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By Jerry Shank
Maryland / Virginia Scouting Director

The Western Branch Bruins got a combined no-hitter from Jay Patto and Antonio Velasquez and used two five-run innings to defeat Lakeland HS 10-0 in five innings in the teams opener for the season.

Patto (King University) faced 17 hitters in his four-inning outing, attacking the strike zone and using a two pitch mix that kept the Lakeland hitters off balance for the day. Patto struck out seven on the day with one walk. Patto had a scare in the fourth inning from Lakelands Andrew Kelley who laced a linedrive to center field, but Bruins OF Rufus Hurdle (Old Dominion) had a beat on the ball off the bat to make an impressive play running it down.

After a quiet first inning by both squads, the Bruins (1-0) would score five runs in the top of the second, all with two outs. The inning was kept alive by an Ethan Alexander single to left field. The bruins would then score five runs off of four hits and one walk, highlighted by Connor Rhem’s 2-RBI single to center.

Again both teams were kept of the scoreboard until the top of the fifth inning when the Bruins would strike again.

Trent Jones (Garnder-Webb) led the inning off with a deep drive down the left field line getting to second on a double. Connor Butler would then reach on fly ball misplayed by Lakeland. Alexander then dropped down a sac bunt to move Butler to second with one out. Connor Epley hit into a fielders choice where no outs were made from an errant throw, scoring Jones. Four more runs would come across from the Bruins after RBI’s from Patto and Tucker Shaver. Velasquez would then pitch a perfect final frame to complete the victory.

Western Branch had 14 hits on the day with Shaver leading the way going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Patto helped his own cause by going 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of doubles and two RBI while Rhem went 2-for-3 with two RBI.   

For scouting information and player analysis from this game, tune in to the Virginia/DC Scout Blog later today.

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