Story by Ed Townsend
GRAHAMSVILLE — April 19, 2013 — GRAHAMSVILLE – Outstanding two-hit pitching by Tri-Valley junior Alex Brown proved to be the medicine the Bears needed Tuesday as they recorded their first season and league win, 7-3 over Tuxedo.
Entering this game Tri-Valley had lost non-league games to Sullivan West, Monticello and their first league game Monday at Tuxedo.
Tuesday's match-up with Tuxedo proved to be an entirely different scenario as Brown shut down Tuxedo's scoring attack by mixing a good fastball with a curve that kept the visitor’s batters off guard.
Throwing a total of 112 pitches, Brown struck out 10 and only gave up one earned run.
Tuxedo coach Tom Margoth gave high praise to Brown saying, "he pitched well, kept us off balance and we just couldn't get the big hit when we needed it."
Tri-Valley scored one run in the bottom of the second as Brown doubled to deep center and moved to third on John Anzano’s sacrifice fly.He scored on Donavan Flores sacrifice fly to center.
Tuxedo responded with a run in the top of the third as Tom Key walked, stole second and took third on a passed ball. He scored on a fly ball hit by Matt De La Rosa.
Tri-Valley broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth scoring four runs. A walk to Brown, a long double to center by Anzano, a balk by Tuxedo pitcher Ian Wheat, a single by Flores, a hit batter, a passed ball and two Tuxedo errors including a bad throw to first and a dropped fly ball accounted for all the runs.
Tuxedo tried to get back in the game in the top of the fifth scoring two runs as Imanol Logza walked, a Bears’ pickoff throw went into right field, a passed ball scored Logza, Key walked, stole second and scored on a throw to first that pulled Flores off the bag.
The Bears tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth assisted by two Tuxedo errors and clutch hitting.
It was lights out for Tuxedo in the top of the seventh as Brown struck out the side.
For Tri-Valley (1-3, 1-1 OCIAA Div. V) Justin Swarthout had two hits, a RBI and three stolen bases, Anzano doubled twice and drove in a run. Matt De La Rosa had an RBI for Tuxedo. Tuxedo is 2-2, 1-1 OCIAA, Div. V).
Tri-Valley coach John Rusin pointed out that "this is a big win for us and it's good for the seniors and our younger players."
"It's a good start for us and a premium pitching job by Alex that kept us in the game.”