Errors, wild pitches cost Broncos – Van Buren posts six runs in 2nd on way to league win

An error-filled second inning proved costly for Boyd?s high school baseball club Monday, and contributed to a 15-5 district loss to Van Buren County at Edley Newman Field.

The Eagles plated six runs in the second, but finished the frame with just two hits. However, five defensive miscues by the Broncos, as well as a hit batsman, a balk and a base-on-balls, helped Van Buren put together a big inning from which Boyd would never recover.

The Broncos answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second, with Dylan Keith driving home Brently Panter and Jon Bryant scoring on a double steal.

But wild pitches, which were a problem for the Broncos throughout the game, did all the damage the Eagles would need to counter Boyd?s mini-rally in the third. Ethan Hillis and Wesley Martin connected for back-to-back singles, with Hillis scoring on a wild pitch and Martin coming home when Wesley Wheeler?s fly was misplayed in left field. Wheeler later scored on yet another wild pitch, and the Eagles led 9-2.

Panter and Bryant drove in runs on back-to-back fielder?s choices in the Bronco half of the fifth, pulling their team within five runs at 9-4, but two more Boyd errors led to VBHS runs in the sixth, and the Eagles plated four more in the top half of the seventh to go up 15-4.

Bryant singled to left with one out in the bottom of the inning, later scoring on a while pitch, but with two out and runners at second and third Eagle reliever Jeffery Ferguson coaxed a grounder out of Isiah White to end any thoughts of a Bronco comeback.

Tyler Hillis took the loss for Boyd, working the game?s first six innings and giving up 12 runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out seven batters before giving way to Lucas Majors, who worked the seventh and was charged with the final three Van Buren runs. Bryant went 2-for-4 and had Boyd?s only multi-hit game, while other hits came from Josh Burton, Majors, Hillis, Dylan Keith and David Watson.

The Broncos and Eagles were scheduled for a rematch Tuesday in Spencer.