Durant fends off late Sumner rally in 4-3, opening win
Durant junior Brennan Bailey drops down a perfectly-placed push bunt between the mound and first for an RBI single keying a three-run Cougars inning and setting his team up for a win on opening night.
By Jarrett Guthrie, Editor
RIVERVIEW – A pair of one-out walks put the pressure on Durant in the final half-inning of Tuesday’s opening night visit to Sumner, but a pair of weak pop flies gloved by junior shortstop Brady Kelley stranded the tying run at third base and the Cougars escaped with a hard-fought, 4-3 win.
Early on it was a bend-but-don’t-break showdown between starting pitchers Jaylin Chambers (Sumner) and Zach Nero (Durant) as the game rolled scoreless through three innings. It was Nero who would blink first, hitting Stingrays catcher Diankel Berrios to lead off the fourth, followed by a Cameron Paquette double lined to left to move courtesy runner Richard Bowman into scoring position and setup an RBI groundout from Isaih Romano to open the scoring.
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Isaih Romano grounds a ball shortstop driving in the game’s first run for Sumner.
But Nero quickly rebounded, ending the inning with a strikeout and working through six complete innings allowing just one more run – a towering solo home run from Berrios in the sixth. Nero struck out six, allowed four hits and had no walks.
Durant junior RHP Zach Nero worked six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and struck out six to earn the win on the mound.
In response to the fourth-inning Sumner (0-1) run, Durant (1-0) took control of the game with three runs in the fifth – sparked by a perfectly placed bunt single by junior Brennan Bailey, followed up by a two-run double flied out to right field by Kelley.
“It was very crucial (to answer the run),” Kelley said. “We’re pretty good about not letting the other team get momentum going – we’re good at shutting that down. Shout out to Zach. He did a great job with a huge performance on the mound.”
Brady Kelley squares a belt-high fastball for a two-run, line-drive double in the fifth inning.
In the third, Bailey dropped down a sac bunt to move a runner into scoring position but Durant was unable to capitalize. So, after his second bunt resulted in a hit and RBI, Kelley said he was determined not to let the opportunity to take the lead slip away.
“That was a huge bunt, and the first time he bunted I didn’t come through,” Kelley said. “But the second time, great bunt right by the pitcher, he set me up perfect and I was able to hit that double and pick up two runs.”
Cougars 3B Shawn Graves makes a leaping throw across the diamond.
“What they did was they executed what we asked for,” Durant head coach Butch Valdes said. “First-and-third (Bailey) dropped down that push bunt, and he’s good at that. Then Kelley with the clutch hit just sparked everything for us in that inning.”
Sumner SS Cameron Paquette receives a throw for a force out at second base.
Nero admitted after the first Sumner run and the excitement of making the opening start began to settle, he was starting to feel a bit anxious. Fortunately for the junior righty, his offense brought him right back into the game.
“Obviously, being (the first game) I was still hyped in the dugout, but I was starting to get a little nervous,” Nero said. “But a couple of my teammates came through with some clutch hits and I was right back in my groove.”
The three-run frame proved the end of the night for Chambers (Loss, 5ip, 3 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 K).
Sumner starting pitcher – RHP Jaylin Chambers
Berrios, who was hit by a pitch in his first two at-bats, sent a 2-0 fastball over the wall in left field in the sixth inning.
Di Berrios is congratulated by Sumner head coach Kennedy Duran as he rounds third base after his solo home run in the sixth.
But again, Nero shook off further damage by striking out the final two Stingrays batters he faced, steadily mixing in his slider and other off-speed stuff.
“I gave him a middle-middle fastball and (Berrios) executed on it,” Nero said. “After that I just got back up there to do my job to help the team and finish my inning.”
His coach was pleased with his opening night starter and spoke about his development heading into this season.
“Zach has been a quiet guy and he’s been behind some people,” Valdes said. “But we knew he has good off-speed that he controls and puts it where he wants to, and that’s why he got the start on the first night.”
Sumner relief pitcher Matthew Rangel had a pair of strikeouts in his one inning of work.
Sumner’s Matthew Rangel struck out a pair in his lone inning of work, setting up his teammates for a comeback attempt in their final at-bats.
Durant’s Tanner Gosner worked out of a seventh-inning jam to earn the save.
Tanner Gosner, who singled in the sixth and added a crucial insurance run scoring on a passed ball, came on in relief for the Cougars in the seventh and got a first-pitch flyout. But then issued two walks to put the tying run on base. Braylon Disla (2-for-4, double) made the first of those walks hurt, sending an RBI single skipping through the right side.
Sophomore Braylon Disla had two hits, including this RBI single in the seventh.
“He’s a young sophomore at 15-years old but plays a lot bigger than his age,” Sumner head coach Kennedy Duran said of Disla. “He’s a worker – works his tail off – and he’s starting over some upperclassmen on the bench because of that work.”
But the Cougars stemmed further damage as Gosner got a pair of weak-contact pop-ups to Kelley at short to end the game.
“Situational hitting just wasn’t there,” Duran said. “We’ve got second and third, one out, we can’t just score one (run) there. I told the guys this is Game 1 of 25, and if this was Game 26 it would have been a tough story to write. So, we’re in a good place now and know what we have to work on.”
Cougars SS Brady Kelley settles under the game-ending pop fly.
For Valdes, there was a bit of relief in his post-game smile, but overall, he was pleased with the way his team finished the game.
“It was a nice time to pull a game out and our boys showed that they weren’t going to quit,” Valdes said. “They kept battling it out, made some opportunities and Zach did a hell of a job on the mound tonight.”
Durant will host Plant City on Thursday and prior to the game, the Cougars will recognize former players and MLB veterans Ryan Raburn and Tyler Danish, as well as former team manager Grant Glover, while former Durant principal Pam Bowden will throw out the first pitch. Sumner hosts new school neighbor Morgan on Thursday night.
Durant catcher Jacob Purcell makes a catch in foul territory.
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#11 Durant 4
Sumner 3
D 000|031|0 – |4|7|0
S 000|101|1 – |3|5|0
W – Nero (1-0); L – Chambers (0-1); S – Tan. Gosner (1)
2B – Kelley (D); Pacquette, Disla (S); HR – Berrios (S). Records – D (1-0); S (0-1).
