Hereford Seizes Lead Late To Win and Advance

The Hereford Bulls hosted the Eastern Tech Mavericks Saturday morning in the MPSSAA 2A North Section I Semifinal. Defensive was on display in this one as both pitchers dominated the opposing lineups making for a tight ballgame with quite a bit of tension.

Michael Birchfield started on the bump for the Mavericks and pitched extremely well showing good feel and command of his pitches. Birchfield let his defense make the plays behind him and refused to allow any free passes. After a scoreless first, Hereford would threaten with back-to-back singles to start the second. However, Birchfield bared down and continued to attack the zone finding a way to retire the next three hitters and wiggle out of the jam.

Bulls starting pitcher, Aaron Winsker had to grind out of a few tough situations himself but remained poised and in control the entire way. In the second inning, Winsker retired the Mavericks in order by striking out the side but an inning later he found himself in trouble when Connor Ignatz singled to center to start things off. After a stolen base and a passed ball, Ignatz found himself just ninety feet away from home and subsequently scored the first run of the game on a perfectly executed bunt by Michael Krack.

With the Mavericks holding the 1-0 lead, Birchfield locked in after the second and went through a dominant stretch where he retired twelve straight hitters up until the sixth inning. During that time, Eastern Tech’s offense consistently got runners into scoring position but failed to capitalize and add insurance runs each time.

In the sixth, the Mavericks were still clinging to a 1-0 lead when Hereford’s Tyler Herkalo singled to center to lead off the inning. After a fielder’s choice and single by Justin Bishop, Hereford had runners on the corners with one out. Herkalo would eventually score on an error to tie the game and with two outs and the bases loaded, the Bulls took the lead on a two-RBI opposite field single off the bat of Ryan Elsenroad.

Pitching now with the first lead of the afternoon and just three out away from clinching a spot in the next round, Winsker retired the first two batters before he was pulled due to pitch count. Winsker finished with seven strikeouts and allowed just the one run on three hits. Reliever Hunter Patrick was called on the come in and close it out for the Bulls, which he did. After allowing a baserunner to reach, Patrick struck out the next hitter to seal the 3-1 win.

Hereford will next play on Tuesday in the 2A North Section I Final against the winner of Edmondson-Westside and New Town.