Derry rebounded from a 2-0 deficit to beat United 10-2 in Game One of the Teddy Bear Fund Drive Classix yesterday, and in the nightcap, Marion Center’s Dakota Bracken spun a one-hitter to top Homer-Center’s Owen Saiani in a 1-0 pitcher’s duel.
In the opener, United’s Joe Marino doubled and Brad Felix singled him home in the top of the first, and Felix later scored on an Evan Thomas sacrifice fly. But Derry answered with a run in the second when Nate Papuga singled home Nate Gray. The Trojans added two runs in the third on a walk, an RBI double by Jon Wasnick, and a sacrifice fly by Collin Bush. Derry then broke the game open with a 6-run fourth, highlighted by Papuga’s doubletwo walks, two hitters reaching on errors, a double by Roman Fridley and a single by Bush. In the 6th, Bush singled home the game’s final run for the 10-2 victory.
In the second game, neither team had a hit until Marion Center’s Parker Black singled home Noah McCoy in the 4th inning after McCoy had reached on an error and was sacrificed to second. it was the game’s only run, as the Stingers could get only four hits off Owen Saiani, who threw six solid innings and Caleb Palmer, who struck out the side in the 7th. As good as the Wildcats’ hurlers were, though, Dakota Bracken was better, giving up only an infield single to Braden Dunn, while striking out ten and walking four. Braden Reichenbach had two hits for Marion Center and Bracken had the only other Stinger’s hit.
