CROZET —The present and the future were on display Wednesday for fifth-seeded Broadway, which opened the Region 3C playoffs on the road at fourth-seeded Western Albemarle.
Senior second baseman Conner Michael and freshman starting pitcher Colby Fesler combined to carry the Gobblers to an impressive 9-5 victory.
After neither team scored in the opening frame, senior Shea Kushner led the second inning off with a single. Sophom*ore Ryan Hardy then grounded into a fielder’s choice. Junior centerfielder Lee Slater was hit by a pitch to place runners at first and second but was forced out at second on senior Bransen Hensley’s grounder to short.
Hensley, who recently broke the BHS single-season record for stolen bases, swiped second and scored on junior Cristian Rivera’s full-count single to right field, putting the Gobblers up 2-0.
“We saw a lot of pitches tonight,” an elated Rivera said. “We believe in grinding out at-bats and doing your job, being accountable.”
Fesler gave up a single in the bottom half to Ezra Andres, but quickly erased any threat with a 6-4-3 double play, Hensley to Michael to Kushner, and a ground ball to Rivera at third.
After a quiet top of the third, the Warriors worked two walks that were sandwiched around two fielding errors and a single to left field from Smith Winslow to knot it up. Western took the 3-2 lead on a sacrifice fly to center field by Andres.
“It was really important to minimize the damage,” Broadway head coach George Laase said. “Momentum can switch so quickly in high school baseball with a few bad hops or missed locations, but we buckled down to work out of it. You can’t hide in baseball, you have to stare it right in the face.”
Western threatened again in the bottom of the fourth inning, but with two outs, Daniel Jones lined out to a leaping Hensley to end the rally.
Hardy drew a leadoff walk to begin the Gobbler fifth, and substitute sophom*ore Zechariah Stuhlmiller promptly stole second base. Slater then singled to center field to put runners on the corners. After stealing second base, Hensley, a West Virginia commit, hit a laser to center field to score Stuhlmiller. After Hensley garnered another 90 feet, Rivera worked a full-count walk.
Junior Sy Crider, fellow WVU commit, sent a deep sacrifice fly to left center to score Slater. Michael continued to stay hot with a two-out full-count single to left field, driving in Hensley and Rivera, pushing the Broadway lead to 7-3.
“As a senior, we can’t tell our teammates enough of how proud we are of their everyone’s efforts tonight,” mentioned Hensley. “Conner had an amazing game and it’s just so much fun when we have a team full of guys who came up big to help us move on.”
Fesler aided his own cause with a single to left field to open up the top of the sixth. Courtesy runner freshman Caiden Rhodes swiped second and then moved up another ninety feet on a passed ball, before scoring on the next wild pitch to make it 8-3 in favor of the visitors.
Fesler opened with a strikeout before inducing an inning-ending double play to head into the last inning.
“Nobody knows or understands everything that we have been through as a team this season,” Laase chimed in. “To have a freshman step up and put the team on his back, it was a special performance. A lot of guts. A lot of heart. A tribute to his mentor Mason Lynn, who continues to make an impact on this team.”
Broadway added their final run in the top of the last frame with a leadoff single from Hensley. A sacrifice bunt from Rivera moved him to second base. Another stolen base later, Hensley scored off Michael’s third of the game to make it 9-3.
“We were extremely motivated today,” Michael summed up the Gobbler offensive success. “From here on out, it’s win or go home, so we knew we had to step on the gas pedal.”
Michael led the Broadway offense with three hits in three at-bats, two walks, three runs batted in, and five stolen bases.
“Awards and recognitions are nice to receive, because it honors the success of the regular season, but Conner played like a first team all-star tonight,” Laase added. “When others overlook you, it creates a moment where you want to prove everyone wrong, and he left no doubt.”
Western didn’t go away easy, as junior reliever Ty Sharpe came in to close the game. The Warriors pieced together four singles and a walk, making the score 9-5, but Sharpe struck out the final two hitters to send Broadway to the next round.
Fesler’s final stat line was six innings pitched, one strikeout, yielding six hits and zero earned runs.
“Tonight was a great night for all of us,” the freshman righty said. “We have been through a lot together, and to be able to help contribute in any way for a victory means everything to all of us.”
Broadway (16-5) now moves on to play undefeated and top-seeded Liberty Christian Academy (21-0) in Lynchburg this Friday with a first pitch slated for 6 p.m.
LCA bounced the Gobblers out of the regionals last season, but Laase said they can’t look at the past.
“We know where the road runs through in our region, but all you need is a ticket to the dance, and here we are,” the Broadway boss concluded. “Tonight was a huge win over a well-coached and traditionally-rich program. We are so proud of our players and coaches, but when the sun comes up tomorrow, we have to get locked in and ride the tide.”
