fourth inning, then added on the go ahead run in the bottom of the sixth to earn a hard fought 6-5 victory over Brooks. Junior Luke Beckstein came on to pitch with a runner on first and one out in the sixth and proceeded to retire all five batters he faced, four by strikeout, to notch his first win of the season.

 

Brooks set down Groton’s first nine hitters in order, with their only baserunner erased on a double play. The second time through the order, though, Groton struck. The inning started with consecutive two strike singles by senior Walker Davey and sophomore Walker Smith. Groton then got some help in the form of a throwing error, and after a four pitch walk, senior Bennett Smith tied the game with a triple to the right field wall. 8^th grader Ziggie Bereday then plated him with a sacrifice fly to give Groton its first lead. Groton was poised to extend the lead still further after sophomore Robbie Long tripled, but he would end up stranded at third.

 

Brooks came right back to tie the game in the top of the fifth with a one out walk, single, and double, but Long induced a pop out and ground out to escape the jam without further damage. Bennett Smith was hit in the foot by a pitch to lead off the sixth, then after a pitching change, he immediately swiped second base and advanced to third on a well executed sacrifice bunt. Brooks brought the infield in, but the second baseman could not handle Long’s hard hit grounder cleanly, allowing Smith to score the go-ahead run. Beckstein then struck out the first two hitters in the seventh before a soft liner to center found the back of Walker Smith’s glove to end the game.

 

Brooks’ first four runs all came in the first inning, as Groton starting pitcher Shane Kim battled uncharacteristic control problems. They would load the bases in the second, but Kim managed to escape any damage and then set Brooks down in order in the third. Long then entered and kept Groton in the game with 2.1 strong innings of work before giving way to Beckstein.