Aviston steals game one over Trenton with a run in the ninth inning

Strong start — Aviston righty Reed Braundmeier sends in a third-inning pitch in the Aces’ 5-4, come-from-behind victory at Trenton on Sunday. Braundmeier went seven innings and allowed four earned runs with eight punch outs and one walk.    Trenton controlled much of their opening round game of the Clinton County League Championship Series on Sunday only to see Aviston score the final four runs of the game for a 5-4 win over the host Miners at Pete Schumacher Field.
    Aviston’s Reed Braundmeier and Trenton’s Brady Maltbie each pitched well in the starts for their respective teams while Aviston was out hit by Trenton 10-7 and Trenton had two of the three fielding errors.
    After a scoreless first inning, that included Braundmeier striking out the side, the Miners got to the hurler in the bottom of the second inning.
    JD Barnes and Logan Doll each singled with one out in the frame before Conlan Haar reached on a fielding error at short to load the bases.
    Phillip Berberich drew a seven-pitch walk for a 1-0 lead before Peyton Bittle singled in Doll for a 2-0 lead.
    Aviston got a run back in the top of the third inning when Griffin Thomas led off with a walk and scored on a two-out single to left field from Chase Lewis as they trailed 2-1.
    Trenton got that run back in the bottom of the inning when Barnes earned a two-out walk and Doll singled to the right side.  Haar poked a double to left field for a 3-1 lead for Trenton heading to the fourth inning.
That’s a steal — Trenton leadoff hitter Peyton Bittle slides in with a stolen base at second base with Aviston shortstop Conner Freeze doing his best to keep the ball on the infield in Sunday’s game one of the CCL Championship Series in Trenton.    After Aviston stranded two runners on in the top of the fourth inning, the Miners got their final run of the contest in the bottom of the inning.
    Bittle led off with a walk and stole second base before a two-out single up the middle from Harrison Rakers made it 4-1.
    The next 18 hitters were retired in order by Braundmeier and Maltbie sending the game into the top of the eighth inning with a 4-1 lead for the Miners.
    The Aces got back in the game in the top of the eighth inning when Austin Rakers reached on an infield single before the second out of the inning was retired.
    Brent Timmons followed with a walk before Drew Potthast was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Carter Truong hit a bloop to the right side that was misplayed in right field as all three runs crossed the plate to tie the contest at 4-4.  Maltbie got a strikeout to end the damage.
    Trenton went in order in the bottom of the inning as Aviston stole the win in the top of the ninth inning.
    With Ethan Wheelan on the mound, the righty got the first batter to strikeout before Thomas singled and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Conner Freeze picked up his first hit of the game, a big one that chased pitch runner Collin Adams to the plate for the eventual game-winning run.
    Trenton got two runners on in the bottom of the ninth inning but never reached second base with one getting picked off of first base.
    “I’m definitely happy with the victory today,” said Aviston manager Ryan Kuper.  “It felt like we hit the ball well today but nothing was really falling for us and same on the opposite side. Reed was throwing great, but things seemed to just be going their way. It was great to see Griffin and Conner step up in a big spot and then have Ty come in and shut it down for the last two innings. Really proud of these guys for grinding that win out.”
    Thomas had two hits for the Aces while Timmons walked and scored.  Lewis had a single and a run scored.  All seven of Aviston’s hits were singles.
    Ty Kueper was the winner in relief as he went two innings and allowed no runs on no hits, two walks and one punch out.  Braundmeier went the first seven innings and allowed four earned runs on 10 hits, three walks and six strikeouts.
Lay it down — Trenton shortstop Drew Frey attempts to put a bunt down in the Miners’ 5-4 loss in game one of the Championship Series on Sunday at Pete Schumacher Field. Frey was 1-for-5 with a stolen base.   Rakers and Doll each had two hits in the loss for the Miners while Haar had the game’s only extra-base hit with a double.  Frey had a hit and a stolen base while Bittle was 1-for-3 with two walks, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
    Wheelan took the loss in relief as he allowed one earned run on two hits, no walks and one punch out.  Malbie went eight innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits, one walk and eight strikeouts in 122 pitches.
    “We played well but not well enough,” said Trenton head coach Alex Elsing.  “Great effort on the mound by Brady. As a pitcher I know how tough that is. We left way too many runners stranded which is what cost us more than anything. Brady is going to have to do it again and the offense will have his back.”
    Game two will be this Saturday in Aviston with a 1 p.m. game time.  Braundmeier and Maltbie are the expected starters.