BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Trenton Klein scored the winning run on a passed ball as the Union County High School baseball team defeated visiting Bradford 3-2 in nine innings on April 23.
Klein was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Kacen Thomassen then walked. After both runners stole a base, Klein took advantage of the opportunity to score without his team needing to put the ball in play.
Union starting pitcher Clayton Poppell threw 6.2 innings, allowing five hits and two walks, while striking out three.
Preston Bonsall finished it off for the Tigers (12-12), giving up no hits and no walks, while striking out five.
Bradford (9-12) scored the game’s first run when Jeffrey Brugh hit a two-out double and scored on an error in the third inning.
The Tornadoes took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Mattox Burgin and Ryder Thompson both singled before Burgin scored on Patrick Pendarvis’ two-out single.
Devin Diggs tied the score in the fifth, hitting a first-pitch home run to left that also scored Erick Lasseter, who reached on a single.
The homer was just one of two hits given up by Bradford starting pitcher Cason Pilcher, who walked two and struck out 12 in eight innings.
Union concludes the regular season with a home game against Baker County on Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m.
Bradford hosts Baldwin the same night at 7 p.m. to end its regular season.
