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(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The bottom of the third inning is where things started churning for the Steers offensively in their Friday, March 28 matchup against the Brock Eagles. Harison Brockway would kick off the scoring in this inning. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Steers designated hitter Tyson Louder also came through offensively in the bottom of the 4th against the Brock Eagles. Louder hit an RBI groundout for an added insurance run which extended the Steers lead to 8-1 during their matchup on Friday March, 28. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Harison Brockway pitching in relief of Mike Garcia in the Steers matchup against the Brock Eagles on Friday March, 28. Brockway would come up clutch late in this game getting a pivotal final out after a controversial call at first base.
After a difficult start to a beautiful Friday evening with JV Red’s tough loss, the Graham Steers varsity team picked spirits back up with a gritty win over the Brock Eagles.
Head Coach Allen McGee had nothing but praise for his team after another promising win.
“They’re great teammates, they don’t want to let their teammates down,” McGee said. “When they get opportunities like that, they’re going to take full advantage.”
Steers Athlete of the Week Mike Garcia was on the mound for Friday’s game and set the tone early. He made quick work of the top of the Eagles batting order facing just four batters.
Garcia cruised through the first two innings and then the Eagles struck with a double to right center field to open the score 1-0. Despite being down, the Steers weren’t fazed. In the bottom of the third they were simply an offensive machine.
After a pair of walks, Harison Brockway turned the tides in favor of Graham with his two RBI single through the left side of the field, scoring both Cooper Corley and Ryder Taylor. Tripp Mahaney followed this up with an RBI single into right that scored Brockway. Ty Thompson also added an additional run with his RBI single into left to make it 4-1 Steers.
“They’ve shown that from time to time this year. When they smell some blood in the water then they strike,” McGee said.
However, the bottom of the fourth inning is truly when the floodgates opened for the Steers.
After three consecutive walks from Ryder, Brockway and Garcia, Mahaney took over. With a chance to really put a cushion on their lead, Mahaney ripped a ball to right center field for a bases-clearing triple that would score all three men. After an RBI groundout from Tyson Louder made it 8-1 in favor of Graham, the Steers were firmly in the driver’s seat and it was basically just putting things in cruise control from there.
Brockway took over for Garcia in the later innings and had a solid outing in relief of the latter. Things got a little dicey in the top of the sixth inning where the Eagles scored three runs. After a controversial call at first that would have ended the inning for Graham, Brockway used it as momentum, striking out the final batter of the inning, enthusiastically pumping his fist as he got to the dugout.
Even with the big win, McGee is preaching a message of focus for his team.
“We’ve got to move passed it, I’ve been telling them the same thing in a loss because we’ve got Brownwood next week,” McGee said.
After traveling Tuesday, April 1 to Brownwood, the Steers will host the team in another match held Friday, April 4 at Hogan Field.
