Bronco Baseball and Softball Swept on Friday
The Russell-Victoria Bronco Baseball team played their first home games in three weeks Friday afternoon as they faced arch-rival TMP-Marian in a doubleheader at the Shaffer Sports Complex.
The Monarchs got off to fast starts in both games on their way to a sweep by scores of 19-2 and 16-3 with both games ending after five innings due to the run rule.
In the opener, TMP-Marian touched up starting pitcher Max Evans (1-3) for seven runs in the top of the first inning including a two-run homer by winning pitcher Logan Baalman before he was lifted for Mason Rohr. Rohr ended the Monarch rally by getting the last out of the first inning and kept the score the same heading into the fourth frame when TMP-Marian erupted for five more runs to swell the score to 12-0. Seven more runs in the fifth inning capped the Monarch scoring. The Broncos' two runs came off Rohr's bat with RBI singles in both the fourth and fifth innings.
In the nightcap, Wyatt Griffin (2-2) worked four and a third innings to spare Russell-Victoria even more wear and tear on its pitching staff after four hurlers were needed in Game 1. Sam Thielen mopped up by pitching two-thirds of an inning TMP put up five runs in the first two innings to take command once again. Russell-Victoria (8-7) scored all of their runs in the bottom of the second inning on a fielding error and a two-run wind-aided homer to right field by Will Scherrer. After TMP-Marian (12-6) added one more run in the top of the third inning, the Monarchs were able to end the game in the bottom of the fifth after another five-run uprising in the top half of the frame.
The Broncos will next be in action on Tuesday, April 30 when they host Larned for a doubleheader at the Shaffer Sports Complex. First pitch for Game 1 is set for 4 p.m.
LADY BRONCOS SWEPT BY ROOKS COUNTY
The Russell-Victoria Softball team hosted Rooks County (Plainville-Stockton) Friday at Memorial Park and the Lady Cardinals picked up a sweep by scores of 12-9 and 13-1.
The Lady Broncos trailed 12-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 1 before charging back with eight runs in the final three innings before the comeback fell short. The Lady Cardinals wasted no time in Game 2 by scoring eight runs in the first two innings to cruise to the win.
Gracelynn Dinkel and Saige Moos took the losses for Russell-Victoria (1-17).
The Lady Broncos have a busy week next week. They will host Ellis on Monday, April 29 at Memorial Park in a newly-scheduled doubleheader which starts at 4 p.m. A three-inning JV game will precede the twinbill starting at 3 p.m. After a pair of road games on Tuesday, April 30 at Haven, the Lady Broncos will finish the regular season with a senior day doubleheader at Memorial Park on Thursday, May 2 at 4 p.m.