Luke Beehler

2-for-3

2-Doubles

RBI

Run scored

Tevon Rease

Double

Run scored

Allen Peterkoski

1-for-3

RBI

Luke Beehler

2-for-3

Triple

RBI

Run scored

Justin Pulling

Double

2-Runs scored

Nate Miceli

2-RBI's

Run scored

Zach Bauer

2-RBI's

Zach Bauer

Winning Pitcher

2-for-3 batting

Double

RBI

3-Runs scored

Tevon Rease

3-for-4

Triple

Double

3-RBI's

3-Runs Scored

Allen Peterkoski

2-for-3

3-RBI's

2-Runs scored

Kevin Siloy

2-for-3

RBI

Run scored

Bo Heinemann

1-for-1

Triple

2-Runs scored

CVBA GAME #23 Braves vs Parma Flames (Tuesday, July 19th)

Final
BEREA BRAVES (18-5) - 11

PARMA FLAMES (16-6) - 0

CVBA GAME #22 Braves @ BAY VILLAGE (Thursday, July 14th)

Final
BEREA BRAVES (17-5) - 14

BAY VILLAGE (16-6) - 9

CVBA GAME #21 Braves @ Broadview Hts. (Tuesday, July 12th)

Final
BEREA BRAVES (16-5) - 17

Broadview Hts (8-11) - 2

CVBA GAME #20 Braves vs Nordonia (Monday, July 11th)

Braves play tough, but come up short

Final
BEREA BRAVES (15-5) - 6

NORDONIA - 8

CVBA GAME #19 Braves vs Revere (Wednesday, July 6th)

Braves flat in first division loss

Zach Bauer (2-for-2)

Bo Heinemann (1-for-1) - Base hit in first CVBA at-bat

Tevon Rease extends hitting streak to 15 consecutive games

Final
BEREA BRAVES (15-4) - 0

REVERE - 13

CVBA GAME #18 Braves @ Bedford (Friday, July 1st)

Final
BEREA BRAVES (15-3) - 13

BEDFORD (7-7) - 6

CVBA GAME #17 Braves vs Parma Hts. (Wednesday, June 29th)

Braves wait out the Flyers, then down'em in 9th!

The Braves traveled to Parma Hts to take on the Flyers at Valley Forge High School. This was the second game this season between the two division rivals, with the Braves coming back from a 3-6 deficit to win 7-6 on May 25^th.

Nate Miceli took the mound for the Braves and Parma Hts. ace, #66 Conklin was trotted out to face the Braves once again. Conklin held the Braves to 3-runs through five innings of work in the last meeting, before tiring and giving up 3-runs in the 6^th as the Braves mounted their comeback. In this outing, Conklin was brilliant through 6-2/3rds Innings, before the Braves wore him down.

The Braves defense gave up four runs in the second inning, on 2-hits, 2-errors, 2-walks and mostly after 2-outs.  The Braves offense produced 2-runs in the fourth on 3-hits and an error, the third hit a 2-run single to right field by David Seagle, putting the Braves on the scoreboard.

Luke Beehler relieved Miceli in the fourth, with one-out and two on. A bunt advanced the runners to second and third, but also created the second out. Beehler then struck-out the third out on a called third strike, ending the threat.

We’ll pick-up in the 7^th Inning with 2-outs, no runners on and the Braves still down 4-2;

 Zach Bauer singled into the teeth of the Flyers defense on the rightside. Allen Peterkoski then singled into right field and was replaced on the bases by Miceli. The turning point in the game came when Luke Beehler took a 1-1 pitch and crushed it deep into center field, scoring Bauer & Miceli and tying the score at 4-4. Beehler legged a triple on the hit, but was left stranded. In the bottom of the 7^th, Beehler put the leadoff batter on by walking him. The first out was recorded on a dribbler back to the mound that Beehler fielded and got the lead runner at second. Luke retired the next batter on three straight strikes. With two-outs, the flyers punched a base hit into short right-center, putting runners at the corners and the winning run on third. However, Beehler forced the second dribbler of the inning back to the mound and threw’em out at first to end another threat.

In the 8^th inning, Kevin Siloy drew a leadoff walk. Siloy stole his way to second during a strikeout for the first out. With one-out and Siloy on second, Coach Aten called for a Bunt from batter David Seagle and a simultaneous steal of third base by Siloy. The Braves had been reminded in a pregame speech to look out for Parma Ht’s famous steal from second all the way home on a bunted ball, and Coach Aten and Kevin Siloy connected ideas on giving the Flyers a taste of their own medicine. Seagle squared and put down an absolute perfect bunt down the third base line and Siloy had the lead and jump to hit third base as the ball was being fielded by the pitcher. Siloy only hesitated for a second to make sure that the ball was going to be thrown to first and the second it was, Kevin bolted for home. Seagle was out at first, but the throw home was late and off-target giving the Braves their first lead of the evening! A Braves strike-out ended the inning and now it was up to the Braves to hold’em and go home.

The Flyers however, had different plans. #5 Spehar singled to left and stole second. Beehler forced back-to-back groundouts back to the mound, the first moved Spehar to third and the second scored him for the tying run as he was not held in check long enough in getting the second out at first. The third out was recorded by center fielder, Patrick Smith.

The game carried on into the 9^th inning. With one-out, Zach Bauer lined a shot into right field. Zach hit it so hard that the right fielder actually made a play at him at first, but Zach beat out the throw. Zach stole second base as Allen Peterkoski walked giving the Braves  a pair of base runners. Bauer stole third, putting runners on the corners and Luke Beehler came through again, this time singling to right-center, scoring Bauer. With one-out and runners at second and third, Tevon Rease drove a ball to shallow center, but it was ran down and caught and the quick play also caught Peterkoski off of second for the double play to end the inning, with the Braves in front again 6-5.  Beehler forced yet another grounder back to the mound for the first out, but walked the next batter, putting the tying run on first. A dropped third strike, advanced the runner to second – perhaps illegally, since the base being occupied would have been an automatic out on the third strike. With two-outs and a runner on second, the Flyers #15 Gerity crushed a deep shot to center, near the Right-Center field gap, but Patrick Smith ran it down and secured it away for the final out, as the Braves dodged a bullet and came away with their 14th Win of the CVBA season, putting them 11-games over .500

Final
BEREA BRAVES (14-3) - 6

PARMA HTS. FLYERS (8-7) - 5

CVBA GAME #16 Braves vs Brunswick (Thursday, June 23rd)

Braves Dominate Blue Jackets

(Recap coming soon)

Final
BEREA BRAVES (13-3) - 16

BRUNSWICK (2-11) - 2

CVBA GAME #15 Braves vs Highland Hornets (Wednesday, June 22nd)

When the Braves lose ... they lose!

Instead of the Braves getting out of the first Inning 1-2-3, an error at short, a strike-out and an error at second resulted in a 6-run first inning for the Hornets. The Braves would commit 6 errors in the Inning, and that's probably being generous.

The play by the Braves in the field was just one of those days where everyone screwed up ... everything broke down. I guess that if you are going to break a 10-game winning streak, then break it good and get it all out of your system.

The Braves finished with a generous 14-errors on the night, possibly more than they have had in all the games combined this season. Unlike the Hornets who trotted their starter out for all four Innings, the Braves got some work in with Zach Bauer and Patrick Hopp on the mound. Hopp also suited up behind the plate for some catching duties.

There really weren't any highlights as the Braves imploded on Dora Lee Field tonight, but it must be noted that Allen Peterkoski doubled in both at-bats, driving in a run on a ground-rule double in the fourth. Peterkoski also doubled twice in Saturday's game against Brecksville. Cole Macosko doubled, driving in two runs and played well at second base. Tevon Rease kept his hitting streak alive, dropping a base hit into shallow center field in his last at-bat. Tevon's streak now climbs to 11 consecutive game.

The Braves didn't really drop in the standings. They were third coming into the game and now share a third place tie with Independence at 12-3. However, Indy wins the head-to-head tie breaker, so the Braves technically now reside in fourth place in the 20-team field.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (12-3) - 3

Highland Hornets (12-4) - 23

CVBA GAME #14 Braves @ Strongsville Cougars (Sunday, June 19th)

Berea too much power for Strongsville

The Braves traveled a short distance to take on the Strongsville Cougars on ‘Fathers Day’, Sunday evening. The field selected by Strongsville fared well for the Berea faithful, as Nichols field borders Berea on the South side and is closer to most Braves homes than Dora Lee park is, or even Groza Park for that matter.

The Braves pounded the Cougars in the first inning. Control problems by the Cougars starter put the first two Braves on in eight straight (balls) pitches. Zach Bauer grounded out after a 1-1 count, scoring Nate Miceli who lead off with a walk and stole his way around to third base. Luke Beehler was hit by a pitch and moved to the unoccupied second as Siloy moved over to third by way of a steal. Tevon Rease lined a 1-1 pitch for a single to the rightside of the infield, scoring Siloy. The hit continued Tevon Reases’ season leading consecutive game hitting streak to 10-games. Allen Peterkoski singled up the middle, scoring Beehler. Patrick Hopp doubled to right-center, scoring Rease, prompting the Strongsville coaching staff to make a change at pitcher in just after a 1/3 of an inning. Kirk Olesick welcomed the new pitcher by lining his first pitch to left field, scoring Peterkoski. #10, Nick Glasso settled in there though and retired the next two Braves on strikeouts. The Braves put up 5-runs in the inning on 4-hits, 2-walks and a hit batsmen. Kevin Siloy took the mound for the Braves. Kevin forced a groundout back to the mound, and a groundout to second base before surrendering a base hit through the rightside of the infield. The third out was recorded on a grounder to Luke Beehler at shortstop as the Braves jumped out to a commanding 5-0 lead after the first complete inning of play.

Strongsville’s Glasso, kept the Braves at-bay with just enough off-speed pitches, as he retired the side 1-2-3 on three groundouts to his middle infield. Siloy cruised through the first two outs, striking-out the first and fielding the second himself. Kevin should have perhaps been out of the inning, but an infield ‘squibbler’ couldn’t be handled in time on the right-side of the infield. On a steal of second base, the throw down was lazily played as it skipped into center field, advancing the runner to third. A passed ball, while working on the third out, allowed Strongsville to get on the scoreboard with a steal of home. Siloy, promptly retired the final out with three pitches for his second strikeout of the inning. Braves-5, Strongsville-1

The Braves bat continued to remain frozen by Glasso’s mixture of pitches as Beehler grounded-out to short and Rease tipped one off the end of his bats, rolling up the first base line like a bunted ball, as he was disposed of at first by Glasso. Allen Peterkoski continued his hot hitting streak by driving one up the middle for a base hit, but things stalled there as Glasso fanned out number three on 3 straight pitches. Siloy again cruised through the first two outs, but this time a bloop hit over an encroaching Allen Peterkoski at third base, dropped in for a single. The next batter punched one through the right side of the infield on a nicely executed hit-n-run. The third straight hit was roped into center field, scoring a run. Siloy got himself out of the inning, forcing a pop-up to Beehler at short. Braves-5, Cougars-2.

The Braves went down 1-2-3 in the fourth as Glasso retired 11 of the 13 batters he had faced since entering in relief of the Cougars starter in the first inning. Siloy put the Cougars down 1-2-3 as well, but not before the Braves would lose another player to a season ending injury. Catcher, Kirk Olesick alertly bolted out from behind the plate to field a short foul tip pop-up on the third base line, in diving to make the catch he came down on his left (non-throwing) shoulder and suffered pain to the area immediately. X-rays would later prove at Southwest General Hospital (what has become the second Home of the Braves) that Olesick fractured his clavicle. Olesick is rostered to return to Cooperstown again this season with the Berea 12U team and hopefully can heal prior to the August 6^th New York Tournament. After four complete Innings of play, the Braves lead 5-2.

With one out in the top of the fifth, Kevin Siloy singled up the middle to start things off for the Braves. Siloy stole second and Luke Beehler moved him to third with a base hit of his own. Before the Braves could move Beehler over to second base, Tevon Rease selected the first pitch and lined it into right-center field for a double, scoring Siloy and moving Beehler to third. Glasso would strand them both on the bases though as he got himself out of the inning with a pop-up back to the mound to end the threat. The Cougars would answer to the lone run in the top of the 5^th as the leadoff batter reached base on a misplayed grounder to second. A stolen base and three straight infield outs though were enough to move the lead runner around to score. Braves-6, Cougars-3.

The Braves, Patrick Hopp, reached base on balls to start off the top of the 6^th inning. Hopp stole his way around to third and with two outs - a single by the next batter down the third base line drove Hopp in. Glasso would record his sixth strikeout and a pair of infield outs in-between though and hold the Braves to just 2-runs in 5-2/3 innings of work. Siloy continued to roll, moving the game to the seventh inning as he put the Cougars down 1-2-3. Score: Braves-7, Cougars-3.

The Cougars trotted out their third pitcher of the night in the seventh inning. Kevin Siloy greeted the new pitcher with a first pitch, leadoff single up the middle. Zach Bauer crushed a deep liner to the fence in right field for a triple and driving in Siloy. Luke Beehler was hit by a pitch for the second time on the evening and third time over the weekend. With runners on the corners, Tevon Rease absolutely unloaded on a 0-1 pitch that appeared to be hit hard enough to clear the 385’ foot High School field fence in the left-center alley. With Reases’ speed, he was nearing third when the outfielders finally caught up to the smash. Rease legged an inside-the-park Home Run, fairly easily, driving in three runs on the blast, giving him 5-RBI’s and his third hit of the game. Needless to say, the Cougars made yet another pitching change. After a seven-pitch strikeout of Peterkoski, Patrick Hopp singled to right-center, stole second, then third and trotted home on a wild throw attempting to get'em at third. Cole Macosko walked and with two-outs and one on, the next batter singled and Nate Miceli doubled, driving in two runs before the Inning ended on a pop-up by Siloy to third base, for Siloy’s second at-bat of the inning. The Braves put up 7-runs on 6-hits (including 3 singles, a double, a triple and a Home run). The Braves paraded out pitcher-in-training, Zach Bauer for some work. Wanting to get a good look at the only lefty on the Braves roster, Zach was almost too brilliant as he retired the side in order, recording strikeouts of the first two batters and forcing a pop-up to Patrick Hopp at first base for the final out.

