The BJ Raiders’ bats did the damage in the opening game of the Ban Johnson Collegiate League National Division Series, while RHP Austin Brooks silenced the Creche Innovations Stars’ bats in the second game Wednesday at Creekside Baseball Complex in Parkville.
The result was the same each night — a win for the two-time reigning BJCL champion Raiders, who swept their way past the Stars and earned the right to battle Regal Plastic for the shot at a three-peat.
“Starting pitching made a difference,” Raiders manager Jake Bradshaw said of sweeping the Stars. “We got to theirs pretty early last night and then the same thing tonight, scoring four in the second inning.”
During an 18-8 win in Tuesday’s series opener, C Chayton Beck (Liberty/Missouri Southern) had four hits, including a double, with three RBIs.
2B Jacob Selock (Liberty/Northwest Missouri State) went 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and four RBIs, while 3B Ryan Williams (Liberty/Northwest Missouri State) added three hits and three runs scored and LF Jett Buck (Liberty North/Kansas City Kansas CC) drove in four as the Raiders pounded their way to victory.
One night later, SS Dylan Grego (Staley/Ball State [Indiana]) swatted a three-run home run during a four-run second inning, which provided the only runs the Raiders would need in polishing off the sweep.
“It felt pretty good,” Grego said. “We had a good arm on the mound and I knew, if we got a couple runs up on the board, we’d be all right.”
The Raiders only managed four hits, but Brooks (Plattsburg/Metropolitan CC) made sure it was enough. He struck out 10 Stars in five shutout innings and LHP Denton Whiteside (Rockhurst/Butler CC) added four strikeouts across two innings in relief.
“Austin’s just a dude and it’s easy to play behind him,” Grego said. “He just shuts down game after game, so my job’s pretty easy when he’s on the mound.”
The Raiders now advance to face Regal in the 2022 BJCL Championship Series, which begins Monday at Creekside.
