NEW WASHINGTON — Buckeye Central pitcher Alex Kanney matched a school record with 16 strikeouts for the second time in a season.
Still, it took a seventh inning rally for the Bucks to overtake Bucyrus.
The Redmen broke a 1-1 tie with 3 runs in the top of the sixth. Buckeye Central got one back in the bottom of the sixth and then scored three more in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a 5-4 Northern 10 Athletic Conference win Monday.
“The key was getting that run in the sixth,” a relieved Buckeye Central coach Chad Jensen said. “That was so big. It got us in striking range. And then we were able to put the ball in play.”
The run in the sixth Jensen referred to was generated when Clay Green led off the inning with a single. With one out, Graham Geissman walked. After a fly out to center field, Casey Geissman dropped a two-out single into center field to plate Green, cutting the Bucyrus (1-14, 1-11 N10) lead to 4-2.
But the story for the first three innings was a pitching duel between Kanney and the Redmen’s Cody Pennington, a contrast in styles. Kanney — a hard throwing righthander who leads the N10 in strikeouts — retired the first nine Bucyrus hitters he faced, seven on strikes and two on pop outs to the infield.
Pennington used finesse to dance around problems through six innings, in which he somehow limited the Bucks to two runs while stranding 11 runners.
“Cody pitched a phenomenal game,” Bucyrus coach Sean Maudsley said. “He just kind of ran out of gas. He got a little ill after that sixth inning. But he gutted it out through that sixth inning.”
Buckeye Central (9-7, 7-3) had the first three batters reach in the bottom of the first. Kanney led off with a doble to left field. Casey Geissman and Elliot Geissman walked to load the bases with none out.
Kanney was forced out at the plate on a fielder’s choice by Kaiden Vaughn and Casey Geissman scored on a fielder’s choice from Tyler Sanderson.
Bucyrus finally got a baserunner — and got on the board — in the fourth. Malachi Bayless led off with a triple over the left fielder’s head. Weston Delaney walked, and Riley Parker drove in Bayless when he was safe on an error to tie the game at 1-1.
“We knew when Cody’s on the mound for them, they’re a good team,” Jensen said. “Bucyrus is scary. We knew it would be a dogfight. The kid pitched his butt off.”
The Redmen took the lead in the sixth. Delaney opened with a single and Parker walked. Pennington was attempting to sacrifice the runners over and ended up being safe on an error, loading the bases.
Delaney scored on a wild pitch and Noah Burke was safe on a fielder’s choice, driving in Parker. Brock Frost singled with one out to bring home Pennington.
“We played well today,” Maudsley said. “I was very pleased. We put the ball in play — not always hits, but we put the ball in play. We played small ball a little bit which I like to do sometimes. We got runners moving around. We played the right way today.”
After leaving the bases littered with runners the first six innings, the Bucks broke through in the seventh. Bayless relieved Pennington and retired the first batter he faced.
Isaac Hiler then walked and Green singled. Manny Mullins hit s dribbler up the first base line which and was safe on an error, which brough home Hiler. Graham Geissman was safe on another error, scoring Green.
Kanney was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Mullins came home with the winning run on a sacrifice fly to left by Casey Geissman.
“I’m really proud of our kids because every game for us is close,” Jensen said. “Sometimes we get in a situation where we kind of doubt ourselves. I didn’t get any of that today. There was no doubt.”
Kanney went the distance for the win, allowing four hits and four walks to go with his 16 Ks. Casey Geissman had two singles and two runs batted in. Green had two singles and scored twice, while Kanney doubled and Hiler and Mullins singled.
Pennington struck out seven and walked six, allowing six hits for Bucyrus. Bayless had a triple and single, and Delaney and Frost singled.
“I’ll give Gavin Lewis, our pitching coach, credit,” Maudsley said. “Our pitchers have grown up. Friday, Riley Parker got out of two bases loaded jams without giving up a run. Today, once again, Cody battles on the mound.”
“I knew the Bucyrus kids and I knew they were going to play hard,” Maudsley said. “Sean does a great job with this team. This league is so tough. There’s no easy games in the N10.
“Good teams find a way to win,” Jensen said. “And that’s what we did today.”
“We’re still playing good in the field. We’re still getting good pitching,” Maudsley said. “We put the ball in play today against a very good pitcher in Alex Kanney, one of the best in the league. I thought we did what we had to do to win.
“We can play with anybody in the league,” Maudsley added. “We just have to have the right mindset and we’ve got to believe in ourselves.”
Box score
Bucyrus 000 103 0 4 4 5
Buckeye Central 100 001 3 5 7 2
WP: Alex Kanney ( 16 SO, 4 W)
LP: Malachi Bayless (0 SO, 1 W)
HR: None.
Triples: (B) Malachi Bayless.
Doubles: (BC) Alex Kanney.
Multiple hits: (B) Malachi Bayless; (BC) Casey Geissman, Clay Green.
Records: Bucyrus 1-14, 1-11 N10; Buckeye Central 9-7, 7-3 N10.
Next: Bucyrus at Seneca East, Wednesday; Seneca East at Buckeye Central, Tuesday.