Broncos Christen New Turf With Doubleheader Sweep
Game 1: Russell-Victoria 4, Ellsworth 3
Game 2: Russell-Victoria 16, Ellsworth 6
High School Baseball in Russell is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023. The program which launched in 1993 has seen many changes over the years including the co-op agreement with Victoria which went into effect in 2012.
More change has taken place as the Broncos embarked on the 2023 campaign including a new head coach in Christien Ozores and new home uniforms. Perhaps the most significant change has occurred at the home of the Broncos, the Shaffer Field Complex. For the first time in the facility's history which long pre-dates the High School Baseball program, the infield features synthetic turf which was installed during this past winter.
On Tuesday, Russell-Victoria played its first games on the new surface and celebrated in grand style with a sweep of Ellsworth by scores of 4-3 and 16-6 despite windy conditions throughout the twinbill.
The Bearcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning of Game 1 as the result of a double and an error. The Broncos battled back with single runs in the third and fourth innings on an RBI single by Charlie Krug and an RBI groundout by Max Evans respectively.
Russell-Victoria then took the lead in the bottom of the sixth frame on a wild pitch which tied the score followed by Cameron Farmer sprinting home from third base as Evans deliberately got himself caught in a rundown. Wyatt Griffin who picked up the win relief of starting pitcher Jackson Cross retired the Bearcats in order in the top of the seventh to secure the victory.
Ellsworth plated a run in the top of the first inning of Game 2 off Farmer and the lead stood up until the bottom of the third inning when Russell-Victoria erupted for five runs. Two of the runs scored on RBI singles by Cross and Farmer while the others scored on two errors and a wild pitch. Ellsworth scored a single run in the top of the fourth inning to trim the Bronco lead to 5-2.
Russell-Victoria got the run back in the bottom of the fourth on a fielders choice and seemingly had control of the contest with a 6-2 advantage.
However, Ellsworth (3-3) rallied to tie the game at 6-6 in the top of the fifth, benefitting from five walks, a hit batter, an error on a pop-up in foul territory and a two-run single by Lane Rolfs, all with two outs. Russell-Victoria however came right back with four runs in the bottom half of the inning on RBI singles by Griffin and Thaddeus Wohler. Wohler's single brought in two runs and a third run scored on the throw to second base.
The Broncos then put the game away with a six-run rally in the bottom of the sixth on RBI singles by Evans and Wohler, two Ellsworth errors and a two-run base knock by Mason Rohr which ended the game at 16-6 as the run rule took effect.
Griffin (3-0) also picked up the win in Game 2 with a total of two and a thid scoreless innings between the two games.
Russell-Victoria (4-0) is next in action on Tuesday, April 11 when they host Sylvan-Lucas-Lincoln for a doubleheader at the Shaffer Complex. The Mustangs swept Wilson by socres of 14-0 and 18-3 Tuesday at Lions Club Park in Lucas.
First pitch for Game 1 is set for 4 p.m. and both games can be heard on KRSL 95.9 FM and online at KRSL.com