By Rob McNerney
PBR Ohio Northeast Scout

BAINBRIDGE, OH – In a game with Chagrin Valley Conference title implications on the line No.48 Aurora traveled to Bainbridge to take on No.41 Kenston.  The Greenmen would prevail 3-1 over the Bombers. 

On a beautiful afternoon tremendous defense was on display by both teams.  The game featured double plays, diving catches, and runners being thrown out at several bases.  Both teams refused to let up and the game wound up going eight innings. 

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when the host Bombers took the lead 1-0.  2014 OF Mike Rosinski started the inning off with a single; and would later steal second base.  With one out, 2015 SS Adam Bush (pictured right) singled to left field scoring Rosinski.

Despite the one run advantage Kenston would find it very difficult to score again off of Aurora’s defense and their starting pitcher A.J. Kimes. 

Kimes, a 2016 LHP, went the distance against the Bombers earning his fourth win of the season.  He threw eight innings and allowed one run, four hits, walked one and struck out three.  After the third inning, he allowed just one runner to reach first base, and retired the Bombers in order four times.  Kimes induced nine fly ball outs and nine ground ball outs.

The Aurora defense was back at again this evening.  This time it was the middle infield combination of junior shortstop Matty Carpenter and junior second baseman Andy Weber.  The pairing continues to show incredible chemistry as they turned two more double plays.

Kenston, not to be outdone, would display quality pitching and defense of their own. 

The Bomber’s starting pitcher Chad Lindner matched Aurora and A.J. Kimes punch for punch for the first five innings.  Lindner, a 2016 RHP, drew a no decision throwing five innings and allowing zero runs, one hit and walking three.  Lindner (pictured left) was assisted by stellar play by shortstop Adam Bush.  Bush, showing tremendous range, accounted for eight infield assists on the night.  The Kenston outfield was outstanding as Rosinksi and 2014 CF Peter Rozman accounted for seven putouts including several very nice diving catches.

The Aurora offense would finally get things going in the sixth inning.  Carpenter knocked Lindner out of the game drawing a leadoff walk.  Then, Andy Weber (pictured below) laced a single to right field off of relief pitcher Tyler Rendlesham.  Carpenter attempted to go first to third on the hit but the Kenston defense would step up again as 2014 OF Anderson Ellis made a perfect throw to the bag nailing Carpenter at third.  Aurora would not give up and with one out Nick Ely knocked a single up the middle scoring Weber who had reached second base on the throw by Ellis. 

The game would remain deadlocked into the top of the eighth inning when the Aurora offense was again sparked by their junior second baseman.  Weber, a University of Virginia commit and the No.26 player in the 2015 class, smoked a double to left center scoring Carpenter who had reached base via an error.  The Greenmen offense would push their lead to two thanks to an RBI groundout by 2014 DH Griff Peterson.

Kimes would retire the Bombers in order in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure the win.

Rendlesham would suffer his first loss on the year.  He threw three innings of relief allowing three runs, four hits, walking none and striking out one. 

With the win, Aurora pushed their winning streak to six games and improved to 15-7 on the season.  They look to continue their winning ways on Friday April 25^th as they travel to Olmsted Falls to take on the Bulldogs on Thursday May 8^th. 

With the loss, Kenston falls to 10-6 on the year.  They will need to regroup quickly as play another important Chagrin Valley Conference game on Thursday May 8^th against Chagrin Falls. 

To view scouting notes from this game, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog.  The blog gets updated throughout the week.

To discuss this game, please visit our partner JJHuddle.