Brandon’s baseball team never gave Birmingham Groves a chance.
After spotting Groves a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the host Blackhawks erupted for eight runs in their half of the first on their way to a 14-4 win in a May 4 contest.
With the win, the Blackhawks improved their season mark to 13-8.
Senior pitcher Roy Reynolds picked up the win on the mound for the Blackhawks, and helped his own cause by hitting a three-run home run in the first inning, highlighting the eight-run first.
There was plenty of offense to go around for Brandon against Groves.
Mark Butzu and Derek Cowell each went 3-for-3 for Brandon, with Butzu driving in four Blackhawk runs. Jake Cinader and Andy Harding each went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs for Brandon.
In a doubleheader against Oxford that began April 29, the scores more closely resembled a football game than a baseball game, as the 40-mph winds made it tough on both pitchers.
‘I’ve never seen anything like it,? Brandon coach Ron Wagner said. ‘It was unbelievable.?
The Blackhawks split the doubleheader with Oxford, winning the opener 17-8 before dropping the nightcap 21-10. Brandon is now 3-1 in Flint Metro competition.
In the opener, Derek Foyt had four hits and four RBI for the Blackhawks, while Harding added two hits, including a home run.
While Oxford’s pitchers struggled in the opener, Brandon’s pitchers had their troubles in the nightcap, which was suspended with Oxford up 21-10 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The game was resumed May 3 and was stopped after five innings due to the mercy rule. The Wildcats scored 13 runs in the bottom of the first inning, offsetting the seven runs the Blackhawks scored in the top of the inning.
Wagner used three pitchers — Foyt, Jeff Carroll, and Derrick Kratt — in the first inning. Butzu then pitched 2/3 of an inning before Foyt returned to the mound for two more innings. Cowell took the mound for Brandon when the game resumed May 3, and retired the Wildcats in order.
‘Our pitchers couldn’t get our offspeed pitches over with the wind,? Wagner said. ‘They were sitting on the fastball.?
Foyt, Cowell, and Cinader each had two hits in a losing cause for the Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks also had their troubles in the Greater Flint Invitational May 1, losing to Flint Carmen-Ainsworth 9-0. Brandon managed only four hits in the game, with Harding’s double the lone extra-base hit.
‘They sat on the offspeed pitches and hit us very well,? Wagner said.
A combination of inexperience (the Blackhawks have five sophomores on the varsity roster) and injuries (most recently to Cowell and senior Joel Pappas) have been responsible for the Blackhawks? recent inconsistencies, Wagner said. However, he still believes the Blackhawks will achieve some good things before the season is done.
The Blackhawks will be tested Monday, May 10 in a key Flint Metro League showdown when they take on Lapeer West. ‘That will probably be for the league championship,? Wagner said.