Matt Burnett from Ellsworth High School throws a pitch during Class B North baseball action against Brewer on Thursday, May 16, 2019. Photo by Chris Lessner (click to enlarge)
ELLSWORTH, Maine- Matt Burnett pitched six very strong innings, and also had three of the Ellsworth Eagles six hits on Thursday afternoon, en route to a 3-0 Class B North baseball win over the Brewer Witches at Ellsworth High School.
Burnett had at least one strikeout in all six of his innings pitched, including two strikeouts in five of those frames. The only hit Brewer hit allowed was a two out infield single by Hunter Russell in the top of the fifth.
Ellsworth (10-0) broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth, when Devin Grindle came up with what turned out to be the game winning hit when he grounded a two out RBI single to left field scoring Nathan Smith to make it 1-0. Brewer (7-3) did have two innings with two men on base in the fourth and the sixth, but couldn’t get anything across.
The Eagles extended the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Michael Palmer hit one on the ground up the first base line with runners on second and third and one out. Witches starting pitcher Anthony Chiappone fielded it and tried to turn and throw the runner from third out at home plate, but the throw went over catcher Andrew Kileys head allowing two unearned runs to score on the play to make it 3-0 and end all the scoring in the game. Jackson Curtis took the mound and got the save by setting the Witches down in order in the seventh with two strikeouts.
Brewer pitcher Anthony Chiappone swings at an offering from Ellsworths Matt Burnett in the fourth inning of Class B North baseball action at Ellsworth High School on Thursday, May 16, 2019. Photo by Chris Lessner (click to enlarge)
Burnett was on base three times in the game with a single, a double, and a triple. He was the only hitter in the contest with multiple hits. His final winning numbers on the mound were 6.0 innings, no runs, one hit, four walks, with 11 strikeouts. Chiappone also pitched well in the loss allowing three runs (one earned), six hits, two walks, with five strikeouts. Both teams are scheduled to be in action Friday, with Ellsworth traveling to GSA at 4:30 p.m. and Brewer hosting Bangor at 3:30 p.m. both weather permitting.
BWR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 1 1
ELL 0 0 0 0 1 2 x- 3 6 1
WP- Burnett LP- Chiappone SV- J. Curtis
Left on base- Brewer 5, Ellsworth 7
