BRAVES TAKE ANOTHER SUNDAY OFF

Ian Sauer probably had no idea that he was about to fall victim to just another non-focused Braves team on a Sunday afternoon. The Berea Braves are 1-5 in Games played on Sunday (3-3 on games played on any other day of the week). They have been out-scored 55-19 on Sundays. However, to Ian's credit, he is the only Braves pitcher to win a Sunday contest, a 4-3 defensive decision in his last outing, over the Parma Ht's Flyers on June 6th.

Sauer would receive no support today, especially from the Braves bats. The visiting Nordonia Athletics put 2-runs on the board in the first inning on 3-hits, but it wasn't until an Athletics flyball was misplayed in center field, with two-outs, that the runs scored. A third-strike passed ball on a strike-out in the second and a high throw that was lazily played at first base eventually gave the Athletics another run in the second inning. An error at third base in the third produced another run for the visiting team. The Nordonia Athletics, sporting more gifts from the Braves than they probably collectively gave their own Fathers on this sunny FATHERS DAY, shut the Braves bats down after giving up a single run in the first Inning.

Tevon Rease, batting second for the Braves, started a spark in the first Inning as he singled up the middle and stole second. Ian Sauer drove him in but was gunned down at home after trying to score on a well hit ball by Allen Peterkoski. The Braves produced no other hits through the first three innings and trailed 4-1 through four Innings of play.

Nordonia blew the game open in the fifth as Sauer tired, sandwiching two walks around a base hit and loading the bases. Sauer finished after facing 27-Athletics in 5 innings of work (hurling 87 pitches), striking out 1, walking 3, giving up 8 runs (4 earned).

Kevin Siloy entered the game as all could sense that it was only a matter of time before the Athletics would put the Braves away. The Athletics produced four straight hits, scoring 5 runs and taking a 10-1 lead. The Braves Pitching staff decided to take the Athletics on, on their own - as Sauer, Siloy and Luke Beehler all singled, with Beehler driving in a lone run.

The Braves didn't completely waste the afternoon, as Luke Beehler made his first appearance on the mound since experiencing elbow pain in late May. Beehler did a fine job and hopefully established some needed confidence as he faced 4-batters, including striking out the last batter in four pitches. Beehler was the Braves hardest throwing pitcher last season and could be the key to the teams success down the stretch and in the play-offs.

Final
NORDONIA ATHLETICS - 10
BEREA BRAVES - 2

BRAVES WALK OVER FLAMES

The Braves hung around behind the solid pitching of Alex Bockmiller and finally stole one down the stretch from the Parma Flames.

Parma was able to drop in a couple of cheap base hits, and the Braves tossed in a few errors in allowing the visiting Flames to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and hold onto it through two complete innings of play. The Flames added a legit third run in the top of the third inning on a triple to deep left-center field by the Flames #3 (Louis), driving in #42 (Suchan) who had lead-off the inning with a single to left. The Braves answered with a similar set-up of their own. Allen Peterkoski started off a two-out rally by driving a single into left field and Nate Miceli drove him in with a triple down the left field line. Miceli would end the inning there, as the Flames catcher had no problem trying his arm on the encroaching Braves runners. The Parma Flames took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Braves added a second run in the bottom of the fifth, as Tevon Rease lead-off with a single and stole second base. Kevin Siloy moved Rease to third on a ground-out to the shortstop. Rease then almost was handed the same fate as Miceli, as the Flames Catcher once again caught the Braves off third. Rease found himself in a run-down and eventually leaped wildly over the outstretched catcher and landed on the plate. The play was disputed shortly, but the Braves closed the gap, down 3-2.

Again, the Flames received some gift errors by the Braves, scoring one run on two-questionable-hits and two-errors. Alex Bockimiller guided the Braves out of the jam by getting the Flames #9 hitter to pop-up over second base -  a shallow playing David Seagle was able to get a good jump on the ball and run it down, making the catch at the infield for the third out with bases loaded. The Braves went to work at the plate with two-outs in the bottom of the inning. Zach Bauer (2-for-3) and Ian Sauer (1-for-2) singled and Alex Bockmiller was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Tevon Rease singled in Bauer as Kevin Siloy and Justin Pulling both forced in runs on base on balls and the Braves took the first lead of the game.

Alex Bockmiller finished off another fine performance by coming out to close the 7th inning 1,2,3 as the Braves handed their division opponent a spilt on the season.

Bockmiller faced 32 batters, throwing a season high 97-pitches through seven innings. He struck-out 6, giving up 4-runs (only one earned run) on 8-hits, but the key to all of Alex's performances is that he walked none.

In Bockmillers last three outings he holds a record of 2-1 (the only loss coming in the umpire fiasco in Rocky River), he has thrown three complete games, 20-Innings, facing 91-batters in giving up only 6 Earned Runs while only walking 2 batters over that span. That is a special accomplishment within the struggles that this team faced so far in this young season. Alex has thrown 89, 90 and 97-pitches in those three contests and has kept the scarce Braves Bullpen from facing reality. Let's hope the Braves pitching staff finds health, better support from the Braves fielding and from the plate and peaks down the stretch to take some of the load off Alex.

Great Job Alex! ... MVP from the editors view through the first dozen games.

Final
BEREA BRAVES - 5

PARMA FLAMES - 4

BRAVES MAIL ONE IN

With School out, it was obvious that the Berea Braves had enjoyed a bit too much sun and fun in exchange for rest as they showed up at the ball park unprepared and un-enthused. Mix in six weeks without practicing, and injuries throughout the roster - only a rainout could have decided this contest differently. The Garfield Hts team came to Groza field hungry for their first win in eight tries, having lost 5 of their games by one-run.

