Bulldogs Varsity Baseball

The Thunder took advantage of a pair of untimely errors and good fortune, snapping Brookfield's two-game winning streak with a 7-6 victory in Friday's varsity baseball action.

Trailing 1-0, the Bulldogs loaded the bases in the bottom of the 2nd with no outs. Hank Parks singled, Riley Hinckle walked, and Garret Wood reached on a bunt. However, the Thunder thwarted the threat with a pair of strikeouts and a lineout to short.

The Thunder struck in the 4th, loading the bases with one out. Wood struck out the next batter for the second out, but a jam shot blooper that dropped just beyond the infield near the left field line, scored two runs. The Thunder reloaded the bases and scored two more runs on ground ball error, giving the Thunder a 5-0 lead.

The Bulldogs finally got on the board when Wood reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored on Westen Davis's 2-out base hit to right.

The 'Dogs drew closer in the 5th. Colton Parn was hit by a pitch with one out and stole second. Trayce Switzer doubled Parn home, and Peyton Parn followed with an RBI double to left. Riley Hinckle's 2-out RBI single to left plated Parn, and the Bulldogs trailed by just one run, 5-4. Wood singled, but the Thunder got the final out to end the rally and protect their lead.

The 'Dogs seemingly had shifted the momentum, as Wood struck out the first two batters in the top of the 6th. However, an error was followed by  a base hit and passed ball scored one run, and an RBI single to center  scored a second, giving the Thunder a three-run lead, 7-4.

But the Bulldogs were not done. Bryson Shoop was plunked with one out, and moved to second on Colton Parn's single to left. Both runners moved up on a passed ball, and with two outs, Peyton Parn doubled to left, scoring both base runners.

Colton Parn, in relief of Wood, pitched a scoreless top of the 7th inning, but the Bulldogs went down just as quietly.

Peyton Parn collected two doubles, three RBI and a run for the Bulldogs, while Hinckle (RBI, BB) and Wood (run, SB) also had two hits each. Colton Parn (2 runs, HBP, SB), Trayce Switzer (2B, RBI, run), Parks and Davis (RBI) added a hit apiece. Shoop (HBP) scored a run, and Gage Ludington had a stolen base.

Wood allowed three earned runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He fanned nine. Colton Parn allowed no runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of relief.

Brookfield (2-7) hosts Milan on Monday.

​Story by: Dennis Hughes