Siloy faced 24 batters through six innings, walking none, striking out 3, giving up 5-hits and 3 Runs (2 earned), hurling 62-pitches. Bauer’s short stint included one complete inning, tossing 14-pitches, striking out 2.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (12-2) - 14

STRONGSVILLE COUGARS (1-12) - 3

CVBA GAME #13 Braves vs Brecksville (Saturday, June 18th)

Braves pestered by Bee's

The Brecksville Bee’s buzzed in town to match themselves up against one of the hottest teams in the CVBA. Only the (14-0) North Royalton Grizzly’s have clipped off more consecutive wins than the Berea Braves.

Nate Miceli received the start on the mound for the Braves. Nate began the game throwing strikes. On a 0-2 pitch to the leadoff batter, it was grounded out to Luke Beehler playing short. Beehler also gobbled up the second out of the Inning as Miceli got ahead in the count 0-1 before allowing a bat on the ball. Again, with Miceli up in the count at 0-1 the third batter lined one up the middle for the first base hit of the game. Miceli took the clean-up hitter to a 2-2 count and two foul tips, before disposing of him with a fastball that he couldn’t catch up with and the Braves were out of the top half of the inning. The Braves went down 1-2 as Kevin Siloy ground out to third and Miceli grounded out to second. Zach Bauer reached base on balls to give the Braves their first base runner. Luke Beehler followed with a single, putting two on with two-outs. Tevon Rease lined the first pitched into the Left-Center field gap scoring Bauer and Beehler, as Rease legged a triple. The throw to third to play on Rease skipped past the Bee’s third baseman and without hesitation, Rease took-off for Home. Unfortunately, Brecksvilles pitcher was backing up the throw near the Braves dugout and fielded the ball and threw Tevon out at home for the third-out, but not before the Braves lead 2-0 after a full inning of play.

Miceli forced two outs (pop-up to pitcher & fly-out to center), but not before giving up a walk to the second batter of the inning. With two outs and one man on, the next batter drove one over the left fielders head for a double, driving in Brecksvilles first run of the game. Miceli hit the next batter with a pitch and then walked the bases full. Nate got out of the Inning by forcing a groundout to Luke Beehler at shortstop to end the threat, but the visiting team was on the scoreboard and trailed 2-1. The Braves went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the second, on 12-pitches and we quickly moved to the third inning. Braves-2, Brecksville-1

Miceli made quick work of the visiting Brecksville team in the top of third. A fly-out to center, a groundout back to the mound and a pop-up at first, erased an error at short as Nate used-up only 11-pitches in getting out of the inning. The Braves went down 1-2-3 again in the bottom half of the third inning, erasing a one-out walk by David Seagle by thwarting his attempted steal of second base. The Braves still lead 2-1.

Miceli continued to find his groove, as he got the leadoff batter to ground out to second base. Nate retired the second out by way of strikeout, but the third batter of the Inning hit a fly ball to left field that was misplayed, translating into a double. Nate regrouped and the third out was recorded at first by Zach Bauer on a pop-up. The Braves couldn’t make-do with two gift walks and a hit batter, loading the bases with two-outs as bookend strikeouts for the first and third out and a pop-up to short produced no runs and the score remained Braves-2, Brecksville-1 after four complete innings.

The Braves players and coaching staff were caught sleeping after letting the Bees hang around. With one out, a fly-ball was given up on too early in right field for a one-out base hit, then a third error was made in left field when a grounder got through to the fence creating another double and scoring a run. The game was tied on a double to center. Luke Beehler caught an infield flyball for out number one on the first batter, fielded a grounder for the second out after the error in left and put away the third out from short on a grounder to end the inning.  The coaching staff errored, when they lost track of the innings and didn’t move to go with their closer because they thought it was too early. When the dust settled and the errors were tallied, the Brecksville Bees now lead the favored Berea Braves at 3-2. The Braves received the run they needed when Allen Peterkoski doubled, setting the table for a base hit by Kevin Siloy to bring him in for the tying run. (Note: remember this scenario of Peterkoski doubling, when needed, it would play huge down the stretch). The Braves however, lead off the inning with a strikeout, and sandwiched a groundout back to the mound between the two hits and ended the inning with a groundout to second. The lone run proved huge though as the score was now tied at 3-3.

Miceli retired the Bees in order (1-2-3) with a nice play by Allen Peterkoski at third for the first out. A high bouncing chopper down the line was fielded nearly in foul territory and Peterkoski proved to have a big enough gun to throw the runner out across the field. Miceli took care of the rest himself, the second out by way of strikeout and the third on a pop-up back to the mound. The Braves came out hitting in the bottom of the 6^th, but left with nothing to show for it. Zach Bauer led things off with a rocket to shortstop, the ball hopped up nicely though allowing Brecksville to record the first out. Luke Beehler then ripped one past short and Tevon Rease chopped one just as hard to the same area, putting two men on with one-out. Patrick Hopp hit into a fielders choice as the shortstop received the fourth straight batted ball his way, this time playing on Rease at second and Corey Nixon made it five in a row to the shortstop and was retired at first for the final out of the Inning. After 6-complete Innings, the score remained tied at 3-3.

Luke Beehler replaced Nate Miceli on the mound and was given the task to contain the Bees. ‘Containing them’ was an under-statement, Beehler needed only 10-pitches (9 being the minimum possible) to strikeout the side. A lone foul ball gave the Bees any hope of catching up to Beehlers cannon. Now it was time for the Braves to go to work and earn their 9^th straight win. With one-out, Allen Peterkoski doubled for the second consecutive at-bat, setting the table for the winning run. David Seagle, down in the count 0-2, became the hero as he singled up the middle scoring Peterkoski and the Braves walked off with a 4-3 Win!

Miceli faced 28-batters, hurling 101-pitches, allowing 3-runs on 6-hits, striking out 3 and walking 3, through 6-innings. Luke Beehler received the Win, pitching 1 inning, facing 3, retiring all by strikeout. Beehler also had two hits on the afternoon and an RBI, Tevon Rease had two hits, including a triple and two RBI’s and Allen Peterkoski gets the MVP Award with two key doubles, one setting himself up to tie the score in the 5^th and the other setting himself up for the winning run in the 7^th.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (11-2) - 4

BRECKSVILLE (2-10) - 3

CVBA GAME #12 Braves vs Brunswick Blue Jackets (Wednesday June 15th)

Braves put defensive squeeze on Blue Jackets

The Braves took the weekend off and started off the week anticipating to play a pair of games during the middle of the week, but a rainout on Tuesday and an opponent backing out of a game on Wednesday left the Braves facing an almost ten day lay-off. The coaching staff scrambled to find an opponent to play and finally enticed the Brunswick Blue Jackets to travel to Berea to fill in the Wednesday vacancy.

Although the game was tossed together that morning, the Braves and the Blue Jackets were ready to go almost 45-minutes prior to the 6:30 starting time. The original umpire crew showed up early and the game got off almost 15-minutes ahead of schedule.

Alex Bockmiller was penned in as the starter, but it was obvious early that the first game scheduled since the public school let out five days prior was going to be a rough one as the boys appeared drained from their summer activities. Alex first pitch was a fastball into the back of the Blue Jackets leadoff batter. His second pitch was grounded-out to Kevin Siloy at second base. Siloy had the thought of turning a double play, but heading slightly to his left and the runner getting a good jump, he did what he had been taught to do and made sure of out number one. Bockmillers third pitch was grounded-out to Nate Miceli at shortstop, as the runner advanced to third on the throw. A (1-1) off-target pitch, skipped past catcher Tevon Rease, ricocheted off one of the backstop supports and darted toward the first base dugout, providing an easy steal home for the runner from third. Alex’s next pitch was lined into left-center field for a single. Bockmiller finished off the inning with three straight strikes to the fifth batter of the inning, the third - dropped by Rease, but disposed of with a throw down to first. The Blue Jackets stranded one, but also got on the scoreboard early and lead 1-0. The Braves offense started things off a bit more dynamic, as lead off batter, Nate Miceli belted the first pitch deep into the left-center field gap, legging a double. Miceli quickly stole third base and the Braves got a glimpse of Brunswicks catchers arm, as the theft was nearly thwarted. A groundout down the third base line kept Miceli at bay until Tevon Rease drove a towering shot to left-center that was attempted to be run down by both the left & center fielder, but neither could make the play on the ball as Rease reached first base and Miceli tied the score on the play. Tevon stole second and then third and resided there with two-outs. Kevin Siloy hit a grounder to third and the Blue Jackets appeared to have a way out of the inning, but a perfectly thrown ball was dropped by the first baseman and Siloy was called safe as Rease scored on the error. The inning would end shortly thereafter though, and the score after one inning of play stood at Braves-2, Blue Jackets-1.

The Blue Jackets presented themselves with opportunities again in the second inning as a one-out double and two-out walk had two runners on the bases. Catcher Tevon Rease and the Braves did a nice job of not giving up the easy swiping of second base though and held the runners at the corners through six-pitches to the fifth batter of the inning. That would be all that Alex Bockmiller would need as he fanned the second batter of the inning to end the threat. Alex Bockmiller and Patrick Hopp started things off for the Braves in the bottom of the second with consecutive singles to lead-off the inning. Cole Macosko put the ball into play, but it was used to force out Bockmiller at third for the first out. David Seagle popped-out to third base for the second out. Nate Miceli sent a roller between first and second, that was misplayed, allowing Miceli to reach base safely, however, Patrick Hopp attempted to score from second base on the mishap and the throw to home appeared to be off-target (high) followed by a phantom tag, but Hopp was called ‘Out’ and the Braves received no runs off the pair of lead-off hits as the score remained 2-1 in favor of the Braves.

It took Alex seven pitches to force Brunswicks leadoff batter to ground out to Siloy at second base for the first out. A second consecutive full-count netted in the third free base in as many innings and the third batter roped a single into center for the third consecutive inning that Brunswick put multiple base runners on at the same time. With one-out, the clean-up hitter dribbled a slow grounder up the first base line, Patrick Hopp could not field it cleanly and at first tagged the runner with an unoccupied glove, then appeared to make the tag with the ball in his bare hand. The lead runner attempted to score from second base on the play and Patrick whirled and threw home in time for Rease to apply the tag. What appeared as a double play, ended with a bit of confusion as the umpire crew declared that the runner at first was not tagged. The play at the plate created the second out and the Braves still had to face the third out with two runners on the bases. Bockmiller set up the fifth batter of the inning beautifully, and broke a curve ball over the plate for strike three and the Braves had stranded the 4^th & 5^th Brunswick base runners of the young game. Tevon Rease started off a one-out rally by beating out an infield base hit to third base. Rease stole second then took himself a giant lead off of second base. The Blue Jackets tried to time a pick-off of Rease, as the second baseman scurried over to cover the bag as the pitcher whirled to make the throw. Ironically, Rease never hesitated and broke for third on the play and when the second baseman didn’t field the throw cleanly, Rease continued on safely to Home. Beehler lined a single into left-center and stole second. Kevin Siloy waited out four straight balls, putting two Braves on the base paths. Beehler swiped third and Siloy second, setting the table for Kirk Olesick. A towering fly ball was hit by Olesick to center field, as Beehler tagged-up on the play for the second run of the inning as the Braves offense was shut-down thereafter, but not before the Braves now lead 4-1.

Alex Bockmiller struggled to throw his fastball consistently for a strike all night long. His breaking ball was falling in there well, but without a second pitch, it allowed the batters to sit on his curve ball. Bockmiller served two 2-2 count pitches to the first two batters who each lined them back up the middle for base hits. Alex received help on the lead runner, as catcher Tevon Rease and second baseman Kevin Siloy teamed up to catch him trying to steal second base for the first out. The second runner, was able to swipe second and reach third on a passed ball, but again the stingy Braves left him stranded, forcing a pop-up to short and a grounder back to the mound to end the threat. Patrick Hopp created a run all by himself to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Hopp reached base on a throwing error from the short stop, he then stole second and on an attempt to steal third, the throw sailed into left field and he was able to leg it home. The Braves went down 1-2-3 thereafter, but now lead 5-1.

Once again the Blue Jackets had to fight for a pair of base runners. This time though, it was with two-outs. Bockmiller retired the first batter by way of ground-out, then fanned his fifth batter of the game for out number two. Unfortunately, Alex walked his fourth batter of the game and that was followed by a double to right field, putting runners at second and third. Coach Aten called time-out and after a meeting with Rease & Bockmiller, decided to go with Luke Beehler on the mound for the final 7-outs. Beehler slammed the door on the inning, striking out his victim in just four pitches. The Blue Jackets had stranded their 7^th & 8^th base runners on the night and Head Coach Hank Winters was running out of hair to turn grey. The Braves shot themselves in the foot despite three straight singles by Rease, Beehler and Siloy. Rease stood at second after swiping his career high 6^th base of the game. However, Tevon, acting on his own, made a poor choice and a grabbed a poor jump in attempting to swipe one more and was gunned down by four-feet at third. The next pitch to Beehler was lined into the fence in left-center field, but meant little without a ‘duck-on-the-pond’ to drive in. Siloy benefited from a strategically placed blooper between the Pitcher and first & second basemen on the right side of the infield that fell untouched to the ground safely as he hustled down the line for a base hit. The inning ended with Olesick flying out to the shortstop and the Braves received nothing to show for the three consecutive hits.

Beehler faced only seven batters to record the final six-outs of the game. He faced eight total in his save opportunity, striking out four, walking one and forcing two groundouts back to the mound and the final out to Bockmiller who resided to third base after getting the Braves off to a four-run lead. The Blue Jackets appeared to have little chance against Beehler as he over-powered them to close out the game. The Braves threatened to blow the game wide open in the sixth as leadoff base hits by Bockmiller and Hopp, followed by a base on balls from Macosko loaded the bases with no-outs. Newly acquired Corey Nixon was given an at-bat in the pressure cooker situation, but had the opportunity cut short by a lame check-swing call. Miceli put the ball into play, but the Blue Jackets forced the second out at the plate and Patrick Smith popped up to the shortstop stranding the loaded bases.

The Braves held on to the 5-1 lead that they mounted in the fourth inning for the win. The Blue Jackets stumbled to (2-10) on the season, but were a handful for the (10-2) Braves. Brunswick stranded 9-base runners through seven innings, as only the games leadoff batter (who was hit by a pitch) was able to score their only run. The Braves defense has been one of the stingiest in the CVBA 13U Division this season, averaging only 2.7 runs per game – including giving up only 4-runs over the last 4-games.