Nate Miceli took to the hill for the Braves. Nate struck-out the first batter, the Mammoth fourth batter and also the seventh Garfield Hts batter ... but it was the ones in-between that made the most of the opportunities the Braves and Miceli allotted them. #20 Ortlieb singled to right and left handed batter, #7 Hrestak, walked after taking Miceli to a full count. Third baseman, #5 Kravec doubled - sending a hot grounder down the first base line that got past Braves first baseman, Zach Bauer, scoring Ortlieb on the play. The sixth batter, #22 Bucca, then dropped a basehit into left field scoring Hrestak & Kravec - giving the visiting Garfield Hts team a 3-0 lead on three hits and a base on balls. Garfields Pitcher #22 Bucca, put the Braves away 1,2,3 in the bottom of the first.

Miceli struck-out the leadoff batter again, but a past ball on catcher Allen Peterkoski on the third strike put #13 Dioro on to start the second. #12 Consentino walked before #4 Kovach grounded out, scoring an aggressive Dioro. The top of the Garfield Hts order produced again as the first batter in their lineup (#9 Trusnik) singled to center scoring Cosentino. Ortlieb popped out to second baseman, Kevin Siloy for the second out, but Hrestak walked for the second consecutive time and huge cleanup hitter (#00 Hasinski) lined a 1-2 count into left field, driving in two more runs. Kravec followed with the third hit of the inning advancing Hasinki to third before Ian Sauer put away the third out ending the threat. Sauer started off the Braves with a basehit into left and stole his way around to third. Luke Beehler followed with a walk and stole his way into scoring position. With two men in scoring position, Bucca fanned the Braves 6, 7 & 8th batter to keep the Braves off the scoreboard as Garfield Hts cruised to a 7-0 lead.

Garfield Hts bats produced again in the third as two consecutive hits put runners in scoring position and a ground out was made without the Braves checking the runner back home and the winless Garfield Hts team found themselves defending an 8-0 lead. The Braves received a spark from Patrick Hopp, who had replaced an injured Allen Peterkoski (Knee) in the batting order, as Patrick began the bottom of the third with a single into left field. An injured Miceli (ankle) hit safely into right field and hobbled his way to first. Without Miceli at full speed, David Seagles grounder to shortstop opened the opportunity for Garfield to turn a double play, but Seagle beat the throw to first. Patrick Hopp put the Braves on the board by scoring on the play. That was all the Braves had in the tank though as Justin Pulling, replacing an injured Zach Bauer (wrist) in the lineup, walked and two were left stranded ending the small rally.

Kevin Siloy took over pitching for the injured Miceli, who remained in the game as the AH. Siloy kept Garfield Hts off-balance with a combination of pitches, allowing no-runs through three innings of work, giving up 2-hits and allowing no-walks, with 2- strikeouts. The Braves added a second run in the fourth when Siloy started things off with a single and stole second. Siloy advanced to third on the errant throw from the catcher. Alex Bockmiller hatcheted a high fast ball into left field scoring Siloy, but Alex was left stranded. The Braves went down 1,2,3 in the fifth even though Miceli once again hobbled to the plate and singled to right. Miceli's lack of a second gear due to the sprained ankle prevented him for stealing second and this time Seagels sharper hit grounder was put away quicker as Garfield turned the 6-4-3 Double play. Justin Pulling singled to leadoff the sixth inning but again the Braves followed suit and were retired 1,2,3 stranding the lead runner.

Pulling made his pitching debut in the seventh and Garfield Hts added four more runs on 3-hits an error and 2-walks. The Braves mailed in the seventh, going down 1,2,3 and slouched home in the same manner they arrived at Groza Park.

Miceli faced 21 batters in 3-innings of work, walking 3, striking out 3, giving up 8-runs (only 4 earned) on 8-hits.

Final
GARFIELD HTS - 12
BEREA BRAVES - 2

THE UMPIRE FROM HELL

As the editor of these write-ups, I've tried not to interject my personal feelings into the reporting. Ok, ok, so at times I have that angry coach, venting his frustration mentality ... but on this occasion, I have something to say. The Rocky River Raiders and the Berea Braves got ripped-off. The single umpire, we'll call him "Bob" (Is that one "o" or two?) ... well to put it politely, the single umpire "sucked". I've been around baseball all my life and have seen my share of bad calls. Bad calls are a sacred part of baseball, but "Bob" was a disgrace to the game. This game was well played by both teams, but the game would have been better officiated had we wrote "Safe" on some scrap paper and "Out" on another, put them in a hat and blindly selected the call out of a Bob's baseball cap after each close play. This game would have been much more fair had we not even had an umpire. We got a big kick out of the Raiders first base coach as we could do nothing but laugh and agree with one another on each poorly officiated call for both sides. The final score was somewhere around 9-11 in favor of the Raiders ... that's 9 blown calls to 11 blown calls, we'll get to the official runs scored in a minute.

The Braves started off well, as lead-off batter, Nate Miceli lead the game off with a base-on-balls and stole his way around to third. Nate scored the games first run on a Zach Bauer batted ball that was misplayed by the Raiders second baseman. The Raiders pitcher, Dan Likavec allowed no other base runners and got out of the inning. The accurate Alex Bockmiller took to the mound for the Braves tonight, and Thank-God he did, for "Bob's" strike zone was a tough one to find. Alex didn't fare as well as Likavec in the first. Bockmiller struck-out the lead-off batter, but the Braves returned the error from their own second baseman, putting Will Johnson on first. Johnson stole second and was moved to third on a base hit by Greg Soltes. With one-out, Soltes took the open (second) base on the first pitch and catcher Allen Peterkoski error'ed by throwing down to second with no-one covering the bag and Johnson skipped home as the ball rolled to center field. Soltes continued his way all the way to third on the play. Dan Likavec walked and stole second, putting runners in scoring position. Soltes scored when Joe Michael grounded-out to short and Bockmiller got Doug Likavec to dribble one back to the mound to end the threat. Raiders 2, Braves 1.

