Boyd Buchanan Captures 5A Regular Season

[skydogg25]

Willingham's Two-Hitter Leads Bucs Past Silverdale, 5-0 Seahawks Still In Contention For Second Seed In 5-A Tournament

Thursday, April 23, 2015 - by John Hunt

Pitcher Brandon Willingham was in the zone Thursday evening as he threw a two-hit shutout to defeat the visiting Silverdale Baptist Academy Seahawks 5-0 in a District 5-A contest. Willingham's personal record improved to 5-1 while the Buccaneers remained a perfect 7-0 in district play and 17-8 overall. Silverdale dropped to 7-11 (3-3).

- photo by Dennis Norwood

Brandon Willingham was hesitant to say that Thursday's game with Silverdale was his best effort of the year, even though the hard-throwing right hander limited the Seahawks to just two hits in six innings as Boyd-Buchanan posted a 5-0 victory on a day when the Buccaneers played at home for only the second time this season.

Maybe the 17-year-old junior wasn't his best, but he was pretty darn close after improving to 5-1 with his performance that included a dozen strikeouts and three walks.

The youthful Seahawks simply didn't have an answer.

Silverdale stranded at least one runner in each of the last six innings, but the Seahawks were unable to get a clutch hit with runners on base.

"Our offense has struggled this year, but give the Willingham kid a lot of credit as he was fantastic today," said Silverdale coach Jonathan Adcock after his team fell to 7-11 overall and 3-3 in 5-A.

"We didn't do a good job of getting runners on early as it seemed like there were always two outs when somebody got on.  It's been frustrating at times since we're basically ninth and 10th graders, but the Willingham kid was always around the plate and he did a nice job of throwing strikes when he got behind in the count.

"But we still have a chance to get the number-two seed in the tournament if we can get by Grace next week.  Those second, third and fourth spots are all wide open, but it would be nice to get a first-round bye," Adcock added.

Willingham was in control most of the game and struck out the side in the first and sixth innings.

Only in the fourth when a single by River Crowther and a Boyd-Buchanan error did Silverdale have more than one runner on base at the same time, but every time a critical situation came up, Willingham was more than ready for the challenge.

"I felt like I had good stuff through the first five inning or so, but then I had to battle to get through the sixth," said Willingham shortly after the game ended.

"I had a good defense behind me and that always helps," he added.

The Bucs didn't waste any time taking control as they scored their first run in the first inning.  Colby Morgan got hit by a pitch and stole second before scoring on a single to left by Austin Jackson.

The Bucs then added two more runs in the third and fifth innings to create a little breathing room.

Morgan led off the third with a double to the fence in center and later scored on a single by Hunter Payne, who ripped an 0-2 pitch to right.  E.J. Matthews had followed Morgan's double with a walk and later scored the second run on a wild pitch.

Then in the fifth inning, Matthews led off with a single before stealing second.  Willingham received a one-out walk and was replaced by courtesy runner Seth Rogers.  Both moved up a base on another wild pitch before a double by Payne drove them  both in.

That was more than enough for the Bucs, who improved to 17-8 overall and 7-0 in district play.

Boyd-Buchanan coach Josh Rider was quick to offer praise for Silverdale pitcher Michael Hawkins, a gutty sophomore who took the loss after allowing all five runs on seven hits.  He also walked five and hit two while striking out four.

"I thought the Hawkins kid pitched really well as we had a hard time adjusting to what he was throwing, but Hunter Payne had a nice single on an 0-2 pitch and his two-run double just gave us a little more breathing room.

"That was about par for the course as far as Brandon was concerned.  He did a nice job today as he was solid, but I don't think it was his best game this year.  He didn't have his best stuff, but he battled hard and that's what I'm happy about.

"I'd like to see us play with a little more energy as we were a little lethargic out there, but it feels great to finally play at home again," Rider concluded with a smile.

Morgan and Payne were the only Bucs with two hits.  Cade Evans, Matthews and Jackson all had one apiece.

The Bucs return to action with a road game at Hixson on Friday while Silverdale has the weekend off before traveling to Grace on Monday.

SILVERDALE   000 000 0 -- 0 2 0

BOYD-BUCHANAN 102 020 x -- 5 7 1

Hawkins, Crowther (5) and Howard; Willingham, Evans (7) and Antwine.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@Comcast.net)

Boyd-Buchanan's EJ Matthews slides safely in to third against the tag of Seahawk third baseman Collin Danie