Alex Bockmiller (5-1) gets the Win, facing 23-batters through 4-2/3 innings, giving up 6-hits and 4-walks, allowing only 1-run on 5-strikeouts. Luke Beehler gets his second Save of the season, facing 8, striking out 4, walking 1 in allowing no-runs. The Braves extended their winning streak to 8-games and ironically that matches Tevon Reases’ team leading 8-game hitting streak. Rease lead the Braves going 3-for-3 with 6 stolen bases on the evening.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (10-2) - 5

BRUNSWICK BLUE JACKETS (2-10) - 1

CVBA GAME #11 Braves @ Cloverleaf Vipers (Wednesday June 8th)

Braves Sweep Vipers

The Berea 13U Braves hosted the Cloverleaf Vipers after traveling to their place, for a 13-0 shut-out win, just a week prior. The Braves have been a bit hobbled since catcher Allen Peterkoski suffered a fractured thumb in Seville while facing the Vipers on June 1^st, as both teams dressed only 9-players for the rematch.

Luke Beehler was given the pill and told to throw strikes. “Let’em hit-it”, the Braves coaching staff called out to Beehler as he took the mound. Beehler however, put the first runner on by walking him, after battling back to even the count up at 2-2, then losing him on the full count pitch. A double-play ball was forced out of batter number two, but the wounded Kevin Siloy had trouble getting the ball out of his glove at second base and alertly settled for the out at first. With the Braves bench already thinned with injuries, they got an early scare after shortstop Nate Miceli took a one-hop liner off his chest. Miceli did a nice job of just keeping the ball in the infield, but the nasty smash off the bat of #3 Eby ate Miceli up, knocking him back and sending his sun glasses flying off his face. When the dust settled, Nate shook off the scare and he and the Braves continued unharmed. Beehler fanned out number two on a 2-2 pitch that caught the batter frozen as Luke had begun to show his breaking ball to compliment his heat. Miceli put away the third out after securing a towering infield fly ball.

Miceli didn’t have time to worry about the imprint now swelled into his chest, as he was listed atop the Braves batting order. Miceli drew a lead-off walk and stole two bags in front of him to reach third with no-outs. The Braves however, struggled early with Vipers pitcher #15 Cepik as he put down the next two Berea batters on six-straight pitches. Luke Beehler came through with two-outs, beating out an infield hit to third base, scoring Miceli on the hit. After a full Inning of play, the Braves lead 1-0.

Kevin Siloy had a rough start defensively. A combination of Siloy nursing damaged (jammed) fingers on his throwing hand and the thick dust leaving trailers behind on ground balls, were not a good mix as Kevin mishandled two in the inning, allowing the Vipers to put on a lead-off runner, steal two-bases and score one on a sacrifice fly to center field. Beehler took care of outs #2 & 3 by way of strike-out. The Braves went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the second as Cepik used the generous wide strike-zone from the plate umpire to strike-out two more. Braves-1, Vipers-1.

Beehler, now starting to find a steady rhythm, struck-out two of his own to start the inning and a hustling Patrick Hopp fielded his first base position well and took care of the last out himself. Beehler threw only 8-pitches in the inning. The Braves busted the game wide-open in the bottom of the third. Kirk Olesick, who was getting a few quick innings in prior to an 8:30pm game with his 12U team, reached base on balls to lead off the inning. Miceli forced his second free base of the game and Patrick Smith loaded the bases when a ground ball hit between shortstop and third had the Vipers thinking about doing too much with it and ended up getting no one at all. With the game still tied at 1-1 and Cepik retiring 6-of-the-last-7 batters he faced coming into the inning, Tevon Rease energized the Braves with a triple down the right field line, clearing the bases and breaking the tie. Luke Beehler lined one back up the middle scoring Rease. Beehler stole second and Alex Bockmiller drove him in with a single to left-center. Patrick Hopp followed suit and blasted a shot into right field. Hopp alertly turned the hit into a double as the Vipers got caught watching the play instead of covering second base. With two-outs and a man on second and third, Kirk Olesick singled to center, scoring both runs. The Braves now lead 8-1.

Beehler walked only his second batter of the game, but again it was a leadoff walk – giving the Vipers an opportunity. This time the free base runner was all that the Vipers would need, as a hit-n-run drew second baseman, Kevin Siloy to cover the bag and #99 Ring’s shot through the second base gap, also skipped beyond the slow jump of the outfield coverage and Ring legged a double out of it, easily driving in the visiting teams second run of the game. The Braves got tough real quick though, with Ring now on third base a sharp hit ball was scooped by shortstop Nate Miceli – the runner on third was frozen on the look-back and Miceli threw a quick strike to first baseman, Patrick Hopp, who in return gunned a perfect throw of his own to catcher Tevon Rease for the tag-out (double-play) at the plate. Miceli also put away out number three, fielding an infield line drive.  The Braves added a run in the bottom of the fifth as Tevon Rease singled and put himself at second with a stolen base. Beehler walked and Siloy put the ball in play, scoring Rease although Siloy ground-out. Beehler tried to go from first to third on the infield batted ball and was gunned down for the double-play. In a closer ball game, the call on Beehler at third would have been hotly diputed, but as the Braves commanded a 9-2 lead, they trotted back out for the fifth inning.

Beehler put the visiting Cloverleaf team down 1-2-3 in the 5^th, on a strike-out, a groundout back to the mound and another grounder fielded by Patrick Hopp at first base and taken himself. Hopp smashed a towering flyball off the center field fence, legging a triple to start a one-out rally in the bottom of the inning. David Seagle, lined a triple in the next at-bat, scoring Hopp. Olesick took a fastball back up the middle, reaching base for the third time in as many at-bats and scoring Seagle. Miceli took a pitch off his thigh by # 3 Eby, as Eby first batted the ball off of Nate’s chest in the first-inning and now struck him with a pitch in the 5^th. Patrick Smith reached base on balls and the Braves had the bases loaded with 1-out and were just one-run away from ending the game by way of the 10-run Mercy run rule. The Vipers found it in them to live for another inning as both #3 hitter Tevon Rease & clean-up hitter Luke Beehler both went down swinging and the game continued into the 6^th. Braves 11, Vipers 2.

Beehler recorded his 7^th  and 8^th strike-out and forced a grounder to the hot glove of Nate Miceli and the Braves were quickly back to work on putting an early finish to the game. With one-out, Alex Bockmiller lined a double to the fence in center and Patrick Hopp blasted his third multiple bag hit of the evening, scoring Bockmiller and ending the game on the Mercy rule (12-2).

Beehler faced 23 at the plate, striking out 8, walking 2, giving up just 2-hits and 2-runs (1 earned) in 78-pitches. Patrick Hopp went 3-for-4 including a triple and two-doubles and the game ending RBI. Tevon Rease tripled in going 2-for-4 with 3-RBI's and two runs scored. Luke Beehler had two base hits and a pair of RBI's. Alex Bockmiller continued his hot streak, going 2-for-4 with a double and RBI and two runs scored. David Seagle tripled in the 5th and Kirk Olesick went 2-for-2 with a walk, driving in 3-RBI's.

The Braves (10-5 overall, 9-2 in League play & 4-0 in Division games) will take 6-days off, through the weekend and will resume with another Division game at Brunswick on Tuesday June 14th.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (9-2) - 12

CLOVERLEAF VIPERS (2-7) - 2

CVBA GAME #10 Braves @ Hudson (Sunday June 5th)

Braves explore the Frontiers

The Braves injury-&-unavailable list might have stretched longer than the healthy and available list, but after scrambling to field a team, Coach Aten received superb support from the players, parents and families involved to field a fairly solid team among the walking wounded. With still a questionable roster in-hand, the Braves made their way on the second long road trip of the week, as they ventured to Hudson, Ohio to take on the Frontiers.

The Braves lost catcher Allen Peterkoski (fractured thumb) in Wednesday evenings contest against the Cloverleaf Vipers, and on Saturday morning, second baseman Kevin Siloy took a hard grounder to the index finger of his throwing hand and it remained swelled, purple and tender as of game time on Sunday afternoon. Also, Cole Macosko had yet to test his sprained knee, suffered in an outfield collision on May 22^nd and the Braves other catcher, Tevon Rease, has been nursing sore knees caused from Osgood-Schlatter Disease, a growth plate condition brought on from over-exercised legs in youth 12-15 years of age and common among catchers at this age. The Braves had already lost first baseman, Andre Reinhart to a heart condition prior to the season. To make matters even worse, the Braves had three other players who had other commitments - leaving the ball club with only (5) healthy/available players for the showdown with the Frontiers (0-5).

The Braves found a way to pull together though, thanks to Zach Bauer and Patrick Smith who were obviously late getting to their respective other events. Kevin Siloy & Tevon Rease played through pain and completed a full game. Cole Macosko dressed and secured a roster spot once Smith had to depart in the 5^th inning for a school function and Allen Peterkoski dressed in uniform in support, in case he was needed as well. It was a good, positive feeling to see the team pull together and accommodate one another.

Now all that was left, was to beat the Hudson Frontiers and make everyone’s efforts rewarding. The Braves started off the game in similar fashion as they did in the Cloverleaf game the Wednesday prior. Miceli reached base (this time, hit-by-a-pitch), stole second, then third and reached home on a dropped third-strike to Tevon Rease. As Rease slipped, flopped and tumbled his way to first base, Miceli snuck in on the throw to first  – putting the Braves up 1-0. The steady Alex Bockmiller was given the start on the mound. Alex, uncharacteristically, walked the leadoff batter to make things interesting. The Frontiers wasted no time testing the throwing hand of Kevin Siloys damaged fingers, as a lazy hit ball down the middle had Miceli coming from short to dive at it, coming up short, but Siloy was there to scoop it and throw the batter out at first. The next batter grounded out to Siloy for the second out. Meanwhile the leadoff walk found his way to third on the infield hits, but Bockmiller held him there striking out the clean-up hitter to end the inning. Braves-1, Frontiers-0

Patrick Smith took a gift lead off walk to start the second inning, stole second base and reached third base on a passed ball before Bockmiller singled up the middle making the Frontiers pay for the second run on as many free base runners. However the lefthanded hard throwing of Hudson’s #17 Merrill, struck-out his third & fourth Brave in eight batters and the injured Kevin Siloy, hidden at the bottom of the line-up, drove a well hit ball into center field that was put away, stranding Bockmiller at second base. Alex again put the leadoff batter on to start the second inning, but a fly-out to David Seagle in right, a strikeout, and a pop-up to Nate Miceli at shortstop ended the inning. Braves-2, Frontiers-0

Lead-off batter, Nate Miceli, started off the 3^rd Inning, as the Braves batted through the 9-man line-up in two innings of play. The lefthanded (#17) Merrill continued to keep the Braves bats in-check as Miceli popped up to Merill for the first out. Zach Bauer though, took Merrill’s first pitch offering and lined-it into left-center field. With two-outs, Beehler lined a base hit up the middle, scoring Bauer. Patrick Smith drew a base on balls for the second time in the young game and Alex Bockmiller singled for the second time, driving in Beehler for Alex’s second Run-Batted-In (RBI) in as many at-bats. Bockmiller was once again stranded with the Braves scoring two in the inning. Bockmiller trotted back out to the mound in the third, in the 90-degree heat, but needed only 13-pitches to retire the side. A pop-up to center fielder Patrick Smith, a pop-up to Nate Miceli at the middle of the infield and a full count called third strike to end the inning. Braves-4, Frontiers-0

Although Bockmiller was getting a decent amount of support from the Braves base running and bats, nothing was to be taken away from Hudson’s starting pitcher. #17 Merrill retired the Braves in order to start the fourth as Seagle lined one back to the mound, Siloy grounded out on a crisp hit ball to short and Miceli popped up to short. Bockmiller trying to not be out-performed, forced a groundout to Siloy at second for the first out. Facing Merrill himself, the Frontiers hurler got the best of Alex on this at-bat, lining a stinger down the third base line that tight-roped the chalk as it leaped the bag. Bockmiller got the last laugh though as him and catcher Tevon Rease held Merrill at first as Alex dissected the next batter in four pitches then Luke Beehler snagged a bullet line-drive at third base to end the third inning. Hudson stranded one and the score remained 4-0.

In the fifth, Merrill cruised through the Braves again, forcing two quick outs, throwing great location. Luke Beehler got the best of him though with a hit up the middle and Patrick Smith ripped a shot into right-center field scoring Beehler. The hits were a turning point of momentum as Hudson had retired six straight Braves prior to Beehlers and Smith’s combination of base hits. The Braves now lead 5-0. Bockmiller gave up only his second hit of the day, allowing a leadoff runner. A walk on five pitches put two runners on for the Frontiers for the first time all game - and with no-outs, as well. However, the relentless Braves defense turned the PLAY-OF-THE-DAY. With Kevin Siloy covering the bag at second base, Hudson’s #33-Young ripped a shot that not only appeared to be on its way through the infield, but straight through the shallow playing outfield gap as well. Siloy, coming back to his position after checking the runner at second, outstretched and leaped to make an awesome catch – then had the wherewithal to get his feet under him and throw-out the runner who had jumped the gun early at second base, for a double-play! Instead of a score of possibly 5-2 with a runner at second or third with no-outs, the Braves got out of the Inning on the very next pitch on a ground-out to Beehler at third to hold the Frontiers scoreless through 5 complete innings. Braves-5, Frontiers-0.

Hat’s off to Merrill though, as he put the Braves down 1-2-3 in the sixth, including getting the red-hot Bockmiller to groundout to third. Bockmiller had been on a streak where he had gone 6-for-6 with 2-walks in his last 8 at-bats spanning three games … including two singles and 2 RBI’s on the afternoon. In the bottom half of the inning; Alex, with 77-pitches thrown, gave up a Texas leaguer to left field to start off the bottom half of the inning. The runner advanced one base on a wild pitch, but Bockmiller fanned the next batter and forced a groundout to first baseman, Zach Bauer and a groundout to Miceli at short to end the inning.