David Seagle lead things off in the second, reaching base on a walk and Alex Bockmiller and David executed a perfect hit-n-run as Bockmiller singled to the open area where the Raiders second baseman left un-occupied to cover the bag in which Seagle was stealing to. Seagle rounded second and beat-out a lazy throw from the Raiders right-fielder at the end of the play and Bockmiller followed to second on the throw. Unfortunately, the two-man rally ended there as Likavec sandwiched an infield pop-up between two strike-outs. The Raiders caught up to Bockmiller as their 7th, 8th & 9th batters connected on three consecutive singles. Horrible base running by the Raiders kept the Braves close as Peterkoski gunned down Luca Papalko at third for the first out and caught 9th batter John OBrien ridiculously stealing home as left-handed lead-off batter Brendan Barry took a called strike and left Obrien hung out to dry coming down the third base line on, I'm guessing, a suicide squeeze gone bad. The Raiders lead 3-1 after two-innings of play.

Lead-off batter, Nate Miceli, blasted the Braves back into form with a double to deep left-center. Miceli stole third and Zach Bauer drove him in - a combination that produced both of the Braves runs. With two-outs, Ian Sauer reached base on an error by the Raiders shortstop, stole second and third and Justin Pulling reached base on balls and stole his way to second. David Seagle (batting .857, 6-for-7 in the last 4 games) drove in both runners with a base hit to right field. The rally stalled, but the Braves were up 4-3. The lead didn't last long, as the Raiders went back to work. Lead-off batter Brendan Barry walked  before Bockmiller forced the Raiders into consecutive ground-outs. with two-outs, Dan Likavec crushed a shot to deep center scoring Barry and tying the score. Joe Michael sent a liner up the middle scoring Likavec, but Tevon Rease gunned Michael down trying to take more bases than he earned, to end the inning. Raiders 5, Braves 4 through 3-innings of play.

The Braves fought back in the fourth, as Luke Beehler ripped a single up the middle and Nate Miceli sent a shot deep into the right field corner, legging out the Braves first triple of the young season. The Braves left Miceli stranded on the corner and Bockmiller took care of the Raiders in the bottom of the inning as the scored was tied after 4-innings, 5-5.

The Braves,  Zach Bauer & Ian Sauer put together a pair of hits to start the fifth, but Bauer was called out trying to steal third and Sauer was "called-out" taking home on a David Seagle batted ball. Every semi-close play in this game was a coin-flip's guess as to what "Bob" may call next ... his call-out of Sauer was one of those where the umps arms are spread out showing the "safe" sign, but the words mumbled out called "Out!". Calls from "Bob" just got more bazaar as the game progressed. A simple foul ball became an adventure as several times the runners all advanced  bases, then a moment would go by as everyone starred at Bob and tried to decipher the mumblings coming from under his mask. Some players would return to their original bases and others scampered here or there, but most looked around waiting for someone, anyone to make a  ruling on the play. The worst call of all though had to come on the play at the plate on Sauer, for it was but a few feet in front of "Bob" - most other horrible calls were just chalked up as "Bob" not getting into position to make the play. Calls at first base were made by "Bob" still standing behind the catcher with his mask still strapped to his face ... but the go-ahead run that the Braves were denied had no such excuse. The Rocky River Raiders broke it open in the fifth. Bockmiller got Sean Joyce to dribble one back to the mound, but a soft throw pulled first baseman Zach Bauer from the bag. Then a routine fly ball hit by Johnson to right field was misplayed by the Braves outfield, scoring Joyce, and Soltes added damage with a doubled to deep center scoring Johnson. The Raiders lead 7-5 after 5-innings.

The Braves made some noise in the top of the 6th as Luke Beehler doubled to Center field. Cole Macosko rolled a dribbler over the third base bag as "Bob" once again turned the simple play into several moments of chaos as Macosko and Beehler first waited at the corners for a call, then after coach Miceli argued the call the two runners returned to their previous locations only for "Bob" to finally communicate that the hit was a fair-ball as Beehler and Macosko scrambled back to first and third. Macosko was eventually did-in by "Bob" on yet another blown call on a pick-off attempt and the threat died there.

Rain began to fall as the slow moving dark clouds, that hung around the Cleveland area taunted the participants ever since the drive in from Berea, began to consume the town of Rocky River. Lightening was evident, but again "Bob" only stood near the back of the backstop and mumbled to himself. Everyone looked to "Bob" to take a stand but "Bob" wasn't about to take control of the game at this late stage so the Berea Braves took to the field under steady rain. The Braves retired the Raiders 1,2,3 but the lightening was becoming to close for comfort and the managers finally had to make "Bob's" last call for him and end the game before someone got hurt. Unfortunately, "Bob" escaped to his vehicle, only to live to ruin another game.

The Raiders officially won in 6-innings 7-5 against the visiting Braves, but everyone present knew just who the loser was in this contest ... it was "Bob" for he missed out on a great game.

FINAL

ROCKY RIVER 7

BEREA BRAVES 5

DEFENSIVE SHOWDOWN ENDS IN FAVOR OF BRAVES

Berea's, Ian Sauer, and Parma Heights, Campo, pitched a great contest against one another and it was truly one of those games that you hated to see someone come out on the losing end.

Campo, in facing 28 Braves, forced 12 ground-outs, 2 infield fly-outs and 3 strikeouts. Sauer, facing 29 Flyers, responded by getting 9 Parma Hts. Flyers to ground out, another to fly-out into the infield and struck out 6. The Braves scored 3-runs on Flyer errors and the Flyers scored 3-runs on three of only four hits that Sauer allowed. It was a defensive battle until the final play.

There were few errors in this defensive battle, but what became of those errors was the difference in the game. The Braves committed an error on the second batter to come to the plate, but Sauer was able to over-come it, and got out of the inning unharmed facing four Flyers in the inning. The Flyers made quick work of the Braves as Campo kept everything in the infield and the Flyers put the Braves down 1,2,3.

Sauer responded with a 1,2,3 Inning of his own in the top of the second and it set the tone for the game. The first basehit of the evening came in the bottom of the second, from the bat of David Seagle (2-for-3). Seagle hit safely into right field and Justin Pulling walked and both runners stole their way into scoring position, but Campo regrouped - forcing the 5th infield out in the first two innings and the game remained scoreless through the second.

