Brazis helps Royals extend win streak

By Jerry Holsworth -- sports@nvdaily.com

WOODSTOCK -- After barely avoiding a late-inning collapse Thursday against New Market, Winchester put together nine solid innings of pitching on Friday to defeat Woodstock 4-1 on the road and extend its winning streak to four games in Valley Baseball League play.

"We were really pleased with the way we played tonight," Winchester manager John Lowery Jr. said. "Tomorrow we're going to try to get back to .500 and get back in the playoff race."

Royals starter Matt Brazis fought through a sore ankle to pitch seven superb innings for the win. The Boston College freshman didn't allow a run and scattered seven hits for the night. He struck out five and gave up just one walk.

Brazis had to overcome two unusual problems on the way to the win. On his last pitch in the bottom of the third, he was hit in the ankle by a hard line drive by Jonathan Koscso.

"My ankle is really sore, and it's starting to swell," Brazis said. "I walked it off and was able to continue, but it began to lock up heading into the seventh inning."

Brazis other problem was that he had to face two of his former high school teammates at Tampa Jesuit in the River Bandit line-up, including Koscso.

"It was a great feeling to be so successful on the mound tonight," Brazis said. "I went to high school with Jonathan Koscso and Stephen Hunt. They're both really good hitters."

With Brazis unable to continue in the bottom of the seventh, Jorge Marban and Nate Bayuk combined to get Winchester the relief pitching it needed to preserve the win.

Marban pitched the eighth inning, allowing one run on one hit. Bayuk got Woodstock out in order in the bottom of the ninth.

"We got seven great innings from Brazis, and that's the first time this season that one of our starters has gone seven innings," Lowery said. "Nate [Bayuk] got them out in order in the ninth too. All three of them gave us the kind of pitching we needed to get this win."

While the Royals pitchers were keeping the River Bandit offense in check, Winchester's bats and defense made the plays when it counted. Royals shortstop Brad Zapenas registered eight put-outs for the night, and Winchester had just one error.

Winchester took the lead in their half of the third when Kevin Griffin took advantage of a Woodstock fielding error to score from third. It was the first of three straight unearned runs for the Royals.

In the seventh, Winchester scored twice, thanks to an error by Koscso. Tim Cross clubbed a triple to center, then scored when Koscso failed to catch the throw to third by shortstop Derek Vigoa. Bobby Rauh scored later in the inning off a single to right by Steve Sabins.

Sabins also got the Royals' final run of the game in the ninth with a towering home run over the center field fence.

"It was great to get that one," Sabins said. "The fence here is only 340 feet so it might have been a routine out in another park. But I'll take it."

Woodstock's only run came in the eighth. A single to center by pinch hitter John Oropeza scored Cory Tilton.

"We just couldn't hit the ball," River Bandits manager Donn Foltz said. "You have to tip your hat to their pitchers. They pitched a great game. We also made a lot of errors, and that certainly didn't help our cause."

Corey Witkowski took the loss for Woodstock. The Barry University freshman gave up three runs on seven hits through 6 2/3 innings on the mound. He struck out five and walked four.