Broncos Split Wins With Raiders

The Broncos jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first inning in game one of the state AAAAA playoffs and cruised to a 10-2 victory over the North Forsyth Raiders. However, the Raiders used four unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth and escaped with a 6-2 win in game two to salvage a split and set up a deciding third game Saturday, May 7.

Brookwood got a home run from Lucas Sims in the first inning to highlight the onslaught, and Jacob Beauchamp (7-0) gave up three hits and two runs to remain perfect on the year. Nick Moore also homered for the Broncos, and the Raiders' Tyler Slaton launched a fifth inning home run for the visitors.

In the second game, Brookwood took a 1-0 lead into the fifth and after one out, the Raiders' Matthew Bottoms reached on an error.  Slaton doubled to put runners on second and third. Tyler Riddle was intentionally passed, though he was 0-5 in the twinbill. Caleb Gore doubled in two runs. Nick Fernandez drove in a run with an out, and Trevor Sams drove in a run on an error to give the Raiders a 4-1 lead.

Brookwood bounced back with a run on three hits as Zach Rinehart drove in Trey Hagey to cut the lead to 4-2, but two more Raider runs made it a 6-2 final.

"We were just trying to set up a force and maybe turn two," said Brookwood coach Rick Howard. "We knew he had five homeruns in the last six games leading up to today. We had an idea about them. You in the two hole or the three hole, they're all good hitters."

Brookwood's Brandon Agar (8-2) took the loss. Sims was one big bright spot for the Broncos, as he had five straight hits before making the final out of the second game.

"All our guys did good, we hit the ball well," Howard said. "We had seven hits through six innings. The first game we were on them. The inning they scored was a little frustrating. We boot one and we just couldn't shut it down."

Game time for the third game will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Brookwood.  Tentatively Allen Tokarz will get the start for the Broncos.