Sauer retired the first Parma Hts. batter in the third, getting him to pop-up to second baseman, Kevin Siloy, who got a great jump on the ball off the bat and ran it down behind first base. The Braves third baseman, Alex Bockmiller matched the great play by cutting off a grounder headed for the gap and gunned down the Flyers 9th batter. Siloy then took care of the Flyers in 1,2,3 fashion as he put away a grounder to second and the Braves held the Parma Hts. Flyers scoreless through their first time through the line-up. Campo started things down a similar road putting away the first Braves batter by getting him to ground out to short. However, Campo couldn't quite get through the Braves entire line-up unharmed, as the Braves tenth batter Cole Macosko reached base on Campo's own throwing error on a roller back to the mound. This error was the first of three to come back to haunt the determined Parma Hts. squad. Campo came close to getting out of the inning as the Braves lead-off batter, Nate Miceli, lined-out to third and Macosko escaped getting doubled-up as he scrambled back to first. With two-outs, Designated Hitter, Tevon Rease (2-for-3) pounded a shot into the gap in left-center scoring Macosko, putting the first runs on the board. Campo retired the last out by strike-out but the damage was done. Braves 1, Flyers 0.

Sauer ran into trouble of his own in the 4th. After striking out lead-off batter, Gerity, Campo came back for revenge as he lined a shot into right field, putting the first blemish on Sauers game. Chris Conklin then jumped on Sauer by crushing a shot off the left-center field fence on one-hop, scoring Campo and tying the game at 1-1. Sauer struck-out the next batter for the second "K" of the inning. Sauer then tried to do too much as he extended for a ball to the rightside of the infield, deflecting it and putting runners on the corners. Sauer then got, Matt Bajusz to pop up to Macosko in right field and the score remained at a 1-1 tie after four innings of play.

Sauer was back into form as he put away a batted ball back to the mound for the first out and got #8 hitter, Steven Dufala, to ground-out to Siloy at second. The Flyers went to work with two-outs though as Dan Mach singled into right field and stole second. Left-hander, Kyle Forman then sent a high pop-up into Left-center field that center fielder, David Seagle, called for right off the bat. Seagle under-estimated Forman's slicing blooper as it carried toward left field and just out of reach and off the glove of a diving Seagle. Mach scored on the error, giving the Flyers their first lead of the game. Siloy put away the infield grounder from Gerity to end the assault. Justin Pulling started the rally in the fifth for the Braves, as the second error by the sure handed Flyer infield allowed Pulling to reach first and once again it would come back to haunt the visiting Parma Hts. team. Pulling quickly stole second and third before Alex Bockmiller hit behind the runner scoring Pulling on a ground-out to second. Campo retired Siloy for the second out. The third error by the Flyers would prolong the inning and once again cost them dearly, as Macosko reached base with the top of the order coming up for the Braves once again. Miceli walked and Tevon Rease batted in his second run of the night, teaming up with Macosko for his second run scored off a Rease hit. Campo bailed himself out by putting away a grounder back to the mound but not before the Braves regained the lead 3-2 after five innings of play.

The sixth inning contained a key play in the game, as the Braves put away the first two Flyers on a fly-out to left and a ground-out to short, but Sauer walked the only batter on the night and it almost cost him. Spehar walked, but was caught in an attempted pick-off by Sauer at first. The quick thinking and elusive Spehar made his way to second on the play as first baseman, Zach Bauer was late on the throw in the run-down. Spehar stole third, putting the tying run at the corner. Tommy Lyons then layed down a very nice squeeze bunt, but Sauer was quick to get on the soft roller down the first base line and gunned Lyons down at first to end the threat. The Braves went down 1,2,3 although Seagle laced one down the line for a base hit to start yet another two-out rally for the Braves, but he was caught stealing second on a designed pitch-out that he had no chance on. the Braves still lead 3-2 and just needed to hold the Flyers one more time for what was a fast pace ball game, taking only a little over an hour to get to the seventh inning.

Matt Bajusz wouldn't allow things to end so fast, as he fouled off Sauers first attempt, then crushed Sauers 79th pitch of the night over the left-center field fence, tying the score at 3-all. Sauer wasn't done just yet, he fanned two of the next three batters and Macosko ran down a well hit ball hooking toward the line in right, allowing no more Flyers to reach base. Campo started to feel the drain from a seven inning outing as well. His 0-2 pitch to Justin Pulling glazed off Pullings back, giving the Braves a free runner to start the inning. On the next pitch, Campo was called for a balk by the plate umpire, sending Pulling to second. Alex Bockmiller then lined an 2-0 count off the right-center field fence, but a cautious Pulling could only advance to third after hesitating between second and third. Campo was removed from the game, but had nothing to be ashamed of as he kept the Berea bats in-check, giving up only 5-hits in facing 28 batters. Bockmiller stole second eliminating any force-out, once play resumed. The Braves coaching staff contemplated squeezing in Pulling from third, with arguably the best bunter on the Braves roster (Kevin Siloy) coming to the plate. Siloy swung away, hitting a well hit grounder down the line and the Flyers third baseman scooped it and gunned Pulling down at home for the tag-out and first out of the inning. Bockmiller reached third on the play, so the Braves were still very much alive. Macosko walked, putting runners on the corners. Lead-off batter, Nate Miceli took a called strike, then fouled off three pitches prolonging the at-bat to a 2-2 count before ripping the game winning single into right field and scoring Bockmiller as the Braves remained undefeated in the month of June.

Sauer completed 7-innings, throwing a career high 91-pitches, facing 29-batters, giving up 3-runs on 4-hits, striking out 6 and walking 1. It was a gutsy effort by #23 and a big boost to the momentum of the 2004 Braves.

