(New Buffalo, MI) - The New Buffalo High School baseball team moved to 7-4 on the season by sweeping a doubleheader at home against Eau Claire on Friday.
The Bison defeated the Beavers 15-5 and 7-6.
In the first game, the Beavers scored three first inning runs off Bison starting pitcher Vaugh Nickkel but New Buffalo came back with six runs in the bottom of the inning.
Braden Huffer with the bases loaded knocked in the first three runs with a double.
Huffer then scored on a fielder’s choice. Nicholas Wolfe and Jaydon Berger later scored on an overthrow to first base by the shortshop and a wild pitch.
Nikkel, who pitched his first game of the season, was taken out in the second inning after giving up a run scoring double and hitting three batters.
Berger took the mound with two outs and the bases loaded but got out of the jam on a ground ball out to the third baseman.
The Bison took a 12-5 lead by scoring five runs after Ethan Lijewski led off the fourth inning with a triple to deep right center field and crossed the plate on a single by Huffer.
New Buffalo scored four more times before the inning was over with help from a walk, hit batsman and overthrow to first base by the shortshop.
The Bison scored their final three runs with two outs in the 5th inning after Wolfe hit a sharp line drive single to left field. He and Hagen Davis scored on a sharply hit double to left field by Sam Wendell-Suppa, who later crossed the plate.
Berger, who uses a submarine delivery with some of his pitches to keep the batters off stride, gave up just one run in 3 1/3 innings.
In the second game, both teams scored all of their runs in the first three innings.
New Buffalo Head Coach Adam Lijewski said it took Berger about two-years to master his submarine delivery.
“He just got locked in this year,” he said.
Lijewski said the team with a lot of players from the winless season two-years ago continues to improve in all aspects of the game. At the plate, for example, batters are hitting the ball much more consistently and with more authority.
“These guys are grinding. This is a really good team,” he said.
