It was a pretty good return to the mound for Todd County Central’s Jacob Brandon. After missing time to a knee injury, Brandon went four innings in relief Friday evening and picked up the win as the Rebels got past University Heights 5-3.
Brandon gave up just one unearned run on two hits and struck out nine as he effectively silenced the Blazer bats over the final four innings of the game.
The Rebels took the early lead in the game, scoring in the top of the first on a balk to take a 1-0 lead.
The Blazers evened things back up in the bottom half of the inning when Josh Pace scored on a ground out by Ben Stone.
Todd Central got back on the board in the top of the second. Zach Robinson led off the inning with a double and then scored on a UHA error to put the Rebels back in front at 2-1.
Once again, the Blazers came right back in the bottom half of the inning. This time it was Josh Pace coming up with a single to drive in Jackson Flynn, tying the game at 2-2.
The Rebels took the lead for good in the top of the fourth. Peyton Ortiz doubled off the centerfield fence, scoring Gavyn Nolan and putting Todd Central back in front 3-2. Todd Central added to the lead in the seventh. Ortiz scored on a Blazer error and then Nate Reding drove in his brother Grady with an RBI single to make it 5-2.
UHA got the first two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, bringing the tying run to the plate. But Jacob Brandon locked in and came up with two strikeouts and a sac fly to end the game with just one run coming in for the Blazers.
Josh Pace led the Blazers going 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Gavin LaRonge, Jaiden Miles, Ty Hunt, and Jackson Flynn also had hits for the Blaers.
Todd Central was led by Nate Reding, who was 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Zach Robinson and Peyton Ortiz also had hits for the Rebels, who were outhit by the Blazers 6 to 4.
Jaiden Miles got a no-decision for the Blazers as the starter. Miles went six innings, giving up three runs, two of them earned, on three hits, striking out 12 and walking three.
