Pirates and Kade Budd overcome 2 run 1st for 7-2 Victory over Brock

London Pirates´ starter Kade Budd was the key to their 7-2 win over the Brock Eagles. Game MVP Budd finished the complete game with 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, and 10 K. Carson Lightfoot for Brock took the loss, pitching 1 2/3 innings, striking out 1 and walking 4. Dusty Baker pitched the rest of the game for the Eagles, going 4 1/3 IP, giving up 1 unearned run with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk.

Brock has gained the reputation as an aggressive base running team and the Eagles lived up to it in the 1st inning of the 1st State Semifinal game between the Eagles and the London Pirates. A 1 out triple by Tyler Moody and a Jaxon Gleaton walk set up the 1st situation. A delayed steal by Gleaton enabled Moody to score on a double steal. Gleaton would then steal 3rd and also steal home, giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead after the top of the 1st. London´s Landon Salinas cut the lead in half in the bottom of the 1st with a 2 out RBI single.

After a scoreless inning on defense, the Pirates went to work in the bottom of the 2nd. They plated 6 runs on 4 hits including a 2 RBI single by Mason Arispe and another RBI hit by Salinas, this one a 2 RBI double. The Pirates were able to chase Brock starter, Angelo State commit Carson Lightfoot. They used a combination of patience as they worked 4 walks and timely hitting to score the 7 runs in the 1st 2 innings.

7 runs was more than enough for Budd who set down 16 in a row following the double steal in the 1st. He used his combination of fastball and changeup to keep the Eagles off balance. He also worked in a good curveball for a strike and was very efficient 7 innings. The loss ends the season for the Eagles, who finish 29-11-1. London will head to the 3A State Finals and face the winner of Malakoff and Gunter.