In the 7^th, Merrill had enough. Merrill finished, facing 28-Braves batters, tossing 92-pitches, giving up 6-hits, 2-walks, 7-strike-outs and the 5-runs, but most of all, gained the respect of the Braves. The Braves came into this game batting .386 as a team and Merrill held them to a .292 average. Merrill’s replacement gave everyone in attendance a glimpse of just what the Braves are capable of doing. Kevin Siloy, still playing with tender jammed fingers, stroked his third hard hit of the afternoon – although once again, unfortunately, it was right to someone again, this time the left fielder. Kevin wasn’t credited for a base hit on the day, but his contribution for first suiting up, than playing lights-out defense at second base, was as valuable to the team as any on the afternoon. Miceli beat out an infield single, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Bauer lined a shot up the middle, driving in Miceli and he too stole second and then third. Tevon Resae followed suit and beat out an infield single, driving in Bauer. Tevon then stole second, third and crossed the plate on a passed ball. The injured Cole Macosko received an at-bat and walked on a full count after fouling several off and Alex Bockmiller singled for the third time on the afternoon. Macosko and Bockmiller were stranded there though as we headed into the bottom half of the 7^th inning. Bockmiller, at 88-pitches, announced that he wanted to complete the game. Alex walked the leadoff batter after running the count to full. The Braves gave up their first error in 15-straight innings. A span that started with the coaching staffs 6-position changes after the third inning of the Parma Ht’s game on May 25^th. Not liking the way players were gelling together, the coaches rearranged the defensive line-up at six different positions in the bottom of the third (May 25^th) and the Braves players obviously received the message and responded with facing 64 straight batters without committing an error. Even the error in this game though, was a legit error that could be excused. With a runner on the break, stealing second. Kevin Siloy was sliding to his right to cover the bag and a well hit ball up the middle arrived nearly the same time as the runner in motion did and Siloy got handcuffed a bit by it while on the move to cover the bag. The runner advanced to third on the play and left runners at the corner with no outs. Catcher Tevon Rease was told to not worry about the runner on third but to get the out at second base if the runner at first attempts to advance. Reases’ throw was not in time at second on the steal and Hudson got their first run of the game. Bockmiller showed that he had enough in the tank as he fanned the next two batters, and the game ended with a high pop-up to Luke Beehler at third.

Bockmiller (5-1) lasted 7-innings for his fourth consecutive complete game. Alex gave up 4-walks, striking out 7, in facing 28-batters - giving up 1-run on 3-hits. Alex also went 3-for-4 from the plate, driving in 2-runs. Alex has batted an incredible .875 over the last three games and has raised his batting average to a team leading .600/avg. Zach Bauer & Luke Beehler both had two hits apiece and Patrick Smith reached base safely in all three of his at-bats, going 1-for-1 with a pair of walks. Patrick also had a key RBI single in the 5^th inning.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (8-2) - 8

HUDSON EXPLORERS (0-6) - 1

CVBA GAME #9 Braves @ Cloverleaf Vipers (Wednesday June 1st)

Braves shut-out Vipers

The Braves made the long journey down to Seville, Ohio to take on the Cloverleaf Vipers. The Braves were coming off infield, pitching & batting practice the night prior, and the Vipers were trying to forget a 15-4 pasting at the hands of the Parma Hts Flyers within the same time span. Also looming in the shadows, was the remembrance of the Vipers 8-4 come-from-behind win over the Braves in 2004.

The game began eerily quiet out in the country, until the Braves manufactured the first run with two-outs.  Nate Miceli singled to right, stole second base on the first pitch and was off to the races, as the Vipers were a base late and a glove (or two) short. First the catchers throw skipped through to center field, then the center fielders throw skidded out of play behind third base, as Nate galloped home. Four pitches later and Cloverleaf was out of the inning, down 1-0. Miceli was given ‘the rock’ and asked to manage the game from the mound for the Braves. Nate put down the first two batters, one on a pop-up to third on the first pitch and the second on strikes. He struggled with the next two though, putting both on by walk. Nate regained control and fanned the #5 batter on three straight pitches, the final pitch escaping catcher Allen Peterkoski’s glove, so a throw down to first was warranted and was scooped out of the dirt by first baseman, Zach Bauer. However, everything wasn’t so great for the visiting Berea team as Allen Peterkoski came to the bench clutching the thumb from his glove hand. Braves-1, Vipers-0.

Tevon Rease lead off the second inning with a shot to center field and stole second on the first pitch. Allen Peterkoski moved Rease to third on a grounder up the first base line and Alex Bockmiller batted Rease in with a base hit to right field. With two-outs, Patrick Hopp drove a double into center field, putting runners on the corners – although the rally stalled there. With catcher Allen Peterkoski’s thumb taped, the sturdy veteran catcher came back out on defense in the second. Miceli K’ed the Vipers leadoff batter, then walked the next. After a stolen base, the Vipers stretched the lead-off at second, and Miceli spun and picked’em off. Nate got out of the inning 1-2-3 with a ground-out to Short stop, Luke Beehler for the final out. Through 2 complete Innings, the Braves lead 2-0.

With the top of the order leading off, Zach Bauer drew a walk and quickly stole second. Siloy moved Bauer to third, grounding-out behind the runner. Miceli beat out an infield single to third, scoring Bauer. Miceli instantly stole second and Luke Beehler brought him in with a single to center. Beehler stole two-bases, and took home on a wild pick-off throw by the pitcher. Tevon Rease was hit by a pitch and quickly stole his way around to third as well, where Allen Peterkoski batted him in with a deep sacrifice fly to center. With two-outs, Alex Bockmiller reached base on his second basehit to right field of the evening. Bockmiller, also found safe sailing on the bases and stole his way around to third – where Patrick Smith drove him in with a base hit to left field. The Braves batted nine in the Inning and now lead 7-0. After Peterkoski’s sacrifice-fly to deep center, it was decided to rest his ailing thumb and insert Tevon Rease in behind the plate. Miceli allowed the #9 batter to put the ball in play, where second baseman Kevin Siloy disposed of out number one. Nate struck the next batter as he squared to bunt and the third batter of the inning lined the Vipers only base hit through the right side of the infield. The hit put runners on the corner with two-outs. What took place next was perhaps the staple of the game. The runner on first thought he had an easy stroll down to second with third base occupied, but catcher Tevon Rease was instructed to not give up that base and promptly threw down to second in plenty of time to tag out the jogging thief. The stunned look on the Cloverleaf team was one of disbelief as in, “Hey, you can’t do that !!?” Instead on runners at first and third with one-out, the Vipers were faced with a runner on third and two-outs, a huge difference! That would be all the help from the Braves defense that Miceli would need as he pumped a full-count fastball right down main street to end the inning. Braves-7, Vipers-0.

David Seagle lead things off in the 4^th by forcing a base on balls. Seagle stole second. Zach Bauer reached base on a fielding error as he hustled down the line. Kevin Siloy singled to left scoring Seagle. Miceli singled scoring Bauer and Luke Beehler crushed a laser shot, high off the center field fence, driving in his team leading 21^st & 22^nd RBI of the season and legging his 5^th triple of the year. Tevon Rease beat out a misplayed check-swing dribbler up the first base line, as Beehler scored on the play. Rease stole his 4^th and 5^th bag of the evening and resided on third with no-outs. In one of the rare errors by the Braves on the night, Rease took it upon himself to try to take home on a pass ball and was tagged out in plenty of time for the first out. Allen Peterkoski’s spot was skipped in the line-up and Alex Bockmiller reached base on balls and stole second for his third stolen base on the night but the Braves rally stalled, stranding Alex, as the Braves sent 9 batters to the plate in consecutive innings. The Vipers had base runners again, as Nate tossed 8-pitches out of the strike zone in 9-tries after getting the lead-off batter to pop out to second baseman, Siloy, in short right field. With runners on first & second, the Vipers tried their luck at bunting the runners over, but Miceli came off the mound like a cat, scooped, twirled and gunned the lead runner down at third for the force out. A dribbler back to the mounded ended any more opportunities for the Vipe’s as the Braves now lead 12-0.

With two-outs in the 5^th, Kevin Siloy reached base by way of error and Nate Miceli drove in his second run of the game with a base it to center. Miceli was caught taking second after the throw home was fielded and relayed back to second for the tag. With the mercy-run rule now set in place, all that was left was for the Braves to complete their first shut-out of the season. Miceli took care of out #1, such as he did in the other four previous innings. Although, to stay on pattern, unfortunately he also walked the sixth & seventh base runners of the evening to make an interesting challenge for the shut-out. Miceli struck-out the second out between the walks, for his sixth strike-out in five innings of work. After the runners stole the bases in front of them, the Vipers had two base runners in scoring position for the first time all evening. Miceli forced the final out, as a sharp hit ground ball was fielded by Siloy at second base to end the game by way of the mercy run-rule.

Miceli faced 22 batters through 5-complete innings, Striking out 6, walking 7 and giving up only 1 run. The Braves recorded 11 runs from the top of their line-up, as Bauer, Siloy, Beehler and Rease all scored twice and Miceli (4-for-4, 2-RBI’s) crossed the plate three times. Beehler was 2-for-3 with 3-RBI’s and a Triple. Alex Bockmiller was 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. Patrick Hopp doubled in the second. The Braves stole 20-bases in the 5-inning game and were lead by Tevon Rease with 5 steals.

The Braves, however, didn’t come out of the game unscathed. X-rays revealed that catcher Allen Peterkoski sustained a hairline fracture in his thumb and will be out of action for a minimum two-weeks. Peterkoski joins Cole Macosko (sprained knee) and Andre Reinhart on the injury list.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (7-2) - 13

Cloverleaf Vipers (2-4) - 0

Braves wait-out Flyers, win in bottom of the seventh

The Braves hosted division rival, Parma Hts., at Dora Lee Payne Field with both teams hoping to get a leg up on the rest of the division. Luke Beehler was given the start on the mound for the Braves. Beehler, however, would find out that his glove would get as much work as his arm. The lead-off batter was retired when Patrick Smith fielded a grounder at second base and disposed of him at first base. Beehler then called for and positioned himself under a towering fly ball to the third base side of the mound, although a lack on concentration allowed the ball to roll out of his mit putting a runner on by error. Beehler then fielded a batted ball back at him on the mound and a hurried throw was in the dirt and at first mishandled, but then recovered in-time by first baseman, Patrick Hopp. A third ball was batted again back to Beehler on the mound and the Braves got out of a shaky first inning unscathed. The Braves started things off as Kevin Siloy singled up the middle, though Kevin was gunned down trying to steal second on the first pitch for the first out. Zach Bauer flied out to left field for the second out. Nate Miceli reached base on balls and Luke Beehler scored Miceli from first with a blast down the third base line and into the deep left field corner. Beehler legged a triple on the hit. Luke was stranded there though as the Braves took a first inning 1-0 lead.

Beehler and Hopp continued to struggle with the simplest of plays as the lead off batter in the second, again, sent a dribbler back to the mound and Beehler quickly rifled it off of Hopps shin as the balled rolled toward second base and the runner reached base safely. The following batter reached base on balls and the third batter of the inning lined a base hit into left field loading the bases with no-outs. Beehler fanned the next batter for the first out, but a ball hit deep in the hole between third and short, scored the lead-off batter to tie the game. Beehler struck-out the next two to strand three on the bases and get himself out of a jam. Tevon Rease lead off the second inning for the Braves and crushed a double deep into the right field alley. Kirk Olesick stroked a base hit up the middle, advancing Rease to third and Alex Bockmiller lined one into left field scoring both Rease & Olesick. the Braves then went down in consecutive order, but now lead 3-1.

Parma Hts. #15 Gerity doubled to lead-off the third inning. The Braves committed a third error, putting two on. Beehler K'ed the third batter, but a dropped third strike, was thrown past first base, scoring two, as the batter reached first safely. Beehler forced two towering pop-ups to David Seagle in right field, which David put away, and Luke recorded his fourth strike-out of the game, but not before a play on a steal of third base sailed past third basemen, Alex Bockmiller, and into left field scoring the third run of the inning. This was the sloppiest play of the Braves this season and the Berea team found themselves losing the second lead of the game and down 4-3. The Braves went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning. Flyers-4, Braves-3.

Down at home and after committing 5 fielding errors, the Berea coaching staff made 6 defensive moves to start the fourth inning. Beehler and the Braves buckled down and retired the Flyers in order 1-2-3. The Braves reached base twice by way of walk in the bottom of the inning, but couldn't come up with the timely hit as the Flyers held the lead at 4-3.

Parma Hts. forced two walks with two-outs before #10 Buehner lined a double into the right-center gap, adding two more insurance runs to lead 6-3. the Braves got a lead-off single from David Seagle and Nate Miceli added a second runner on the bases with a walk, but both were stranded and Parma Hts. took a 6-3 lead into the sixth inning.

The Braves brought in a fresh arm in Alex Bockmiller to try to hold the Flyers at 6-runs. Bockmiller struck-out the first batter he faced, but gave up a single to center to the second batter. Tevon Rease gunned-down the lone base runner trying to steal second for the second out and good thing that he did, because the batter to followed lined a triple into the left-center field gap. Alex took care of things with his second strike-out of the inning to get out unscathed. #66 Conklin had been dominating the Braves through five innings, but there were obvious signs that he was starting to tire and the Braves seemed primed to wait him out. Conklin, had given up only 4-hits through the first five innings and in the sixth he would be tagged for 4-more. Patrick Smith singled down the third base line to start off the inning, but Conklin would force a pop-up to deep center by Tevon Rease and struck-out the second out. With two-outs, Alex Bockmiller singled up the middle, scoring Smith. Patrick Hopp lined a single into center. David Seagle hit a chopper between first and second, which the first baseman had ricochet off his glove and the second baseman mishandled as well. Kevin Siloy then slapped a single into right, scoring a hustling Bockmiller & Patrick Hopp. When the dust settled, the Braves had tied the score at 6-all and were heading into the 7th inning with the momentum.

Bockmiller forced a grounder to third and fielded one back at the mound in an unbelievable stab on a ball that appeared already behind him for two quick outs. Alex then put the third batter on by way of walk. The next batter lined a single into left field and the Flyers were starting to make noise. Kevin Siloy ended the threat by securing a pop fly to second base and the Braves embraced the bottom of the inning with Nate Miceli leading off. Miceli forced a lead-off walk. Not taking any chances, the Braves held the Braves steals leader at first to see how Luke Beehlers at-bat was going to pan-out. With a 2-2 count, third base coach Doug Siloy gave Miceli the steal sign and on the pitch Miceli was moving. Beehler lined the pitch deep into center field for a double and Miceli had the green light to score all the way. The Braves bench exploded as he crossed the plate and the Braves knew that they had dodged a bullet.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (6-2) - 7

Parma Hts. Flyers (3-1) - 6

Eagles grounded at Groza

The Braves (4-2) return home, where they have been unbeaten so far in the first month of CVBA play. In-town is the North Olmsted Eagles (2-3) for a match-up at Groza Field #2.

On the mound for the Braves is Nate Miceli, who has not yet been used to pitch during the month of May. Miceli was the Braves opening game starter at Independence on April 29^th and has become almost a secret weapon still to be unleashed. Miceli’s throw on a lead-off bunt appeared to uncover some rust in fielding the position, but his pitching was superb on the afternoon. After the Eagles leadoff batter reached base safely, Miceli retired 15 of the next 16 batters that came to the plate. The lone base runner reaching base by way of error in the fifth, as Miceli struck-out seven in the process. Miceli carried a no-hitter through five innings.

