BEACHWOOD—A five-run sixth inning extended Beachwood’s season as the Bison rallied to defeat visiting Clearview in a Division III sectional semifinal on Monday, 6-3.
The Bison entered the sixth trailing the Clippers, 2-1, but scored five runs on just two hits to pull away from their guests.
For most of the game, this contest was a classic pitcher’s duel with Clearview using a two-run third to build its lead heading into the sixth.
Then things got interesting.
Vince Crenshaw was hit by a pitch to start the Bison sixth and Josh Rosenblitt singled to left. Drew Keilin was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Ethan Malek earned an RBI the easy way when he drew a bases-loaded walk that tied the game.
Brett Zawatsky reached on an error that gave Beachwood a 3-2 lead and Jaycob Zabell became the third Bison to be hit by a pitch in the inning pushing the Bison lead to 4-2. James O’Neill then singled home two runs to close out Beachwood’s scoring.
“Second pitch, (I got) a single up the middle,” O’Neill said. “That’s my spot right there; put two runs on the board for the boys, and it went well. It was a good swing.”
An error and a single allowed Clearview to pull to within 6-3 but a strikeout ended the game.
Malek went the distance on the bump for the Bison.
He allowed two earned runs on six hits and struck out 14 in a seven-inning complete game.
“First inning, came out strong, gave up a leadoff hit, but kept composed,” Malek said. “Got into a little jam in the third inning, but got out of it. Mostly my fastball (was working well for me on the mound) and the combination of the fastball and slider (was tough to hit).”
Beachwood had taken an early 1-0 lead in the first when Vince Crenshaw drew a one-out walk and scored on a Keilin RBI single.
“I think us being able to (capitalize on their mistakes) will help us move farther in the playoffs,” Keilin said.
Rosenblitt, Keilin, Zabell, and O’Neill each recorded one of Beachwood’s four hits in the game.
The ninth-seeded Bison host No. 10 Wellington in a sectional championship game on Wednesday.
Other CVC Postseason Scores:
Edgewood 9, Howland 2
Revere 6, Orange 4
Niles McKinley 11, West Geauga 3
Ursuline 11, Harvey 1
Berkshire 8, Grand Valley 1
Fairless 2, Cuyahoga Heights 1
Perry 3, Ravenna Southeast 0
Brooklyn 16, Bard Early College 0