Final
BEREA BRAVES - 4
PARMA HEIGHTS FLYERS - 3

BRAVES SOLID IN WIN OVER STRONGSVILLE

The Berea Braves put pressure on the Strongsville Cougars in every Inning, handing the neighboring community their 9th straight loss in a 12-2, 5-inning mercy rule game.

Nate Miceli took to the mound and kept the Cougars guessing throughout the contest as the Berea bats gave Miceli plenty of support to build on. The defense in which Berea provided behind Miceli wasn't bad either. The Cougars second batter of the night reached base on one of only two Miceli walks on the night, two pitches later Strongsville's third batter flew-out into a soggy center field and Braves center fielder, Tevon Rease promptly caught the runner with too much of a head start off first, getting the Braves out of the Inning on a double play.

The Braves scoring started early with # 2 batter, Tevon Rease reaching base on balls, and stealing second base. Zach Bauer continued his hot hitting by lining a single into right-center field, moving Rease to third. Bauer stole second, putting both runners in scoring position and clean-up hitter, Ian Sauer, ripped a hard hit single into center, scoring both runs. The Braves found themselves caught in a similar double-play as the Cougars did, as Allen Peterkoski flied out to second base and Sauer was caught off first to end the inning.

A throwing error by Sauer put Strongsville's second batter on again in the second, but Miceli tricked the next two batters to fly out into the infield and the Braves went to work at the plate again. Kevin Siloy walked and Justin Pulling batted him in with a smash to left field. Nick Druso moved Pulling to third and Pulling scored on a botched pick off attempt that sent a wild throw down the third base fence. Braves lead after two inning, 4-0.

Miceli allowed one base runner again in the third, this time the Cougars lead off batter walked and stole his way around to third, but Miceli fanned the 9th, 10th and lead off batter to end any Strongsville scoring threat. Miceli (2-for-3) feeding off his pitching success, lead off Berea with a double to right field. Miceli stole third and Tevon Rease walked and took the open base at second, putting the runners in scoring position with no-outs. The Braves scored two more as Bauer flied out, Sauer drove in a run by grounding out and Peterkoski drove in Rease making the score 6-0 in favor of the Braves.

Miceli finally gave up the first hit of the night as the Cougars #2 hitter lined a double into right field, once again putting an early runner on for the visiting team. However, once again the Braves bounced back as catcher, Allen Peterkoski gunned the runner down trying to steal third. Miceli retired the next batter by strike-out and forced the third out to pop-up to himself to continue the shut-out. The Braves started to pour it on in the 4th, as Justin Pulling singled to start off the inning. Pulling stole his way to second, then to third before once again forcing Strongsville into a wild pick-off attempt, allowing Pulling to take home. Nick Druso followed with a walk and stole second before Luke Beehler drove him in by crushing a deep shot into the left field corner. Beehler legged a double but couldn't make up his mind on whether to stretch it into a three bagger and was caught at third for the first out. With two outs, four consecutive Braves reached base on balls, walking in the third run of the Inning and the Braves found themselves with a 9-0 lead after four Innings of play.

In the top of the 5th inning Miceli continued to keep the Cougars batted balls within the infield, but in securing the third out, Miceli fielded a grounder in front of the mound and sent a high throw that Pulling couldn't handle and the Cougars were still alive with a runner on first. Strongsville's #8 batter added some spark by dropping a base hit into short right field driving in Strongsville's first run of the night on only the second hit of the evening. The quick eighth Cougar in the line-up took second and third and a wild throw by Peterkoski brought him in for the Cougar's second run of the game. Miceli fanned his 6th batter of the night to end the inning. Braves 9, Cougars 2.

The Braves had an incentive, they needed to continue the scoring that they had put up in each of the first four innings in order to have an early night off. David Seagle started things off with a single and stole second. Justin Pulling reached base on a throwing error by the shortstop and Nick Druso continued the streak by driving in Seagle with an infield base hit. Pulling who had stole second and advanced to third on Druso's hit, allowed Druso to take second base putting the Berea pair in scoring position with no outs. Alex Bockmiller drove in a run on the second error of the inning, and Nate Miceli finished what he started, ending the game by way of the 10-rule Mercy rule by lining a base hit into right field scoring Druso.

Miceli pitched all 5-Innings, facing 19-Cougars, allowing 2-runs (both unearned) on 2-hits and gave up 2-walks with 6-strike-outs.
 

Final
BEREA BRAVES - 12
STRONGSVILLE COUGARS - 2

BRAVES OVERCOME RAIN & BEES

A little rest, a little rain and a heavy dose of Alex Bockmiller proved to be the right combination to secure the Braves first Win of the season. Alex Bockmiller (1-0) went the distance for the Berea Braves, pitching all seven innings and has become the Braves most consistent ace.

The Braves supported Bockmiller by scoring in each of the middle innings. Ian Sauer started things off in the 2nd inning, lacing a well hit ball into left field. Allen Peterkoski reached base on balls and David Seagle loaded the bases with a flair into right field. The Braves capitalized on a few Brecksville mistakes in engineering their runs. Alex Bockmiller sent a grounder to third base, which was used to gun down Sauer with a force out at home, but the Bees catcher tried to bite off more than he could chew and went for the double play, sending a throw inside the first base bag, which was mishandled - scoring Peterkoski all the way from second base and sending Seagle from first to third. A wild throw on a pick-off try at third sent Seagle galloping home. The Braves eventually left runners on the corners, but lead 2-0. The Bees put their lead runner on in the bottom of the second on a Braves infield error, but the Braves redeemed themselves on the next pitch with a 6-4-3 double play and held the Home team scoreless through two Innings of play.

Berea's leadoff batter, Nate Miceli, proved to be too much for the Bee's in the 3rd. Miceli started things off with a Texas leaguer that dropped into short left. He then stole second, then third, and took home on a pass ball - putting the Braves up 3-0. Miceli had 5 stolen bases on the night, scoring two runs on 1 hit - he leads the Braves with 16 stolen bases on the young season.

