After struggling to hit the ball for five innings, the Glenbrook Apaches came to life late in Tuesday’s first-round playoff game against Newton Academy.
Glenbrook trailed 3-0 in the sixth before pushing two runs across to tighten things up. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Apaches loaded the bases with no outs for there 3-4-5 hitters. It seemed like the perfect scenario for a Glenbrook team that’s made a living on late-game dramatics, but the Generals were able to sit down the heart of the Apache lineup in order to take game one in Minden, 3-2.
The Apaches never led in the contest, a pitcher’s duel between the General’s ace and Glenbrook ace Tyler Perryman.
The only runs of the ball game in the first five innings came via a two-run blast and a throwing error with a runner on third.
Glenbrook worked their way out of jams early, getting a double play to escape trouble in the second inning. In the third, a General got hung up between third and home on a relay throw from center field, ending another promising inning for the road team.
Still, Glenbrook could not capitalize on the good fortune.
Tyler Perryman was the losing pitcher for Glenbrook despite a gutsy, complete-game performance. Perryman struck out five batters, scattered eight hits and allowed two earned runs.
In the bottom of the seventh and trailing 3-2, Glenbrook’s Seth Gauthier drew a walk to start the inning. Perryman came to bat next and drew a walk, followed by an unprecedented third-straight walk to load the bases .
With the bases loaded, Parker Christy went down swinging, followed by Nick Mourad with a pop-up to bring up Mason Hood.
Hood worked the count full at 3-2 before the Newton reliever broke off a full-count curveball. Hood took a healthy cut, but couldn’t connect, ending the game.
Trevor McLean went 1-3 with a double, followed by Parker Christy and Seth Gauthier with singles. Nick Mourad finished 2-4 with two singles and a RBI and Mason Hood added an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Glenbrook travels to Newton Friday for a doubleheader to complete the three-game series. In order to advance, the Apaches must win both games.