The Braves hit the ball hard all night long, but didn’t give Miceli a lot of run support to show for it. Tevon Rease singled in the first, but was left stranded. Allen Peterkoski ripped a double into the left-center gap to leadoff the second inning, and David Seagle placed a well hit ball into left field to score Peterkoski. Patrick Smith walked, but Seagle and Smith were left stranded in the second. Tevon Rease singled to center with one-out in the third, for his second hit of the game. With two-outs, Allen Peterkoski also had his second hit of the game driving in Rease. Patrick Hopp doubled, batting in Peterkoski. Alex Bockmiller kept the rally going, forcing a full-count walk and David Seagle singled for his second time of the game, driving in his second run. Patrick Smith walked, you guessed it – for the second time of the game. But Seagle, Smith and this time, Bockmiller, were all left stranded as Kevin Siloy’s flyball to left was fielded with a diving catch with runners moving on the two-out contact. Nate Miceli drew a lead-off walk in the fourth inning, but three straight pop-ups to the Eagles second baseman ended the inning as Miceli became the seventh Brave stranded through four innings. The Braves went down 1-2-3 in the fifth, but lead 4-0.

The Eagles finally caught up with Miceli in the sixth with a lead off single to right field.  The Braves cut-down the lead runner at second for the first out in the sixth, but a timely hit-n-run stalled Kevin Siloy’s throw from short for #19 Shoemacher to beat out an infield hit, putting runners on first and second. Miceli handled the first sign of life from the visiting Olmsted team well, as he forced a ground out back to the mound and ended the threat with his eighth strikeout of the game. The Braves stranded the eighth base runner of the game in the bottom of the sixth as Patrick Smith singled to start the inning. Smith was victim of a fielder’s choice and the Braves went down in order thereafter.

Miceli came out to finish what he had started, with 64-brilliant pitches under his belt. Nate didn’t receive the defense that he deserved as the lead-off batter reached base on a grounder to short as first baseman Patrick Hopp failed to keep his foot on the bag during the throw. Miceli walked his first batter of the game to put two on in the seventh. Miceli fielded a batted ball back to the mound and threw to third base to force out the first out. A passed ball, moved the runners to second and third and Miceli walked the next batter, loading the bases. A ground ball to short, created out number two, scoring a run for North Olmsted. The third walk of the night/inning loaded the bases again and a fourth walk, walked in a run. The call was finally made to put the ball in Luke Beehlers hands, with two-outs, bases loaded and a 4-2 lead. Beehler responded with two straight strikes, before forcing a ground-out to first base, which Patrick Hopp fielded and took care of the final out himself.

Miceli was fantastic on the night, facing 28-batters, striking out 8, giving up only 2-hits and 2-runs in 7-innings of work. Luke Beehler recorded his first Save of the season.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (5-2) - 4

N. OLMSTED EAGLES (2-4) - 2

Braves revered in Revere

The Braves made the trip down to Revere on Saturday afternoon, without knowing what to expect from the new team. Revere was in the CVBA Non-bid league in 2003, going 24-1 that season. Last season they moved into the Bid-league and after a bit of turnover, are now not only back, they are in the Braves Division.

The Braves jumped on the Home team early. Kevin Siloy singled up the middle with one-out. Luke Beehler moved Siloy into scoring position with a base hit, after there were two-outs recorded in the book. Allen Peterkoski delivered the first big hit of the day, with a single to right field scoring both Siloy & Beehler for a two-run lead.

Coach Aten went with Alex Bockmiller the last time that the Braves faced an unknown opponent (Avon Lake) and that was a huge success, so it made sense to give Alex Bockmiller the nod again on the mound. After selecting Alex to pitch, the next decision hinged on what to do with the catcher rotation. Alex and Tevon Rease had hooked-up in Alex’s first few outings and the Braves wanted to keep that chemistry alive. Well rested catcher, Allen Peterkoski, was a last minute decision to play third base and boy did the Revere team test him early. The second pitch from Bockmiller was belted down the third base line, and Peterkoski swallowed it up and disposed of out number one. The next batter cracked a mammoth high pop-up that Peterkoski got back on and put away for the second out as well. Bockmiller retired the third batter himself and the Braves took their two-run lead into the second inning.

The Braves went down 1-2-3 despite a one-out base on balls by Patrick Hopp. However, on one of the few mistakes the Braves made on the day, Patrick attempted to steal second without being given a sign and was promptly thrown-out in the process. Hopp has been contributing heavily to the Braves offense and defense as of late and was asked to take a reserve ‘additional-hitter’ role in this game. Sometimes a hot player can’t turn it off and feels like he has to make something happen out of nothing. The aggressiveness was welcomed, although Patrick was advised to trust the coaching staff and channel some of the energy. The Bockmiller-Peterkoski show continued in the bottom of the second. This time Bockmiller fanned the lead-off batter and Peterkoski put away the next two outs with more superb fielding at third base as Revere went down 1-2-3 again.

The new 13U Revere Field (#8) is huge with plenty of outfield space. Patrick Smith took advantage of the large outfield with a smash into the left-center field alley, legging a leadoff triple. Kevin Siloy batted ‘Smitty’ in with an infield grounder. With two-outs, Nate Miceli lined a base hit into left. Miceli, however, was victim to a quick pick-off move, nice throw on the bag and perhaps a poor call from the field umpire, who by now were being worked over by the Revere coaching staff on an almost pitch-by-pitch bases. A bit of a protest was voiced by coach Aten, before the Braves got back to work in the bottom of the inning. Bockmiller broke his streak and gave up a single to the second batter, but the Braves didn’t bend much as Alex struck-out the 2^nd and 3^rd out, with the first out coming on a pop-up to first baseman Zach Bauer. In three Innings, Bockmiller had rooted through the Revere 10-man lineup, striking out four and giving up just one-hit and one base runner. The Braves lead 3-0.

The Berea bats gave Bockmiller all the support that he would need in the top of the fourth inning. For the second straight inning, the Braves lead off with a triple, this time it was off the bat of Luke Beehler as he drove the first pitch into deep left-center. Allen Peterkoski drove in Beehler with a single to left. Tevon Rease followed suit and singled as well – then Alex Bockmiller hammered home an RBI single to right-center. Patrick Hopp sent a dribbler down the first base line and Revere elected to make the play on Rease at home, but the throw was off target and not in-time, sending Hopp to second. Patrick Smith hit into a fielders choice, scoring Bockmiller. With two-outs, Zach Bauer singled to center scoring Hopp. Bauer stole second and was batted in when Siloy had the sixth base hit of the inning. The Braves forced a change at pitcher and the new Revere pitcher recorded the final out, but not before the Braves batted through the line-up and now lead 9-0. Revere showed some backbone in the bottom of the inning as three of the first four appearances at the plate singled. Bockmiller struck-out the first out before the Braves gave up their first error on the afternoon. After a pop-up to short and the final out struck-down by Alex, Revere cut the lead to 9-2 after four complete innings.

The Braves, shedding their gray vests in mid-game to counter the humidity and donning their all ‘power-red’ uniform, went back to work again in the fifth as Beehler singled to put the leadoff runner on for the Braves for the third consecutive time. Tevon Rease (2-for-4) came through again, driving a shot into left field and scoring Beehler on the hit. The Braves would stall there though. Leading 10-2, the Braves lost a bit of focus and had trouble fielding weak hit balls to the left side of the infield by a pair of left handed batters. The leadoff runners would score as the Berea team took care of securing one out at a time on a ground out to shortstop Nate Miceli, then to second baseman Kevin Siloy and got out of the inning with another strike-out by Bockmiller. Berea 10, Revere 4

The sixth and final inning showed just how solid this group of thirteen years olds from Berea have evolved into. With two-outs and Zach Bauer reaching base on a fielders choice, Siloy (3-for-4), Miceli (2-for-4), Beehler (4-for-4) and Peterkoski (3-for-4 with 4-RBI’s) all singled consecutively – adding on four more runs and setting up an end to the game by way of the mercy run-rule. Alex Bockmiller asked to finish the game even though he was already at an 87-pitch count. Bockmiller struck-out his eighth batter of the afternoon and all looked good, but then Revere’s clean-up hitter #33 Stein took Alex to a 9-pitch at-bat before singling. Bockmiller followed by walking his first batter of the game. With the young pitcher now over 100-pitches thrown, coach Aten visited Alex at the mound where he was met by catcher, Tevon Rease. The two pleaded with the head coach to allow Alex to finish the game and coach Aten reminded them that if just one of the two base runners score, that they game would continue into the seventh and final inning, where Bockmiller would be surely replaced to begin that inning. Going against the coaches best interest, the players won-out and Alex was given the ball to continue with one-out. It took Alex only three pitches to force a pair of groundouts, the last a rifle shot to Siloy at second where he fielded it and threw out the third and final out as Alex Bockmiller finished his third consecutive complete game.

Bockmiller faced 27-batters, striking out 8, walking only-one, giving up 5-hits and 4-runs (2-earned) in 6 Innings of work.

The Braves belted out 17 hits in 35 plate appearances (.486 average), recording 14 RBI’s on two Triples, a double and fourteen singles.

Final
BEREA (4-2) - 14

REVERE (1-3) - 4

Smooth sailing through Rocky River

The Braves hosted the Rocky River Raiders at Dora Lee Payne Field and they had a bit of revenge on their mind. In 2004 the Braves lost a regular season game in Rocky River in one of the worst umpired games you’ll ever see. They also lost a play-off game against R.R. on an error that cost them a game. However, revenge wasn’t all just geared toward the Raiders, the Braves were looking to erase the previous nights game from their memories and get back on track with their winning ways in the month of May.

Kevin Siloy got the nod on the mound for the Braves. Siloy started out a bit ‘rocky’ himself, as he walked three (including two hit-by-pitch). However Siloy took care of the lead-off walk by picking him off second with a nice move, and nice tag by second baseman Patrick Smith. The second batter got on with a sharp hit ball down the first base line that handcuffed first baseman Patrick Hopp. The visiting team got on the score board with a batted ball to short and the Braves elected to take the force-out at third for the second out. Center fielder, Luke Beehler, put away the final out in center field. The Raider lead 1-0. The Braves hit from the start, Kevin Siloy singled on a flair to left and Nate Miceli doubled to left to put runners on second and third with no outs. Allen Peterkoski did his job and drove a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Siloy on the tag-up and sending Miceli to third. Miceli then stole Home for the second run of the inning. Luke Beehler smashed one up the third base line, but the third baseman made a fantastic play on the grounder and disposed of Beehler for the second out. Tevon Rease took a pitch in the buttocks, recovered, and quickly stole second base. Cole Macosko drove him in with a liner in the left-center field gap. The aggressive Braves continued to run and this time the Raiders were ready, as an anticipated pitch-out gunned down Macosko trying to take second for the third out, but not before the Braves lead 3-1 after an inning of play.

Siloy found his rhythm in the second and fanned the first two batters and got out of the inning 1-2-3 as the final out flew out to Beehler in center. With two-outs in the second, Patrick Hopp drove a single into center and stole his way around to third and into scoring position. Patrick Smith tried to drive Hopp in with a rocket down the third base line, but once again - it was fielded by the play of Rocky Rivers solid third baseman for the third out. The score after two still held at 3-1 in favor of the Braves.

The Raiders went down 1-2-3 again in the third on a ground-out to short, a fly out to second and by way of strike-out. The Braves added to their lead in the bottom of the inning. Nate Miceli singled with one-out, but was uncharacteristically gunned down attempting to steal second, as Rocky River was now pitching-out as often as the Braves were aggressively looking to steal bases. With two-outs, Allen Peterkoski singled to left-center and Luke Beehler smashed a double scoring Peterkoski from first. An off-line throw on a play for Allen at the plate, allowed Luke to reach third, but he would be stranded there as Tevon Rease went down swinging … or should we say, “Tomahawking” at pitches above the strike zone. After three, the Braves now lead 4-1.

An early liner to second base was dropped to put a lead off runner on for the Raiders, but Siloy recovered nicely and put the Raiders down in consecutive order thereafter with a towering pop-up to first, a ground out to first and a ground-out to short. The Braves made noise again in the fourth, but the Raiders somehow found a way to 'wiggle-off-the-hook'. Macosko started things off by lining a shot into left field. Alex Bockmiller followed with a base hit of his own. Macosko and Bockmiller both advanced on passed balls and now stood at second and third with no outs. However, David Seagle lined one back to the pitcher, who alertly caught Macosko off third for a double-play. The drive stalled there as Hopp grounded out to short. Score: Braves 4- Raiders-1 through four innings.

The Raiders only sent four batters to the plate again in the fifth as Siloy’s off-speed pitches continued to have the visiting team waving at pitches. Alex Bockmiller made a nice play from third. Siloy chased down a slow roller down the first base line for the second-out and Beehler put away the final out in center. The Braves flirted with putting away the Raiders again in the bottom of the inning. Patrick Smith reached base on balls and stole second and Nate Miceli drove him in with a triple to left field (Miceli's third hit of the night). Beehler drove in Miceli with a shot to left field and Tevon Rease moved Beehler to third with a single to left-center. Rease stole second, but the rally stalled, stranding two. Score: Braves 6, Raiders-1.

Rocky River was put down by Siloy 1-2-3 again in the sixth. Catcher, Tevon Rease, fielded a lead-off bunt and disposed of batter number one. Patrick Hopp put away the umpteenth pop-up to the rightside of the infield. The third batter punched a base hit, but Rease disposed of him trying to steal some extra bases. The Braves went to work again, as Alex Bockmiller lead off the inning by crushing a double into the left field corner and reserve utility-infielder, Kirk Olesick, singled to right to score Bockmiller. Olesick was gunned down trying to bag two, as the play on Bockmiller at the plate was weak and way late. Coach Aten stood as dumbfounded for sending Kirk as Coach Siloy has done from third a handful of times already this season! Patrick Smith (walk) provided the Braves another base runner in the inning, but the Braves finished there, heading into the seventh inning up 7-1.

