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(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Toby Boenisch keeps his eye on the ball as he swings at an oncoming pitch during the first of Graham’s summer league baseball games Tuesday, May 28. -
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s Mason Milton fires a pitch home during a summer league baseball game against Breckenridge this past Tuesday, May 28. Milton started the game on the mound for the Steers and fired two innings without allowing a run. -
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Steers pitcher Mason Milton fields a ball and throws to first baseman Colter Johnson for an out during Graham’s first summer league baseball game Tuesday, May 28. -
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Steers pitcher Harison Brockway propels himself off the mound as he throws a pitch home during Graham’s 8-0 win over Breckenridge in a summer league game Tuesday, May 28. -
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Ryder Calhoun steps on home plate to score a run during Graham’s first summer league game against Breckenridge this past Tuesday, May 28. -
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s Tripp Mahaney prepares to catch a ball at first base for an out during the team’s first summer league game this past Tuesday, May 28 against Breckenridge.
Although the school year is over and baseball season ended over a month ago for Graham, the Steers are already looking towards next year as they get in work during a baseball summer league.
This past Tuesday and each Tuesday throughout June the Steers will play exhibition games against schools around the area. It’s an opportunity for players on each side to gain valuable experience and begin working with new teammates. Varsity members continue to improve their craft while junior varsity players who might be looking to move up will get a chance to show what they can do.
The Steers kicked things off with an exhibition against the Breckenridge Buckaroos. Due to the games being unofficial, the teams play with modified rules to keep the game moving. Against the Buckaroos, the Steers played 10 innings, with the main caveat being that each half inning would end with either three outs or when a team scored three runs.
Players rotated positions frequently and each team threw various pitchers at the opposition to help guys get their practice. For the purposes of this write-up, the first seven innings were recorded (quite unofficially by a sports writer working on his scorekeeping) to simulate a regulation high school game.
Graham started their summer with a big win as the Steers defeated the Buckaroos 8-0 in seven innings. Five Steers pitchers combined to hold Breckenridge scoreless, as they allowed just two hits and made things difficult all game for the visitors.
Mason Milton started the game and threw two innings in which he struck out one batter and allowed two hits. Harison Brockway and Bruin Wright followed him with one inning and two innings pitched, respectively. Brockway only allowed a walk while Wright walked two batters but struck out four.
The final two innings of this seven inning game went to Kaden McClendon and Tyson Louder who each tossed a scoreless inning apiece, with McClendon recording a strikeout.
While Graham’s pitchers were getting it done on the mound, the offense was playing fast and loose. Tripp Mahaney led off the game with a rocket of a single to left field, then promptly stole second and third. Wright drove him in for the first run of the game on a bouncing single to third base.
The Steers tacked on another run in the opening frame when Milton grounded into a double play which allowed Wright to come home for a 2-0 Graham lead.
Graham extended the lead when Ryder Calhoun reached on an error from Breckenridge’s second baseman, stole second base, moved to third on a Toby Boenisch single and came home to score on Mahaney’s sacrifice fly to center field.
Already holding a 3-0 lead, the Steers had their best offensive inning in the third when they hit the three-run limit. Ty Thompson singled and stole second base, followed by Colter Johnson reaching on an error which brought Thompson home. A couple batters later, Cooper Corley smacked a single to center to drive in Johnson. Corley stole second and third and eventually came home on an error by Breckenridge’s catcher for the third run and a 6-0 Graham lead.
The Steers went scoreless in the next two innings, and in the sixth frame Graham got some of the newer players involved. Louder scored the team’s final two runs of the game: one in each the sixth and seventh innings.
Graham showed discipline at the plate while also exhibiting an aggression in putting the ball in play. It was an overall great first step towards the 2025 season which will get underway with official practices next January.
