Another Walk Off Win For Broncbuster Baseball Team

Garden City, KS (westernkansasnews.com) Never has giving up a two run lead in the ninth felt so good.  Saturday the Garden City Community College baseball team (4-1) needed three runs in their last at-bat to beat Indian Hills 7-6. 

Tuesday night the Broncbusters coughed up a two run lead in the ninth only to get a game winning double in the bottom of the inning from shortstop Brennan Cascio in defeating McCook (1-1) 3-2.

Whether both teams struggled offensively because they used wooden bats is up for debate.  What was clear from the beginning was the pitching dominated.

Game Highlights

Broncbuster starter Brendan Peitsmeyer pitched six scoreless innings in his first collegiate start, gave up for hits while walking two and striking out four.  Peitsmeyer wiggled out of a jam in the fourth. After giving up a single from Derron Davis and double from Lars Trizilla, he came back to strike out back to back batters in ending the threat.  McCook would also leave two runners in scoring position during the fifth. 

McCook Jonathan Reid was sailing along until the fourth when Garden City was able to get the first two on after Frankie Alvarez singled and Kyle Lopez walked.  Cooper Bowermaster then made contact on a swinging bunt down the third base line and Reid threw the ball away allowing Alvarez to score the first run.  Ted Ramirez added a Sac-Fly to give Garden City a 2-0 lead.  Neither team would score until the ninth.

Garden City closer Marcus McKinney came on to get his second save in the ninth, but things did not go as planned.  McKinney followed a strike out of Garret Christansen with a walk to James Babic and single by Jason Lighthall.  The next batter, Nathan Schenck hit a grounder to first which Ted Ramirez fielded, but McKinney could not find the bag on the flip from the first baseman. 

After Kylan Kuritz struck out looking, Ian Davis came off the bench to add a pinch hit two run single and tie the game at 2.  McKinney blew the chance for his second save, but would get the win thanks to his team’s ability to capitalize in the bottom of the ninth.

Ted Ramirez hit a ground ball to lead off the Garden City ninth, Schenck smothered the ball at third, but could not find the handle for a throw.   The error was the opening Garden City needed.  Patrick Mixon advanced Ramirez to second on a bunt.  Brooks Benson could not advance Ramirez when his grounder went back to Schenk at third.  That brought up shortstop Brennan Cascio who three days earlier tied the game against Indian Hills with a game tying double in the ninth inning.  This time he would do himself one better.

Cascio ripped a liner down the left field line off Indians reliever Jason Lighthall.  Ramirez had no trouble scoring from second and the Broncbusters secured their second consecutive win in their final at-bat.

GCCC Coach Chris Finnegan’s postgame comments

Garden City returns to the diamond next Monday when they host Kansas Wesleyan in a doubleheader.