Usually a reliever for the Kenston Bombers, senior pitcher Jacob Maniawski got the call from Head Coach Joe Hritz to start the Senior Night game May 2 against the Berkshire Badgers.
Game photos click here.
Usually a reliever for the Kenston Bombers, senior pitcher Jacob Maniawski got the call from Head Coach Joe Hritz to start the Senior Night game May 2 against the Berkshire Badgers.
After Maniawski threw a scoreless first inning, the Bombers offense scored five runs in the bottom of the first to take a 5-0 lead.
That would be all the runs the Bombers would need, as Maniawski pitched a complete game, 7-0 shutout.
In seven innings of work, Maniawski gave up only three hits and struck out 14 Badgers. He finished only one strikeout away from tying Kenston’s all-time strikeout record for one game, set by current University of Akron baseball player Parker Munday.
After the game, Maniawski talked about his dominant performance on the mound.
“(I am) typically a reliever for the team, so when I got the opportunity to start today on Senior Night, I said I would give it my all,” Maniawski said. “That’s what I did.”
In pitching a great game, Maniawski said his slider was his go-to pitch. He explained that he often threw the slider when he was ahead in the count, causing many batters to swing early and miss the ball.
Coach Hritz said the coaching staff only planned to pitch Maniawski a few innings, but decided to keep him in as the game progressed. Maniawski did an excellent job of keeping his pitch count down, his coach added, throwing strikes and allowing his defense to make plays. This combination of pitching and defense kept the Bombers controlling the game throughout.
Senior Avery Siperke led the offense, going 3-4 with a double, triple and home run.
Siperke had the big hit of the game when he went hard on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Bombers a 6-0 lead.
Post-game, Siperke said he was trying to hit a home run.
“To be honest, I was trying to hit out,” he said. “I knew I needed a home run and a single for the cycle. I was trying to get the home run on that one.
“I got my pitch, just let it rip. It felt good.”
Also having multiple-hit games were LA Mighton (2-4, double, triple, RBI), Bridger Bischof (2-2) and Jimmy Cerha (2-4, double, 2 RBI)
Although the Badgers lost this one, Berkshire’s team has had a great season so far.
In fact, the Badgers currently lead the Chagrin Valley Conference (CVC) with an 8-1 divisional record.
Leading the way for Berkshire this season, both at the plate and on the mound, has been sophomore Patrick Brancel. For the season, he has a .553 batting average and a .683 on-base percentage.
Additionally, in 31 innings of work on the mound this season, Brancel has only allowed two earned runs while striking out 52 batters, including 13 in the Badgers’ victory against Kirtland on April 30.