The Braves got a bit cute in finishing off the visiting “Ray-Dahhh’s’. Siloy forced a lead-off pop-up to the left side of the infield, to make a half dozen such pop-ups there on the evening. However, the Braves error on the next play when Patrick Hopp had to come off the bag to receive a throw and then couldn’t find the bag in time. Miceli allowed a ball to get through the infield for the second runner, but again Rease disposed of the runner trying to steal a base. The Raiders stayed alive with a flair hit-single into short right field and Siloy walked his first batter since coming out of the gate in the first inning. In Siloy’s defense, the Braves were working on a combination of pick-off/defensive moves that held the runners at the corners through the entire at-bat.  The walk, however, loaded the bases with two-outs and the Braves intensity heightened as they moved to protect their awesome defensive stats through the first six games. Siloy would have none of that drama though and quickly struck the last batter out on three straight pitches.

Siloy (2-0) completed all 7-innings for his second consecutive complete game – facing 29-batters, giving up 1-run (earned) on 5-hits, 4-walks and 4-strike-outs. Siloy has a 2.0 ERA (4 runs through 14 innings of work) for the regular season.

The Braves defense through the first half-dozen games has been awesome. The Braves are only giving up an average of 2.8 runs per game. They gave up two runs to Independence in the first and sixth inning, and two in North Royalton in the 3^rd inning on Tuesday, but beyond that - no other team has scored more than a single run in any one inning, spanning 38-innings.

The Braves have increased their team batting average to .313 and finished Rocky River off by batting .566-avg., with a team slugging percentage of .703 on the night.

The Braves will take two-days off before traveling down to Revere on Saturday afternoon.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (3-2) - 7

Rocky River Raiders (0-2) - 1

Braves inpatient hunting Grizzly

The Braves (2-1) traveled to North Royalton to take on the Grizzly’s, who lead the league at 6-0.

The Braves got on the scoreboard early when Zach Bauer singled and Luke Beehler drove him in with a single to left. The Royalton coaching staff obviously have been spending some time here on the Braves web site, for their outfield practically had their backs to the fence when Beehler and Tevon Rease came to the plate. Luke & Tevon lead the team in slugging percentage and they both received a lot of respect in Royal-town. In fact, Beehlers liner to short left field, scored Bauer from first base because the outfield was so deep it took them forever to come up and field the ball. Chalk an RBI-assist to the web site for scaring the pants off the Royalton staff. Cole Macosko walked, but both he and Beehler were stranded as the Braves lead 1-0.

Luke Beehler was slotted for this start after the Division Opener was rained out on BBA Opening Day. Beehler was limited to fast balls when it became obvious early that the home plate ump wasn’t going to call a breaking pitch for a strike unless it was swung at and missed. Beehler was helped out when the Grizzly’s lead-off batter lined one to short right-center and Braves center fielder Nate Miceli made a diving catch for the first out. Beehler took care of the second batter by way of strike out and received no help in any location from the home plate ump as nearly three pitches were questionable in walking the third batter with two-outs. However, the Braves got out of the inning as Zach Bauer fielded the third out at first base and took care of things himself.

The Braves seventh, eighth and ninth batters went down 1-2-3 with a grounder to third, a grounder to short and a grounder back to the mound. The Grizzly’s lead off the bottom of the second when a soft grounder was misplayed on the right side of the infield. Beehler fanned the second batter before giving up a base hit. With runners on second and third with one-out, Beehler fielded a ball back to him at the mound, but failed to check the runner at third that was over halfway already down the line. The Grizzly’s tied the score on the play. Catcher, Allen Peterkoski, alertly caught an encroaching base runner down the third base line on a botched attempted squeeze bunt for the second out, as Tevon Rease applied the tag at the bag. Beehler struck-out the third out. After two Innings, the score was tied at 1-1.

The Braves couldn’t “hit’em where they weren’t” as the 10^th, 1^st and 2^nd Braves batters went down 1-2-3 by way of strike-out, fly-out to left field and ground-out to second. Royalton put their lead off batter on with a base hit. Beehler then fielded a sharp hit ball back to the mound, but threw wild to second on the attempted double play - luckily, Kevin Siloy made an out-stretched snag on the ball and managed to keep a toe on the bag in the process to get the out at second. The second out was recorded on a pop-up in the infield. The momentum changing play of the day came with Beehler up in the count 0-2 and the dugout signaled in a curve ball. Luke hung the breaker over the plate as #18 Arena, hammered a double into the left-center field gap, driving in a run and breaking the tie ball game. Clean-up hitter, #55 Harrell, followed with a single - driving in the second run of the Inning. The Braves got out of the Inning, fielding the final out at second, but not before North Royalton lead 3-1 after three innings.

The Braves battled back in the fourth as Miceli singled to lead off the inning. Beehler struck-out and Macosko grounded out to the pitcher. With two-outs, Allen Peterkoski came through with a towering fly ball to deep center field that didn’t allow for the center fielder to field cleanly, and Miceli scored on the hit. Patrick Hopp kept the two-out rally going by reaching base on balls, but the inning stalled there as Rease lunged for the first pitch, dribbling it back to the pitcher for the third out. With the Braves closing the gap to 3-2, the Grizzly’s manufactured an insurance run on the ole dreaded leadoff walk. After the walk, The Braves put away the Grizzly’s forcing a grounder back to the mound, a grounder to short and a Pop-up to the mound, but not before the runner was allowed to steal his way around the bases and score on the all infield action. The Grizzly’s lead 4-2.

The Braves put a lead-off runner on after Alex Bockmiller was grazed off the back of his batting helmet by a pitch. Patrick Smith nearly hit one through the third base-short stop hole, but the ball was recovered with plenty of time to force out the lumbering Bockmiller at second. Kevin Siloy reached base on a fielders choice and with two-outs, a controversial call was made ringing Siloy up on a ‘quick-pitch’ pitch-out that caught Siloy stealing second to end the inning. The problem with the play was that the Pitcher never came to a set position. This was a reoccurring ‘designed play’ that had already been argued by the Braves coaching staff in a previous attempt and was thought to be agreed upon by the field umpire as an illegal play. The play was allowed to stand as the Royalton association umpires failed to control the game.

The Braves hung around as Beehler forced a ground-out to first. The second batter got on and the Braves returned the favor as Braves catcher Allen Peterkoski gunned down #21 Baetjer trying to steal second, for the second out. Beehler forced another infield pop-up to end the inning.

The Braves went down 1-2-3 again in the 6^th as the Braves continued to have no patience at the plate, seeing only 6-pitches in the inning. In a bazaar side-show to the game, the home plate umpire in retrieving a bat laying in the batters box, flung the bat over the 12’ high third base fence and near the Braves faithful. Tempers flared as no apology was made for the unexplained incident. The bat was retrieved from the stands by the field ump, an apology was granted and the bat was then placed safely back in the Braves dugout and play resumed. Luke Beehler trotted out for the sixth inning with 67-pitches thrown through 5 innings of play. He made quick work of the inning with a ground-out to second and a ground-out to short. The Grizzly’s put a base runner on with two outs, but the third out was put away by Tevon Rease at second base. After six complete innings the Grizzly’s remained on top of the Braves 4-2.

The Braves would go down 1-2-3 for the fifth time on the night, this time the impatience Braves saw only 4-pitches. Allen Peterkoski recorded his second hit of the night with one-out. Macosko flied out to short and David Seagle lined one back to the mound, but Peterkoski was caught getting too much of a jump off first for a double play to end the game.

Beehler went the distance of 6-innings, with 26 batters faced, walking-2, striking out-3, giving up 6-hits and 4-runs. Luke threw 76-pitches on the night. A solid outing, the Berea team just didn’t put a very good fielding team behind Luke’s effort and surely didn’t have the patience at the plate that they needed.

The Braves need to have short memories of this game and get back to winning with the Rocky River Raiders in town for tonight’s game at Dora Lee Payne field in Berea.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (2-2) - 2

North Royalton Grizzly (7-0) - 4

Braves solid against Shoremen

Having to sit through a rainout on the day prior, the Braves were itching to play today. Avon Lake Shoremen (1-0) was in town as a newly formed team and little was known about them. The Shoremen had disposed of North Olmstead 10-5 back on May 2^nd, but hadn’t played any other CVBA game since. The Braves (1-1 CVBA record) had almost as long of lay-off, after beating Garfield Hts 11-3 on May 3^rd.

With an unknown opponent in town, Coach Aten decided to turn to the reliable Alex Bockmiller as the starting pitcher. Bockmiller took to the challenge and cruised through the first two innings, with help from some sound defense; Bockmiller fielded a ball back to the mound and recorded a strike-out, Cole Macosko put away a towering fly ball to right field, Luke Beehler was on the hustle as he disposed a sharp hit ball between third and short,  Kevin Siloy bagged one from short and Patrick Hopp ended the second inning by securing a pop-up to first. The Braves went to work right out of the gate. Kevin Siloy started things off with a single through the left side of the infield. Nate Miceli (2-for-3 with 4-stolen bases and 2-runs scored) singled to left-center field and Allen Peterkoski loaded the bases by forcing a walk, and Luke Beehler (2-for-3 with 2-RBIs) drove in Siloy & Miceli with a smash to center. The Braves stalled there though, stranding two in he first. The Braves were held in check in the bottom of the second, after a lone 2-out single by Bockmiller. After two innings of play the Braves lead 2-0.

The Shoremen got on the scoreboard in the third, as #12 Hecht doubled over the left fielders head to lead off the inning. A passed ball put Hecht on third with no-outs. Bockmiller struck-out the next batter for the first out, but walked the only batter of the afternoon and after a quick steal of second base, the Shoremen now had runners on second and third with one-out, with the top of the order coming up. Lead-off batter, #6 Watsnet batted a Texas-Leaguer up the middle for what appeared to be a base hit, but the speedy Nate Miceli ran it down from center field and almost forced a double play with the athletic play. The Shoremen then scored on an ugly, flat ball up the middle that just didn’t allow for Siloy to play it successfully. However, Kevin rebounded by disposing of the third out by way of a grounder that he threw the runner out at first to end the threat.

The Braves continued to be over-powered by Avon Lake starter, #38 Clapp. Miceli walked to leadoff the bottom of the 3rd-inning and stole his way around to third, but Clapp fanned the next three Braves batters. After 3-Innings of play the score was Braves-2, Shoremen-1.

Bockmiller toyed with the visiting team in the fourth; striking out the leadoff batter but then giving up consecutive base hits. Alex buckled down and produced two grounders back to the mound to get out of the inning with no-runs. Clapp continued where he left off and fanned the Braves first batter in the bottom of the fourth – then Clapp seemed to ‘hit-the-wall’ as he threw 8 straight balls searching for the plate. The Shoremen made a pitching change with two on and one out. #00 Grorel started his outing by facing David Seagle, who was celebrating his 13^th birthday. Seagle was given the call from Third base coach Doug Siloy to advance the runners by way of bunt. However, Seagles’ bunt popped straight up in the air and was fielded on the fly by the catcher as the Braves base runners scrambled back to the bases. Too bad the bunt attempt didn’t work, because Alex Bockmiller followed with his second base hit of the night loading the bases. The Braves stranded all three runners there though as Grorel battled back and recorded the third out by strikeout to end the threat.

Alex Bockmiller is an iron man and once he gets past the fourth with a lead, he usually sets his sights on finishing the game. The Shoremen put the leadoff batter on when a blooper dropped into short left field after a miscommunication between the Braves shortstop and the left fielder. Alex sandwiched a pair of strike-outs around an infield grounder to second baseman David Seagle, but not before the base runner stole his way around to third and scored the tying run on the ground-out. The tie didn’t hold for long as the Braves sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth, started off by six consecutive base hits. Miceli, Peterkoski, Beehler, Hopp, Cole Macosko, and Patrick Smith all found holes in the defense scoring four runs. The Braves stalled on well hit balls to the outfield that were well played, but the four-run Inning put the Berea team up 6-2 after five innings of play.

The Braves and Bockmiller were on a roll now and things continued to go right even when they went wrong. The Shoremens leadoff batter put the ball in play and reached first on an errant throw from a bare-hand squirmer to the rightside of the infield. However, the base runner rounded first on the over-throw as first basemen, Patrick Hopp, recovered the ball with great hustle and tagged the runner on his way back to the base for the first out. Bockmiller took care of the next two batters by striking them out on just 7-pitches. The Braves put no runners on in the bottom of the sixth and the game moved into the final inning with the Berea Braves still leading 6-2.

The Braves took care of the first out as Luke Beehler fielded a sharp hit grounder at third. Grogel then singled and stole second and Hecht singled straight down the third base line, driving in Grogel. Beehler took care of his third put-out from third base on the evening for the second out and in a true staple of the game, Bockmiller ended the game on his eight strike-out and the Braves improve their record to 2-1 in the CVBA and 3-1 overall.

Alex Bockmiller (2-0 with two complete games) faced the Avon Lake Shoremen line-up three times in working through 30-plate appearances in 7-innings. Giving up 3-runs (1-earned) on 8-strike outs and only 1-walk and 6-hits. Bockmiller threw 85 pitches on the night, 10 in the first, 9-2^nd, 15-3^rd, 14-4^th, 12-5^th, 9-6^th and 16 in the seventh. Alex also went 2-for-3 with the bat for an all around great game!

Sound defense, great pitching and timely bats have become the Braves trademark so far this young season. The Braves (2-1) take on the first place, North Royalton Grizzly (6-0), on Tuesday night in North Royalton in a game that should surely be a good gage to where the Braves stand within the league ranks.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (2-1) - 6

Avon Lake Shoremen (1-1) - 3

FINDING OURSELVES

The Braves looked forward to 6-days off leading up to preparations before BBA Opening Day May 14th, but first they had to take care of one last shred of unfinished business ... they first had to finish their Winter/Spring training on a positive note by beating the visiting Garfield Hts Bulldogs.

Kevin Siloy was given the start on the mound after showing some success against Garfield Hts last season, in three innings of relief work. Siloy made the most of the opportunity and the Braves bats gave him plenty of cushion to do his thing.

Siloy buckled the visiting team to their knees with just the right combination of breaking balls and location. The Braves defense supported Siloy by turning a double play in the first to erase one of only three walks by Kevin on the night. In the second Inning, the Braves gave the Bulldogs four outs as they allowed a dropped third strike to reach base, after the batter struck-out, then proceeded to the dugout before dashing to an unoccupied first base as the Braves were heading-in thinking that the inning was over. The runner made his way to second during the confusion. The interpretation of the ruling was questioned by Coach Aten before play resumed with a runner on second and three-outs .. err ... two-outs. Luke Beehler put away a sharp hit ball from third base to end the inning and prevent the mishap from translating into a run.

