ALBION –– Tyler Gigliotti’s line drive to right field scored Danny Manion as the Bradford Legion baseball team stayed alive in the Region 8 tournament with a 9-8 walk-off win over Wesleyville Tuesday in Albion.
Down 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth, Bryce Skaggs (double) walked before Manion (two hits, RBI) was given an intentional pass to first base. Garren Black singled in Skaggs to tie the game at 8-all before Gigliotti roped a liner that was mishandled by the Wesleyville right fielder.
The win moves Bradford (20-3) to today’s semifinal against Albion at 1 p.m. The winner plays Wesleyville at 4 p.m. The pressure of elimination games isn’t unfounded on Bradford, which has experience in regional games like these.
We’ve been here before,” Bradford head coach Brian Fox. “It’s not new waters.”
Danny Manion, on one day’s rest after throwing 45 pitches Sunday, threw more than 100 pitches and combined in the winning mound effort with Gigliotti. The duo struck out five, scattered 10 hits and walked five.
“Hats off for Danny for going over 100 pitches after he pitched Sunday,” Fox said. “He went beyond the call of duty.”
With games extended to nine innings and with rest required for pitchers, pitching is at a premium when playing multiple games over a short period of time.
“They’re stepping up and going deep in the game for us,” Fox said about his pitchers, a day after Black threw a complete game. “It was an offensive battle for the most part.”
Derek Sunafrank was 2-for-3 and Gage Babcock had an RBI single for Bradford.
