The junior right-hander continued that dominance Wednesday as Frewsburg opened its Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 schedule.

Haglund hurled a two-hitter with 15 strikeouts and one walk as the Bears began league play with a 6-0 shutout of Brocton.

“They are so important. We were out there and it was 70 degrees while it was snowing and raining here,” Frewsburg head coach Eric Haglund said of his team’s games down south. “We get an opportunity to play baseball, learn different parts of the game, compete and have fun.”

Haglund threw 63 of his 90 pitches for strikes, retiring 10 straight batters at one point after a two-out walk to Bulldogs junior Nathan Laurito in the bottom of the first inning.

Frewsburg second baseman Maddox Sheesley throws to first base for an out during Wednesday’s CCAA Division 2 baseball game in Brocton. At the time, Sheesley’s play preserved a no-hitter. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

“Typically I don’t let a kid finish a game at this point, but since we went to Myrtle Beach and had tons of opportunities to be on the mound and get tons of innings,” Coach Haglund said, “he was comfortable and built his arm up enough to finish the game.”

By the time Brocton senior Austin McIntyre broke up Haglund’s no-hit bid leading off the fifth inning, the Bears had scored all six of their runs.

Frewsburg junior Mason Eckman led off the top of the second inning by reaching on an error, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch all with junior Aidan Gruber at the plate. Gruber then walked and stole second with one out before senior Harrison Eckert walked. Senior Vincent Sanfilippo moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt ahead of sophomore Trent Lewis’ RBI infield single that plated the Bears’ third run on a throwing error.

“A few plays here and there,” Brocton head coach Rob Fetterick said, “and I think this game would’ve been a little bit different.”

Frewsburg added its fourth run in the third inning when Eckman doubled off the base of the left-field fence with two outs and scored on Gruber’s RBI single.

The Bears’ Harrison Eckert reacts at third base after hitting a triple. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

“He’s a phenomenal No. 4 hitter,” Coach Haglund said of Eckman. “He’s in the box and ready every single time.”

The Bears scored their final two runs in the fourth with the benefit of another Brocton error. Eckert led off with a triple to the right-center field gap and scored on an RBI single by Sanfilippo.

“Harry has been working really hard in the offseason and in our open gyms,” Coach Haglund said. “He’s a big, strong kid and he can make things happen.”

An error and a balk moved Sanfilippo to third base before Haglund’s RBI single made it 6-0.

Senior Grant Gustafson struck out four and walked four in five innings for the Bulldogs, allowing just three earned runs. Senior Aiden Gatto threw the final two shutout innings with three strikeouts.

“That’s Grant in a nutshell. Something we need to work on this year is our starts. As the game goes on, he gets stronger,” Fetterick said. “Something we need to work on in his warmup, getting him ready to go and having him feel the same way he does in the fourth and fifth innings as he does in the first inning.”

In the end, one run would’ve been enough for Haglund, who dominated the Bulldogs working primarily off his fastball.

Junior Eric Pryll followed McIntyre with a single to open the bottom of the fifth inning, but a fielder’s choice, a strikeout and a groundout left two Brocton runners stranded.

“Coming into it, we played pretty much this exact team last year and last year they were a sound ballclub. Eric does a great job. These guys don’t make mistakes,” Fetterick said. ” … It’s nice to get this because that gives my team an understanding of where we have to get, what we have to work on.”

In the bottom of the sixth, Gatto reached on an error and stole second before a groundout to first base sent him to third. He was stranded after a strikeout and a flyout to center field.

Haglund then completed his shutout with his final two strikeouts and another groundout in the seventh.

“Nobody can simulate Chase Haglund. … I can get a machine going, but these are things we need to work on,” Fetterick said. “We haven’t seen enough live pitching. This is good to see a kid who has good movement, good stuff opening day.”

NOTES: Six players each had a hit for Frewsburg, which stole nine bases. Junior Daniel Peterson came off the bench to swipe three bags. … The Bears return to action Saturday at home against Westfield. … Brocton will host Chautauqua Lake on Saturday.