The Braves meanwhile came out hammering the Garfield Hts pitching. With one-out in the first inning, Kevin Siloy singled, Nate Miceli doubled, Luke Beehler batted one deep off the center fielders glove, Allen Peterkoski walked, and Patrick Hopp and Patrick Smith singled for the fifth & sixth straight Brave to reach base. David Seagle reached base on a fielders choice and Tevon Rease singled to center batting in Smitty and the trend of the aggressive running of the Braves continued as Seagle was gunned down trying to score the sixth run of the Inning. Beehler who drove in two runs in the first, drove in another in the second Inning as the Braves took advantage of another error by the Bulldogs defense. Through two Innings, the Braves lead 6-0.

Siloy continued to keep Garfield Hts off-balance and out of sync in the third. Patrick Hopp put away the first out by securing a pop-fly in right field. Siloy fanned the second batter before giving up the first GH hit of the game. Nate Miceli erased the threat from the Bulldogs by scooping up a grounder at short and finishing off the inning. The Braves went right back to pounding the Garfield pitching as Patrick Hopp singled through the left side of the infield, Patrick Smith singled to left-center and Tevon Rease crushed a double to deep center. Zach Bauer continued the rally with a single up the middle, and Miceli and Beehler both singled before the Braves cooled off, as the score after three-innings favored the Braves 10-0.

The Garfield Hts Bulldogs started to fight back, as the first two batters of the fourth Inning lead-off with base hits. The Braves cut the second runner down on a fielders choice, giving up GH"s first run of the game to the lead runner. A hard-hit grounder got through the Braves defense on the left-side, putting two Bulldogs on base at the same time for the first time all game. Zach Bauer put away a flyball to center and the Braves turned the second double play of the game as they caught the Bulldogs from getting back to second base in-time - as second baseman, Tevon Rease received the throw in-time to end any real threat before it got going.

The visiting team from Garfield Hts. changed pitchers and the Braves were held in-check through the 4th, 5th & 6th Inning, manufacturing only one more run by a designed delay steal - getting Nate Miceli caught in a rundown between first and second in order to score a cheap run by Siloy from third. The maneuver was a success as Siloy crossed the plate before Miceli was tagged-out in the run-down for the third out. Braves lead after four Innings 11-1. Its was a play that the Braves had discussed in a pregame meeting and although it might not have been exactly the right time to pull it off, it gave the team a look at how it works and experience to build upon.

Garfield Hts. scored a run in each of the 5th and 6th Innings as the Braves loss a bit of concentration and gave up an error or two surrounded by a couple of hits, a hit batter, three strike-outs and a couple of more ground-outs. The Braves put the Bulldogs away for good in the top of the seventh on a strike-out, a walk, a fielders choice and the final out by Allen Peterkoski gunning down a Bulldog trying to steal second.

Siloy finished by hurling 84-pitches through 7 dazzling Innings, facing 30 batters, giving up 3-runs on 6-hits, striking out 7, and walking three (2 by balls & a hit batter). The Braves improved to 1-1 in the CVBA and 2-1 overall.

The Batting highlights were shared by several if not all Braves; Nate Miceli lead all Braves going 3-for-4 with a Double. Tevon Rease went 2-for-3 with a Double and 2-RBI's, Luke Beehler went 2-for-4 and hit the ball hard all night driving in 4-RBI's, Patrick Smith went 2-for-2 with an RBI, and Zach Bauer & Patrick Hopp both went 2-for-4 with an RBI each. The Braves had 14-hits in the game and batted .451, stranding only 4-runners and improving the team batting average to .270 on the season.

The Braves will take the week off as several players will be visiting Washington DC with their Junior High class this weekend. The team resumes in one week for practice before facing their 14 yr old counter-parts from Berea for a second scrimmage on Wednesday May 11th. The Braves next CVBA game will be on May 14th at Home on Berea Baseball Association's OPENING DAY.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (1-1) - 11

GARFIELD HTS (0-1) - 3

SHAKING THE MONKEY OFF

I know it's early, but I already feel compelled to entertain everyone with the conquering of a few ugly milestones that made this contest much more meaningful than just a non-league game.

First of all, the Braves didn't record their first Win last season until June 2nd, after 6 unsuccessful tries. Ironically, the opening paragraph of the write-up from last seasons first-win read something like this; "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 ..." Today it was Deja-vu, as the Braves rode an efficient complete-game by Alex Bockmiller for a 5-1 Win over the visiting Southeast Cougars (Slavic Village, Cleveland) who represent the Great Lakes Baseball League.

The Braves not only got off to an 0-6 start in 2004, but we believe they were close to going 0-8 out of the gate in 2003. This played a major factor in the coaching staff wanting to get into some early tournaments, play some early scrimmages and attempt to prepare the team with a sense of urgency in April. The solid play by the Braves this weekend has shown that the added work has paid off, as the Braves look to be ready to take the season by storm. In fact, this could vary well be the first time that the Braves have Won in the month of May.

You want more useless milestones & stats??? Here's another monkey off this teams back; Last season we didn't record our first Win-on-a-SUNDAY until June 6th, going five unsuccessful tries before coming to play on the Lords day. I haven't bothered to look up our season ending stats on Sunday's last season, but I can assure you that Sundays were are most lethargic day of the week. At one point last season I remember writing that we were 1-5 on Sundays and a combined 3-3 on all the other days in-between. Today's commanding win wipes that mystique away, it also gives the team a boost knowing that they can string two solid performances together in a row.

I'm sure I could make some correlation to us wearing red shirts, vest, or any other combination of superstitions surrounding the game, but let's just savor the first win of 2005 ... a Sunday win. Now onto the recap:

The first inning actually started off a bit shaky for the Braves. The Cougars lead off batter reached base on a throwing error by the Braves short stop. The next batter popped-up to first baseman Patrick Hopp, who made a heads-up play by fielding the ball from an almost stretch position with his right foot still on the bag. Alertly the runner occupying that base came back to the base just prior to Hopp fielding the fly ball, or it would have been a double play. The third batter, #34 Kovar (2-for-3 on the afternoon with a double and the only run scored) ripped a single into left field. The Cougars clean-up hitter #5 Kravec, Hit a towering fly ball into right field that was exceptionally played by David Seagle for the second out. The final out was redeemed as short stop Nate Miceli disposed of a well hit grounder and the Braves got out of the top of the Inning, stranding two runners. The Braves used the ole 'lead-off walk' to their own advantage in this game as Kevin Siloy reached base on balls after taking the count to full. Zach Bauer moved Siloy over with a grounder to the right side, and Miceli batted Siloy home on a dribbler up the third base line, as Miceli beat the throw to first. The Cougars ended the Braves threat there though with a 6-4-3 double-play of an Allen Peterkoski grounder up the middle. The Braves lead after one, 1-0.

Bockmiller made quick work of the visiting team from the Slavic Village of Cleveland, by retiring the side 1-2-3 in both the second and third Inning. The Braves again started off the Inning with disciplined plate appearances from David Seagle and Alex Bockmiller, as both walked. Seagle however was picked off trying to steal second. Between the Cougars left-handed pitcher, #19 Frankiewicz, who had the Braves heading back to their bases with almost every pitch, instead of getting any kind of good jump, and the rifle arm of #34 Kovar, the Braves were gaining a lot of respect for the visiting team. Patrick Hopp (1-for-2 with a walk), reached base by way of error after hustling down the line and taking advantage of the first baseman's juggle of the ball. With Bockmiller on second and Hopp on first, Luke Beehler lined one to right-center scoring Bockmiller. The Braves rally was thwarted there. The Braves reached base on a lead-off walk again in the third, but the Cougars retired them in order thereafter. Through 3-Innings of play, the Braves lead 2-0.

The Cougars closed the gap in the fourth, as Kovar launched a double into right-center. With two-outs, #24 Birk, put the ball in play, forcing the second high throw from the Braves short-stop and the error put the Cougars on the score board (2-1) as Kovar scored on the play. Right fielder, David Seagle, put away the final out with his second catch of the game. The Braves Patrick Hopp, who reached base on all three at-bats, started off a two-out rally with a base hit. Patrick Smith reached base safely as the Cougars first baseman pulled his foot off the bag in reaching for the throw and Luke Beehler put the ball into play scoring Bockmiller as an errant throw sailed over the first baseman's glove. A recovery of the live ball was retrieved and Smith was gunned down trying to take home, but not before the Braves were on top by two again 3-1 through four Innings of play.

Alex Bockmiller was trotted out to the hill again in the fifth. I guess we should add that Bockmiller's success was NOT happily shared by all, as Coach Aten prematurely made his way around to most players prior to the game selling them all that they were going to get opportunities to play here or there and some even to pitch. In fact Alex was only scheduled to go two innings on this cold, windy afternoon - But Alex had thrown only 36-pitches through 4-innings (12 in the first, 7 in the 2nd, 8 in the 3rd, and 9 in the 4th) and the motto aired out by Coach Siloy lived true, which was, "don't fix it if it ain't broke!" And 'broke' it was NOT, as Bockmiller gunned the Cougars down 1-2-3 in the fifth on just 8-additional pitches. The Braves responded by giving Alex all the support he would need as they put up two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Tevon Rease doubled to the left-center field gap to lead off the 5th. Kevin Siloy beat out an infield dribbler up the third base line as he moved Rease to third. Siloy took second on a wild pitch and the Braves had runners on second and third with no-outs. Zach Bauer hit a slow grounder to third and Rease was gunned down at home - then Miceli hit a slow grounder to the left side of the infield and Siloy was gunned down at home. The Braves have been aggressive all Spring and aren't about to let up anytime soon. Coach Aten and Siloy had a long discussion after the game about the multiple put-outs at home on the Braves over the past several games, but it was mutually agreed upon that being aggressive was the way they both wanted to go and have the feeling that the chances will start turning into some major opportunities for the Braves in the long run. Allen Peterkoski covered for the overzealous coaching and drove in both Bauer and Miceli for some needed insurance runs. The Braves now lead 5-1.

Alex Bockmiller was now looking to finish what he had started. He retired the first two batters on a grounder back to the pitcher and a pop-up to short. His first walk of the game came on his 22nd batter that he faced, and was a no factor as Patrick Hopp fielded his position well all game long and put away the final out of the sixth-inning all to himself at first base. Hopp reached base on balls to start off the Braves at-bats, but the Cougars new pitcher (#5 Kravec) fanned the 8th, 9th & 10th batter to take the game into the final inning.

Bockmiller went back to work and the Cougars came out trying to make him earn the complete game. The lead-off batter lined a base hit up the middle. The second batter hit into a fielders choice as Miceli put away the grounder, his fourth of the afternoon to go along with two put-outs by air. With a runner on first and one-out, Bockmiller got a first-pitch liner hit back to him at the mound, and he fielded it on the fly and gunned down the over-committed runner off of first base for a double-play to end an awesome complete game.

Alex Bockmiller pitched 7-Innings, giving up 1-unearned run on 3-hits, 1-walk and 3-strikeouts. He needed only 58-pitches to complete his outing and gave the Braves their first Win of the season ... and of course Alex was a major factor in shaking those monkeys off the Braves back.

Final
BEREA BRAVES - 5

Southeast Cougars - 1

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

The Braves opened their CVBA Regular season on Friday Night against Independence (16-5 last season) in an 8:00 PM showdown under a threat of rain.

The Braves got off to a rough start as their timing, trying to hit the off-speed pitches from Independences' #7 Suvak, kept them off-balance through two Innings. Independence lead-off batter, #13 Boylan, took a gift walk from Berea's starting pitcher, Nate Miceli. Add in a successful bunt, a wild pitch, an error and a balk and the lead-off base-on-balls turned into Indy's first run scored. A slow grounder to short lead to the second run of the first Inning. Independence threatened again in the second by sandwiching  base-on-balls around a strike-out to start off the Inning. However Miceli rebounded and produced a fly-out to short and a ground-out to second to end two Innings of play down 2-0. At this point in the game, the Braves were lucky to only be down by two as they looked flat.

Patrick Smith (1-for-1, with 2-walks) woke up the Braves bats in the third with a liner to left-center for a lead-off double. Nate Miceli batted 'Smitty' in with a double to the same part of the field. With two-outs, Miceli found himself in a run-down between Third and Home before a wild throw over the third basemen sent Miceli home for the tying run. The Braves weren't done there. Tevon Rease started things off again with a two-out single to left-center and stole second base on a gutsy move while the pitcher stood holding the ball on the mound without giving Rease any attention. Luke Beehler doubled, scoring Rease and Zach Bauer singled scoring Beehler as the Braves took a commanding 4-2 lead into the bottom of the third. Nate Miceli just wasn't feeling-it on this cold damp night and a mutual agreement was made between Nate and the coaching staff to make a change. Miceli faced Independents complete line-up (10-batters), giving up 2-runs on 0-hits, 1-strike-out and 3-walks.

Luke Beehler was brought in for an extended closer role, as the rain clouds flirted with shortening the game. Beehler was almost perfect through three innings; facing the complete Independence batting order in that span - striking out three, fielding a pair of dribblers back to the mound, forcing a ground-out to second, a pop-up back to the mound and also to foul territory down the first base line. Beehler was also helped by catcher, Allen Peterkoski, as he gunned down an Independent base runner trying to steal third. Beehler faced 10 batters through the 3rd, 4th and 5th Innings, giving up 1 hit, 1 walk and no runs. The Braves faced Independences' ace down the stretch as well and although the Braves left two runners stranded in the 4th and one in the 5th, they too were held in check as the score remained 4-2 in favor of the Braves through 5-innings of play.

The Braves went down 1-2-3 in the 6th and were just 6-outs away from a great start to the 2005 season. Beehler continued with his dominance by disposing of the first two batters with dribblers in front of the plate. He then had an 0-2 count on #23 Mathews before hitting him with a high fastball on the wrist. A slow roller drawing first basemen Zach Bauer in to field it, was mishandled on the toss slightly behind Beehler as he covered the open bag - the throw home after recovering the errant throw was off target and Indy cut the score to 4-3. A slow grounder to short, was beat-out as runners were safe on the corners once the dust settled. Beehler was startled by the baiting-steal  from first to second and Balked, sending home the tying run. After loading the bases with a walk and a second hit batter, the Braves finally squeezed the third out on a pop-up in foul territory to Bauer.

With the score tied 4-4, the two teams headed into the final Inning. Patrick Smith was hit by a pitch after fouling several pitches off and Kirk Olesick put the ball in play, forcing a mishandled grounder to short. Miceli reached base safely on a fielders choice and after stealing second the Braves now hand runners on second and third with one out. The Braves attempted a squeeze bunt trying to score Smith, but Kevin Siloy's well executed bunt was well played by Independence and Smith was gunned down at the plate for the second out. The Braves threat ended there as a strike-out left two stranded.