Brecksville started to put together a 2-out rally in the bottom of the third. Bees leadoff batter, Grisko, crushed a double to deep center field. Grisko was moved to third on a liner by Garrett to left. However, the Braves were relentless tonight, almost handing the Bees rope only to hang themselves. Garrett tried to steal the open base in front of him, possibly thinking that the Braves wouldn't attempt to throw down to second with a runner on third. They thought wrong, as Catcher Allen Peterkoski gunned Garrett down for the third out, ending the inning.

The Braves went to work again in the fourth inning. David Seagle lead things off, beating an infield hit out that ricocheted off the pitchers leg. Tevon Rease advance Seagle to second by taking a base on balls. Seagle stole third and scored when Alex Bockmiller properly hit behind the runners on a hit-and-run and the Braves lead 4-0. The Brecksville Bees finally put the sting into the Braves as #3 Hagan lead things off by smashing a double deep into the left field. The Braves coaching staff realized just how important it was to catch Garrett stealing in the bottom of the third because had they not, Hagan's hit would have scored two. The Braves almost eliminated Hagan's big hit, as it appeared that Peterkoski threw-out Hagan stealing third, but the field umpire wasn't in position to see Sauer lay down a picture perfect tag on Hagan's lead hand as he slide head first. #4 batter, Kellom, singled to left and Golem singled to right before Bockmiller retired the last two Bees on ground-outs, but not before the Brecksville Bees added 2 to the score board making it 4-2.

The Braves lead off with the top of their order in the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th innings. That meant Nate Miceli was back to prowl the bases. This time Miceli reached base on balls, stole second and then third before Zach Bauer (2-for-4, batting .476 on the season with a team leading 10-base hits in 21 at-bats) drove in Miceli with a grounder to the right side of the infield. With 2-outs, Ian Sauer also reached base on balls, stole second and third and was brought in with an RBI single to center by Allen Peterkoski (Allen leads all Braves with 7 runs batted in on the season). David Seagle replaced Peterkoski on the bases under the "relief for the catcher" rule, but ended the inning when he was caught attempting to steal second. Bockmiller put away the Bees 9th and 10th batters on a ground-out and strikeout before Grisko smashed his second base hit of the night to deep center field. Bockmiller battled back causing Garrett to dribble one back to the mound, ending the 5th Inning. (Braves 6, Bees 2).

David Seagle reached base safely on a walk to start off the 6th. Tevon Rease lined one into center field. Seagle was caught stealing for the second time on the night, as he attempted to steal third on his own. Rease stole second and third and came home on a ground-out by Bockmiller. Without moving the ball out of the infield, Alex Bockmiller had 2-RBI's on the night. Berea's scoring ended there with the Braves up 7-2.

Bockmiller closed out his own start giving up no runs after the 4th. The Bees only put four base runners on the last three innings, none reaching third. It must also be noted that rain fell fairly steadily at times in the waning innings. Bockmiller is credited with all 7-innings, giving up only 2-runs on 9-hits, striking out 3 in allowing No Brecksville Bee to reach base on balls. As the last out was completed, which shortstop Nate Miceli put away behind third base, the rain fell hard as both teams scrambled to secure away their equipment and head home.
 

Final
BEREA BRAVES - 7
BRECKSVILLE BEES - 2

BIG INNING PUTS BLUE DEVILS OUT OF REACH

Berea fought off several Independence threats and kept the Blue Devils aggressiveness on the base paths in-check, but Independence opened the flood gates in the third Inning, putting the game out of reach for the Braves.

Kevin Siloy had trouble locating his breaking ball, but through two Innings was able to win the battle against the Independence Blue Devils, and those who did reach base were disposed of trying to aggressively steal. Lead-off batter, Boyan (4-for-3), started the game off with a base hit, stole second, but was gunned down by catcher Allen Peterkoski trying to take third. Siloy finished off the next two batters, forcing them to ground out to the right side of the infield. Ditto for the second Inning as Mathews reached base to start the Inning off with a liner to left, stole third, but was putout at the plate when a Blue Devils attempt at a squeeze bunt went bad. A grossly missed fly ball to center and a base-on-balls had the runners threatening to score, but a Siloy strike-out of Skoczen followed by another ground out to the right side of the Infield, bailed the Braves out of the inning.

The Braves took the lead in the first. Nate Miceli received a base on balls, stole second then third for his team leading 10^th and 11^th stolen base of the young season. Tevon Rease put the ball in play driving in his 6^th RBI in only his 8^th at-bat. The Braves lead 1-0 after the first Inning and that score held through the second.

The game was blown open in the third as well placed hits, a squeezed strike zone, misplayed balls in the outfield and a series of late throws around-the-horn scored seven (7) Blue Devils in the inning. Meanwhile the Braves were limited to one-hit through three Innings of play, as Left fielder Nick Druso, sprayed a shot into right field in the third.

Siloy faced 18 batters through 3-Innings, giving up 7-runs on 4-hits with 1-strikeout and 2 walks.

Down 7-1 after three, the Braves didn’t give up. The team clawed and scratched their way behind reliever Alex Bockmiller, making the game competitive the rest of the way. Bockmiller gave up only one hit (facing 10-batters) through the first three Innings of relief before Independence added a pair of Insurance runs on three hits in the seventh.

Tevon Rease lead off the 4^th inning with a base on balls and was moved around by a Zach Bauer (2-for-3) base hit. Allen Peterkoski then put the ball into play, scoring Rease. Kevin Siloy started things off the fifth inning by roping a double into center field. Alex Bockmiller moved Kevin over to third, grounding out to short. Nick Druso walked and stole second setting the table and Patrick Hopp lined a base hit into center field scoring Siloy. Druso was gunned down by Blue Devil center fielder, Tomko, trying to add a second RBI to Hopp’s stat sheet. The Braves threatened again in the sixth as Zach Bauer sent his second hit of the night into center. Peterkoski moved Bauer to second with a single to center, Bauer stole third, and Justin Pulling came through with the third consecutive hit – driving in Bauer. The Braves left two runners stranded in scoring position but were appearing to attempt to make things interesting and now trailed 7-4.

