by ** NOTE FROM CEO & FOUNDER OF KOS VINCE MCKEE**
High school football season is right around the corner, and once again, Avon Lake will be one of our featured schools covered on a weekly basis. We have over 7 million people a year who click on the website to read and watch our content. We are in need of sponsorship from Avon Lake companies in order to continue for that coverage of Avon Lake Athletics to be free for readers and viewers. If not, our Avon Lake coverage will now be behind paywalls moving forward. Avon currently has eight companies that sponsor us while once again, for a sixth straight season we still seek our first from Avon Lake. Please contact Vince McKee at Vince.McKee@keeonsports.com if you know any small companies that could use our advertising help. We keep it extremely affordable to advertise. For six years we have kept the coverage of every single Avon Lake football game free, please help us continue that for you. Thank you.
Brady Eckert darted home on a passed ball in the eighth inning to give the Strongsville Mustangs a 2-1 victory over the Avon Lake Shoremen in Thursday’s sectional championship. Junior starting pitcher Jude Fisher turned in a one-hit performance with nine strikeouts to lead the Mustangs.
In the bottom of the first, Murphy Kelley drew a one-out walk for the Mustangs’ first base runner of the game. After a single from Brady Eckert and a walk to Keegan Cubbison loaded the bases, Faris Thabata drew a walk of his own, scoring Eckert and putting Strongsville up 1-0.
In the top of the third, Owen Fach reached on a throwing error by the catcher with one out. Walks to Nate Haven and Hayden Blosser loaded the bases for the Shoremen, but Fishe got a ground ball force out at third to end the threat. In the home half, Kelley led off with a single to center field. Eckert then drew a walk, but Avon Lake starting pitcher Hayden Blossser retired the next three hitters, keeping the score 1-0 Strongsville after three.
Blosser drew a one-out walk to get things going in the sixth for the Shoremen. With two outs, a ground ball to the shortstop ended up being an overthrow at first, allowing Blosser to score and evening things up at 1-1.
Pinch hitter Cole Roberts drew a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh. With one out, Kevin Baker hit a fly ball to right field for the second out. It appeared that Roberts tagged up and reached third, but the umpire determined he left early, and Roberts was doubled up at second, ending the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Brett Kappel hit a lead-off single to center. Jude Fisher attempted to lay down a bunt and popped it in the air behind the plate. Catcher Nate Haven made a slick catch and fired it down to first, turning a double play. After seven innings of baseball, the Shoremen and Mustangs were tied 1-1.
Avon Lake got their first hit of the game in the eighth as Haven hit a single to center to lead things off. With two on and two out, Cole Cartwright hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning for the Shoremen.
Eckert drew a lead-off walk for the Mustangs in the home half of the eighth. Two-passed balls advanced him all the way to third base. With Cubbison at the plate, ball four got away from the catcher. Eckert came storming home from third, crossing the plate and giving Strongsville a 2-1 victory.
Up Next
With the thrilling victory, Strongsville advances to the district semifinals against the Highland Hornets on Tuesday afternoon. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Strongsville High School.
Top Performers
Avon Lake Shoremen
Hayden Blosser: 7 IP 5 H 4 BB 7 K 1 ER 0-2 2 BB SB R
Nate Haven: 1-3 2 SB
Strongsville Mustangs
Jude Fisher: 8 IP 1 H 5 BB 9 K
Brady Eckert: 1-2 2 BB R
Murphy Kelley: 1-3 BB R
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | R | H | E | |
| Avon Lake | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Strongsville | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
