Bees use Gray’s shutout to advance in sectionals

Bethel senior Luke Gray has been the most consistent pitcher in the Three Rivers Conference this season. And he carried his dominance over to the opening game of the Sectional baseball tournament last week.

The Bees (21-6) were shockingly seeded #10 in the sectionals and had to make a trip to Clinton Massie, despite winning their last five games before the tournament draw. But all that disappointment went out the window as they earned a tough 4-0 tournament victory with Gray on the mound.

“Today was a good team win,” Bethel coach Chase Goulette said. “Luke continued to do what he has done all year and controlled the game.”

The game was scoreless through four innings and there were not many threats. Massie doubled to lead off the second but Gray then struck out the next three. In the top of the fourth, Noah McCann doubled to lead off for Bethel and one out later Braylon Schroeder walked before the Bees threat ended with the game still scoreless.

In the top of the sixth, the Bees finally struck.

McCann doubled to lead off the inning and Elijah Schroeder walked. An error by Massie on a ground ball from Braylon Schroeder allowed McCann to score and the scoreless tie was broken. Anderson Mohler then grounded out which brought home Schroeder and when a pitch got away from the Massie catcher during the next at-bat, Braylon Schroeder crossed the plate to increase the Bees lead to 3-0.

In the seventh, Gabe Veldman singled and later came into score when Schroeder singled.

Gray was never touched all night, allowing two hits and struck out ten.

“Grant Bean (senior) made the best play I have seen from an outfielder, and I think that changed the momentum of the game,” Goulette said. “Noah was huge with two doubles and Elijah Schroeder and Anderson Mohler put the bat on the ball to score two important RBIs. It was good to see Veldman pick up two hits and Elijah Schroeder break our school record in steals in a season.”

The Bees traveled to Chaminade Julienne last night for the second round of the playoffs.