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Bears Pass Test

After Trailing Early, Frewsburg Scores Final 11 Runs On Way To Victory

Frewsburg’s Harrison Eckert fields a groundball at first base during Tuesday’s CCAA Division 2 game against Clymer/Sherman/Panama in Clymer. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

CLYMER — Frewsburg was rarely tested two weeks ago in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, or last week in Brocton en route to a 5-0 record to start its season.

On Tuesday, the Bears found themselves in a fight. In the end, they kept their unblemished record intact.

Senior Harrison Eckert went 3 for 5 with a double, junior Chase Haglund reached base four times and junior Maddox Sheesley drove in four runs as the Bears beat Clymer/Sherman/Panama 13-3 in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 action at Clymer High School.

The Wolfpack (0-2, 0-1) actually led 3-2 after two innings, but Frewsburg (6-0, 2-0) scored the final 11 runs of the game, including a seven-run top of the seventh, to put it away.

“This kind of showed us what we need to do to become a better ball team,” Frewsburg head coach Eric Haglund said postgame.

Frewsburg’s Garrett Brink delivers to the plate during Tuesday’s CCAA Division 2 game against Clymer/Sherman/Panama in Clymer. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

The Bears took the lead for good with a two-run top of the third. Junior Mason Eckman walked to open the frame and went to second on an errant pickoff throw. After an out, junior Cole Mazzurco reached on an infield single. Senior Vinny Sanfilippo then laid down a sacrifice bunt to plate Eckman and Mazzurco also scored on the play when the Wolfpack threw the ball away.

“We try to play the game of baseball,” Coach Haglund said. “Use everything you can, the long ball and the short ball.”

Staked to his third lead of the game, Frewsburg starting pitcher Garrett Brink didn’t let it get away, throwing shutout ball over his final four innings on the mound.

“He gave up a couple and battled back,” Coach Haglund said. “I like to see somebody who’s in there giving the best that they can, battle the best they can.”

All told, the senior right-hander allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out five. Just one of the three runs he allowed was earned.

The Bears tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Junior Aidan Gruber walked to start the frame and Haglund doubled to left-center field with one out. After Clymer/Sherman/Panama cut down a runner at the plate for the second out, Brink took off from first base on a delayed steal and Haglund raced home from third before the Wolfpack could make a play.

“When you get Chase and Garrett on the bases at the same time, it’s a lethal combination,” Coach Haglund said. “They understand the game of baseball very well. They can be very tricky.”

Sheesley followed with an RBI single to right field to make it 6-3.

Frewsburg added seven insurance runs in the seventh inning. Gruber walked, senior courtesy runner Blake Weaver stole second, Haglund singled and Brink walked to load the bases. Sheesley followed with a two-run single to left field and Eckman walked before Eckert hit a two-run double to the fence in right field.

“Harry is a very big man. He hits the ball well. He’s been working really hard,” Coach Haglund said. “That’s two games in a row where he’s hit some long balls.”

After another walk, Sanfilippo hit an RBI single and Gruber walked with the bases loaded before sophomore Trent Lewis was hit by a pitch to force in the final run of the game.

“We started out well. We had too many walks to start the game out and we gave them too many opportunities,” Clymer/Sherman/Panama head coach Jake Marino said. “Good teams are going to take advantage of that.”

In all, Clymer/Sherman/Panama pitchers walked 12 and allowed 11 hits while striking out 11.

“Our fielding kind of hurt our pitchers a little bit. Our first two pitched really good,” Marino said of junior Bryce Hinsdale and senior Kaden Beckerink. “They were pretty efficient, they threw a lot of balls in the zone, but our defense didn’t really help them out.”

Frewsburg is scheduled to continue league play at home Thursday against Cassadaga Valley, while the Wolfpack is slated to visit Brocton that same day.

“I don’t think it’s time to panic,” Marino said. “We played two really good teams. We’ll come around.”

NOTES: Haglund got the final three outs on the mound for Frewsburg, striking out two. … Junior Tate Catanese went 3 for 3 and added a sacrifice fly for Clymer/Sherman/Panama.

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