The Blue Devils shut the door on the hungry Braves with the insurance runs and put the Berea batters down 1,2, 3 in the seventh. Bockmiller faced 16 batters in relief, giving up 2-runs on 4-hits, walking none and striking out 2.

The Braves will take the Memorial Day weekend off, regroup and come back looking to improve their record & standings in the month of June.

FINAL
INDEPENDENCE BLUE DEVILS – 9

BEREA BRAVES - 4

BRAVES GO DOWN IN FLAMES

The Braves haven't figured out how to win and once again mental mistakes cost them the opportunity at their first victory of the season as the Parma Flames come back from a 4-3 deficit to down the Berea Braves 6-4.

Ian Sauer took the mound for the Braves and was cruising toward a nice game before running out of gas after four innings of solid work (49-pitches thrown). The Braves infield provided Sauer little help in getting off to a good start as the first two batters reached base on errors at shortstop. Catcher Allen Peterkoski took care of leadoff batter (Moser) by gunning him down stealing second, but two timely base hits by #3 batter (Lowrs) and cleanup hitter (Wise) scored one run and a ground out by Gurek scored a second, putting the Parma Flames up 2-0 after an Inning of play. The Braves bats provided Sauer with no support through four Innings and Parma tagged Sauer for one more in the bottom of the fourth. Wise singled to leadoff the Inning, stole second and Gurek moved him around by hitting behind him, grounding out to second base. Sawulski took advantage of Wise position on third base with one-out and hit a towering sacrifice fly to Center field scoring Wise and putting the Flames up 3-0. Sauer finished with facing 17-batters, striking-out 4, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits with no walks through four complete Innings.

The Braves bats woke up in the fourth. Ian Sauer lead off the Inning with the Braves first double of the season. Allen Peterkoski moved the runner with his second base hit of the evening. Kevin Siloy joined the party by ripping a well hit ball into left field and driving in the Braves first run. Cole Macosko walked after taking starter (Suchan) to a full pitch count, and loaded the bases. Tevon Rease, two games removed from IR, crushed a shot three-quarters of the way up the 250' center field fence, clearing the bases for Berea's first lead of the night. Rease stole third with one-out but was left stranded. Nate Meceli came in for the save. After fielding the first batter out himself, #9 hitter Dietrich singled to right-center field and stole his way to third, where Moser singled down the line driving in the tying run. Miceli fanned the next two batters to get out of the Inning.

The Braves put up little effort down the stretch as the lead batter (Wise) in the sixth reached base on a routine roller down the first base line. The play was not communicated well between Miceli, Bauer and Siloy and the Braves once again began to unravel mentally. Gurek then sent a liner to left field that Rease allowed through his legs, scoring Wise. Sawulski, smelling blood, singled to center scoring Gurek. The Braves, not done giving gifts, left another out (or two) on the table when Miceli fielded a double-play ball, but second base was late being covered and the Inning continued-on. When the dust settled, the Parma Flames were up 6-4.

Zach Bauer, who has been quietly having a good streak with the bat, reached base on a single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh and stole his way to third before being left stranded. Miceli faced 13 batters (40-pitches) in relief, giving up 3-runs (1 earned) on 3-hits, striking out 3 and walking 1.

FINAL
Berea Braves - 4
Parma Flames - 6

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Braves let one slip away at home. Alex Bockmiller kept the Broadview Heights Eagles in-check through 6-1/3 Innings, but the Braves bullpen couldn't hold on as the Eagles forced the game through 11-Innings before defeating the Braves 11-10 in Berea's Groza park.

Bockmiller, making his first start of his CVBA career, did a fine job of staying ahead in the count and allowing the Braves defense to make the plays behind him. Facing 30-batters, Alex walked only 1 through 6-1/3 Innings, striking out 3 and giving up 6-runs on 11-hits. Bockmiller was relieved in the 7th Inning, up 8-4, only because of a high pitch count (87).

The Braves bats were solid throughout the line-up. Clean-up hitter, Allen Peterkoski, went 4-for-4 with 4-RBI's including a 2-run Homer in the 5th. Peterkoski also reached base in the 9th on a catcher Interference. Justin Pulling homered twice, the first being his first CVBA of the season, his second - a solo shot tying the score at 10-10 in the 10th Inning. Pulling went 3-for-5 with 3-RBI's. Zach Bauer also hit the ball hard collecting 3-hits and Nate Miceli added two of his own and drove in the tying run in the 9th.

Ahead 8-4 in the 7th, the Braves coaching staff wanted to allow Alex Bockmiller to finish what he had started and close the game out. Alex made the first batter ground out for the 10th grounder that the Braves Infield put away on the night. In not securing the 11th ground-out was a turning point in the game. O'Donnel singled under Miceli's mit and Eastman hit safely into Left field before the Braves coaching staff felt that it was time to make a change. Nate Miceli was given the task of closing the door and finishing off a fine game by the Braves. However, Miceli ran into control problems walking 3 of the first 4 batters he faced, retiring the 3rd batter by strikeout. With two-outs, up 8-5, with bases loaded Kevin Siloy made perhaps the wrong choice in trying to throw the batter out at first. An error on the throw (and/or catch) cleared the bases tying the score at 8-8 and sending the game into extra Innings. It appeared that the play could have finished the game by getting the force-out at second.