Alex Bockmiller took the hill for the Braves in the bottom of the seventh. Luke Beehler faced 18 batters through four innings, giving up 2-runs on 1-hit, striking out 3, walking-4. Beehler used only 35-pitches in his first three innings of work, but needed 33-pitches alone to get out of his fourth. Bockmiller got the lead-off batter to ground-out to short, walked the second and forced the next batter to ground back to the Pitcher. With a runner on second and two-outs, #63 Tomko lined a base hit into short right field, and the runner was sent from second to home. Tevon Rease fielded the ball and delivered it from short right to home in plenty of time, but contact between catcher Allen Peterkoski and the runner jarred the ball loose from Peterkoski's glove and the Winning run was in. The Braves were stunned as a game that they had in their grasps, slipped away.

Independence scored 2 runs in the second, 2 in the 6th and the final run in the bottom of the seventh. The Braves scored all four of their runs in the 3rd - the rest of the game was a Pitching dual.

The Braves will take a day off before getting back to work with a non-league game against the Southeast Cougars of the Great Lakes Baseball League. The loss was a tough one to swallow, but the Braves realized that they are ready for the season, yet also have areas to work on in order to get to where they want to be.

Final
BEREA BRAVES (0-1) - 4

INDEPENDENCE (1-0) - 5

GAME #3 - Braves vs Triway Express [Great Lakes Early Bird Tournament]

The Braves, dressed in their new Navy Blue short-sleeve jersey's, debuted four new pitchers in their first night game of the season. The Braves finished up the Great Lakes Early Bird Tournament by getting work for their less experienced pitching staff and resting a few veteran players in the process.

Andre Reinhart, a new acquisition to the 2005 team, received the start on the mound and handled the task very well through two-Innings of play. Reinhart, scheduled for one-Inning in order for the coaching staff to get a good look at several prospects, was rewarded a second Inning as Coach Aten's staff wanted to see more. Andre faced nine batters, giving up 3-runs on 2-hits, with 1-walk and 1-Strike-out. The tall 6'-1" rookie kept his pitches down and forced 5-ground outs into a mixed and matched defensive line-up behind him. Luke Beehler (third base) bagged two grounders and disposed of the runners and Tevon Rease, getting his first start at Short-stop, also recorded two put-outs, one on a dynamic ball that tipped off the top of Reinhart's glove and was snatched up down the middle and gunned to first in plenty of time. David Seagle also got in on the action as he fielded what was hit to him to help Andre through his first outing of the season. Reinhart gave up a single to lead-off batter Houward, and was taken to yard by #3 batter Polen for the games only Home Run, but settled in nicely after that and disposed of 5 of the next 6 batters that he faced. The Braves added a run in the first as leadoff batter, Nate Miceli reached base by way of error and was batted in by Tevon Rease, who recorded his team leading 5th RBI of the tournament. Miceli set the stage by stealing his way around into scoring position with his team leading 5th & 6th stolen base of the young season as well. Miceli, the 2004 leader in the stolen base department,  has set his goals to swipe 50-bases this season. With 6 stolen bases in 3-games, Miceli is well on his way to reaching the milestone. Cole Macosko singled for the Braves in the bottom of the second, but was left stranded on second-base after stealing his way there.

Patrick Hopp came in for relief in the 3rd Inning and picked up where Reinhart left off. The 6' rifle arm Hopp, is in his second year with the team but was making his first debut on the mound as well. Both Hopp & Reinhart learned one valuable lesson about putting runners on by way of walks, that they almost always come back to haunt you. After Walking the first batter, Patrick settled in nicely as the Lead-off batter, #7 Houward tested Beehler once again and the Braves thirdbasemen disposed on the batter for the first out. Hopp got the #2 batter to pop-up to the firstbasemen  (Reinhart) and fanned the #3 batter for the third-out, but not before the batter who was put on by way of walk, advanced to third on a misplayed pick-off throw to first that eventually ended up halfway out to right field allowing the runner to make his way to third and scored on the infield grounder to Beehler. The Braves were put-down 1-2-3 as the third game in 26-hours and second of the day started to take it's toll on their stamina.

Such as the pitching staff did with Reinhart in the second inning, they trotted Patrick Hopp back out to the mound in the fourth for an unscheduled second-inning of work. Hopp gave-up a double to right-center by clean-up hitter, #13 Drake. Perhaps the inexperienced Hopp began to try to do too much and got a bit caught-up in the moment, as first he balked, sending Drake a free pass to third, then served up a single to #5 batter scoring Triways fourth run of the game. Hopp rebounded, getting the next batter to fly-out to left field, but started to unwind and lost a bit of focus, worrying a bit too much about the runners on base, and over-throwing several pitches. Wanting the outing to finish up on a positive note and get back on track to look at several other prospects, Coach Aten made the change to go with another first year Brave making his debut, lefthander, Patrick Smith. Hopp finished by facing 8-batters through 1-1/3 Innings, accounting for 4-runs on 2-hits, with 2-walks and a strikeout. Patrick proved that he has the arm to throw with velocity and be able to dial it in to throw strikes. More experience will gain him the "Mound Presence" that he will need to feel more comfortable with all the elements surrounding the key position. Patrick Smith was brought in to make his debut in the toughest of circumstances, with one-out, runners on second and third and a called "ball" on the first batter. The young hurler never found a rhythm, walking two straight, and his outing will be wiped from the coaching staff's memory, where he could possibly receive his first official test with a start Wednesday evening as the 13U Braves face their 14U counterparts in a scrimmage at Dora Lee Payne Field. Meanwhile, Alex Bockmiller was brought in as the Braves  third pitcher on the Inning and fourth of the game. Bockmiller, who made his debut in a start Friday Night, made quick work of the first batter, striking him out. Lead-off Batter, (#7 Houward 3-for-4 on the evening) singled  to left. Alex walked the next batter on four straight pitches before getting #24 Polen to fly-out to Hopp in deep Right field to end the marathon Inning as Triway Express batted through the line-up in the Inning. The Braves scored one-run in the bottom of the fourth as Kevin Siloy and Allen Peterkoski walked and stole their way into scoring position and Andre Reinhart batted in Siloy for the Braves second run. After four innings of play Triway lead 9-2.

Bockmiller was left in to get a bit more work. Clean-up hitter, Drake, doubled for the second consecutive at-bat to start off the inning. Alex forced the next batter to pop-up to short and the third batter to pop-up to shallow right - although the un-gelled Berea squad miss-communicated the Texas-leaguer as it dropped between four defenders. Bockmiller gave up a single to left before retiring 5th batter of the Inning on a called-third strike. The would-have-been fourth out of the inning dribbled through the legs of the third basemen and now unfocused, fatigued Braves defense. Bockmiller gained form and took the last out himself on three straight strikes. David Seagle shook off some personal rust from his bat, in the bottom of the inning, by lining the first pitch he saw down the thirdbase line and legged a double for his first hit of the season. Kirk Olesick and Patrick Hopp both reached base on balls and Kevin Siloy batted in Seagle and the final Berea run on a fielders choice.

Bockmiller tried to carry the Braves out of the tiring contest by taking to the hill once more, but it was obvious early that it was too early to dig deep and over-extend. The Braves staff quickly began to prepare, third year player Zach Bauer, to make his first appearance. Bauer had never pitched in a regular season game, although did throw a few pitches in Cooperstown last season during the Dreams Park Tournament in August. Bauer faced four batters giving up 1-hit and 1-walk, forcing two ground outs and as with Patrick Smith, will also receive more work in the coming days as the Braves search to strengthen their bullpen.

The Braves were handed their fate by way of the 10-run rule for the second time in their three game tournament, however the coaching staff were quick to remind all that they were using the early outing to bolster the depth of the team and not necessarily put a lot of emphasis on the score. In that regard, the tournament was a huge success and will be something to build on in the weeks to come.

Final
BEREA BRAVES - 3

Triway Express (Wooster) - 15

The Berea Braves rebounded from a stumble out of the gate the night prior, to put up one heck of a competitive battle with the Seacrist Blue Thunder at 8:00am on a brisk Saturday morning.

The Berea 13U squad struck first, as Zach Bauer reached base after putting the ball in play and mishandled by the Blue Thunders firstbasemen. Kirk Olesick reached base on balls and Tevon Rease moved Bauer to third and beat-out the tailend of a shortstop-second-to-first potential double play. Rease stole second on the next pitch, setting the table for clean-up hitter, Luke Beehler, whom hit a towering Sacrifice fly to Center field, scoring Bauer. The Blue Thunder battled back against the Braves starter, Nate Miceli. Seacrist lead-off batter, Lawrence, single to left-center and #2-hitter, Crouser, reached base by way of a walk. Crouser was forced out at second on #3-batter, Schuelte's grounder to shortstop, Kevin Siloy .. although the hit scored Lawrence tying the score at 1-1, with one-out. The Braves defense stiffened as catcher Allen Peterkoski pounced on a passed-ball and flipped it to a covering Miceli and the Braves thwarted an attempted steal home by Schuetle, for the second out. The Additional-Hitter and clean-up hitter #21 Seacrist singled to left-center. Miceli hit the next batter with a pitch, putting runners on first and second, before Striking out #12 Primbas on four straight pitches to end the Inning. Score: Braves-1 Blue Thunder-1

The Braves orchestrated a run in the second when Alex Bockmiller started a one-out rally by walking, then getting a good jump and being the beneficiary of a Blue Thunder mistake as Allen Peterkoski's hit up the middle was played on as another potential double-play, but the Seacrist second basemen failed to touch second base during the exchange and when the dust settled, Bockmiller and Peterkoski were standing on second and first. With two outs and the runners in the same position, Nate Miceli drove a shot to center field and after having it bobbled and alert Bockmiller was coaxed home by third base coach, Doug Siloy - giving the Braves the lead 2-1. Miceli made quick work in the bottom of the second, throwing only nine pitches and recording a ground-out back to the mound, a strike-out and a ground out to short.

The Braves were held scoreless in the third on a lone liner by Luke Beehler into left-center, sandwiched between a pair of ground-outs and a fly-out to left. Miceli kept on-top of the Home team in similar fashion, tossing only 11-pitches in the process including a walk. However between the cool morning early April air and it being Miceli's first outing of this young spring, it was a collective decision to end Nates outing at 47-pitches after discussing a soreness in his elbow. Miceli faced 13-batters through 3-Innings, giving up one-run on 2-hits, with 3-walks and 2-strike-outs.

The Braves were held in check and scoreless in the fourth by starter, Skriba. Luke Beehler took to the mound in relief for the Braves. Beehler got off to a good start by fanning the 4th and 5th hitter for the Thunder, but the third batter he faced, Primbas, lined a shot into right-center and made the Braves pay for a lackadaisical effort in getting to the ball and getting it in, as Primbas aggressively turned the hit into a double. The next batter, Bliss, sent a lazy slice into right field, scoring Primbas for the tying run. Beehler took care of the third out by recording his third strike-out of the Inning.

The Braves opened the game up in the fifth-inning as Nate Miceli lined a shot to center and stole his way around to third. Olesick walked and Tevon Rease cleared the bases with a smash to deep left field for a stand-up triple. Luke Beehler wouldn't be out-done as he crushed a shot deep into the left-center field gap, scoring Rease and legging a Triple of his own. Kevin Siloy attempted a squeeze bunt and after some confusion by the encroaching thirdbasemen, the pitcher and the catcher - when it was all said in done the Home plate umpire declared that the popped-up bunt that eventually rolled foul down the third base line was first touched by the catcher, making it a fair ball. Siloy was safely at first by then, but Beehler and thirdbase coach Siloy elected not to squeeze the run in. With one-out and Siloy now on second after stealing the bag, the Braves left them stranded after watching consecutive batters go down on called strikes. The Braves lead 5-2 after 4-1/2 Innings. The Blue Thunder came crashing back - as #23, Streets, started things off with a Double to deep center. A grounder back to the mound by #11 Shafer, was mishandled between the exchange from Beehler to firstbasemen (Miceli), lead to an error and scored Steets. Braves Catcher, Allen Peterkoski got back the out by gunning down Shafer attempting to steal second. With one-out the Blue Thunder hammered out four base hits in the following five plate appearances, scoring four runs and taking the lead 6-5.

The Braves got a lead-off walk by Peterkoski and a base-hit by Cole Macosko to start off the 6th Inning, but Miceli, Bauer and Reinhart were retired within the infield to deflate any rally. Beehler retired the side in 8-pitches with two more strike-outs and a ground-out as we moved into the final Inning of a well played game by both teams.

The Braves went down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh on a called-strike out, a pop-up to third base and a pop-up to short center field. The Braves certainly didn't go away losers as they accomplished many things that they had talked about improving on after the stumble out of the gate the night before. The players and coaches packed up and went home - the coaches and parents to rest, the players to gather at each others homes to do what resilient kids do - as the Braves had 10-hours before they had to suit up against Tri-way Express at 8:00pm the same evening for their final game of the tournament.

Final
BEREA BRAVES - 5

Seacrist Blue Thunder (Painesville) - 6

The Braves shook off the rust in the opening round of the Great Lakes Early Bird Tournament at Softball World. The PB Baseball team won by way of the 5-inning run rule, but the Braves had their moments and unearthed many aspects to build on, learn from and measured their growth ... which was exactly the plan going into this tournament.

Highlights for the Braves included an unbelievable catch in the deep left-center field gap by Nate Miceli. A nice display of off-speed pitches and breaking balls by Kevin Siloy in relief of starter Alex Bockmiller. A smash triple to deep center by Luke Beehler and a liner to deep left by Tevon Rease, who turned the launch into an inside the park Home Run.

The Braves made several costly errors, that was of no immediate alarm to the coaching staff - having only had one out-door practice (two days ago) this season. For several Braves, this was their first time to step foot on a playing field this year. The Braves bats were untimely at times, having stranded runners on second & third in the 1st, 2nd and 4th Inning, in addition to providing 6-runs on 6-hits through five Innings of play. Cole Macosko singled in the first, Siloy singled in the third, followed by a single by Miceli, the triple by Beehler and a single by Peterkoski. Rease added the homer in the 5th. Six different Braves scored; Siloy, Miceli, Beehler, Andre Reinhart, Kirk Olesick and Rease. Beehler and Rease each batting in a pair of runs, with Peterkoski and Miceli each adding an RBI of their own.

The Braves headed home to grab some rest before having to be at the ballpark by 7:15am for an 8:00pm game the next morning.

Final
BEREA BRAVES - 6

PB Baseball - 21