EXTRA INNINGS: Neither team scored in the 8th. Kevin Siloy spelled Miceli on the mound. Miceli ended up pitching 1-1/3 facing 8, striking out 3 in allowing 4-walks and no hits while giving up 2-unearned runs. In the 9th, the eagles leadoff batter reached safely on a base-hit to left field and Petligrew drove him in for the go-ahead run. However, the Braves battled back as Siloy started a rally of his own by reaching base with two-outs and Miceli lined a full-count pitch into Right field tying the game at 9-9. In the Tenth Inning, Gerow started things off for the Eagles with a solo shot over the Left-center field fence. The Braves first battled back defensively - turning a double play two batters later and getting out of the top of the Inning only down by one. With two-outs and things looking grim, Justin Pulling sent a 2-out (1-2 count) shot of his own over the same part of the fence to even the score back up at 10-10. Walks finally did the Braves in for good as Khadilkas received a base on balls, before stealing second and allowing Mancuss to drive in what would become the winning run in the 11th. The Braves put a man in the 11th, but a strikeout of Siloy and simultaneous gun down of Seagle trying to take second, ended the marathon game. Eagles 11, Braves 10 (11-Innings).

FINAL

(11-Innings)

BROADVIEW HTS EAGLES - 11

BEREA BRAVES - 10

WESTLAKE CONTINUES TO ROLL

Westlake took full advantage of almost every Berea miscue, then finished them off with sound defense and pitching.

Westlake's leadoff batter started things off with a deep fly ball to center that was misplayed. Three batters later the cleanup hitter sent a line-shot home run over the left field fence, taking advantage of the gift run-batted-in. Errors putting the leadoff runner on became the pattern as Westlakes 6th batter started off the 2nd, 4th & 6th Innings reaching safely - all on infield errors. All three Innings turned into two-run innings for the visiting Westlake team.

The Braves pitching turned out to be just what the Berea coaching staff had ordered. Kevin Siloy kept the Westlake team off-balance as they routinely chipped grounders into the teeth of the Braves defense. The Braves just didn't make the plays. Siloy may have given up 6-runs, in four innings of play, but 4-runs were unearned. Nate Miceli came in relief in the 5th and pitched 3-Innings, giving up a pair of runs, both unearned. The pitching was the highlight for the Braves as their bats were held to three hits, 11 strikeouts and were shutout 8-0.

David Seagle turned in a solid performance at second base, with four put-outs. David also added a stolen base before being stranded at third base in the 5th inning. Nate Micelli also had several put-outs from shortstop and from the mound, he also legged out 2 stolen bases. Ian Sauer and Cole Macosko hit safely and Zach Bauer reached base with each plate appearance. Zach collected two stolen bases and Tevon Rease, making his 2004 debut (injury/elbow), as a pitch runner in the fourth, provided the Braves with some needed speed as he stole second and third before being stranded. The Braves stranded 6 runners in total, including three in the 5th Inning.

Although the Braves felt that they were still in the game to the end, the two teams have taken opposite paths in the past two weeks. Westlake (6-0) have outscored their opponents 45-5 in the last four games. Meanwhile the Braves (0-3) have been outscored 28-5 in their only three games.

FINAL

WESTLAKE - 8

BEREA - 0

HOMERED IN HOME OPENER

Home Runs were the highlight of the game, as the Brunswick Blue Jackets blasted four homers after the Berea Braves, Luke Beehler started things off with a solo shot of his own. #23 Nick Dobrinich made few mistakes after giving up the homer to Beehler, as he pitched 5- Innings, giving up only 2-hits and 1-run while striking out 9. Dobrinich didn't just provide the defense, he sent two shots out onto the Ohio Turnpike in his last two at bats. The Blue Jackets out-hit the Braves 10 -to- 4, Stole 10 bases to the Braves 1, and out scored the Braves 11-1 through 6-Innings.

Ian Sauer provided a good start for the Braves as he struck out 4, allowing only one base runner through the first two Innings. However, things started to sour in the third as Sauer hit the lead-off batter and then #1 Chalmers homered in what ended up being the winning run. A throwing error on a cut-off relay and a booted ground ball prolonged the Inning giving the Blue Jackets a 4-2 lead through the third.

Luke Beehler came in relief for Sauer and ran into some control problems as the strike zone appeared to shrink for the Braves hurlers. Beehler walked three before Chalmers drove in an RBI and Brunswicks lead-off batter (Nolan) drove in two more, increasing the lead to 6-1 after four Innings of play. Dobrinich tagged Beehler for the first of his two homers in the fifth making it 7-1.

Alex Bockmiller, who appears to be making a fine addition to the 2004 roster, made his pitching debut in the 6th. After Bockmiller screwed Chalmers in the ground with an effective breaking ball, striking him out in three straight pitches, he then ran into a  buzz-saw as Nolan hit his first career travel league home run to Right-center. Bockmiller battled back, retiring LaGuardia for the second out - but Kennedy singled and Dobrinich crushed the longest homer of the night over the left field fence, his second of the night. Again Bockmiller responded by retiring the last batter himself.

Nate Miceli started things off with a single to right in the 6th and stole the only base of the night for the Braves, although he tried to get a bit greedy and was gunned down trying to take third. Luke Beehler collected his second hit of the night, in the Inning, but a rally trying to avoid the ten-run rule never materialized and the Brunswick faithful made an early departure for home with an 11-1 win.

FINAL

BRUNSWICK BLUE JACKETS - 11

BEREA BRAVES - 1

BRAVES BATTERED IN BAY VILLAGE

Kevin Siloy started off a 5-hit, 4-run first Inning rally by bunting safety for one of his two hits on the night and Ian Sauer (3-for-3) capped off the scoring with the first of three hits in the Inning, but the Braves bats were cooled quickly by the Bay Village hurlers (#3 Johnson & #11 Hunger).

The Braves had two chances to get out of the 3rd Inning tied 4-4, but a dribbler up the first baseline was mishandled and a double-play fly ball was sent sailing into right field, scoring what proved to be the winning run. The next batter lined a ball that grazed off Luke Beehlers glove, striking him in the face. The ball ricochet into right field scoring two more runs and although Luke recovered from his injury, the Braves didn't fare so well losing their debut 9-4.

Nate Miceli had a solid outing in relief, giving up 2-runs in 3-1/3 Innings of work.

FINAL

BAY VILLAGE - 9

BEREA BRAVES - 4