The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lorain, Brookside split opening day
Lorain starter Kender starts season with complete-game win
Lorain hosted Brookside at The Pipe Yard for an opening day doubleheader March 25, splitting the day with the Cardinals to start the season 1-1.
Game 1 featured a pitchers’ duel between Lorain’s Jayden Kender and Brookside’s Tim Ackerman. Kender, the 2016 Lake Erie League Pitcher of the Year, pitched a complete game to open the season, including nine strikeouts, leading the Titans to a 2-1 win.
“It feels pretty great,” Kender said. “I just went out there and did my best.
“I’m trying to be a leader this year and show my teammates how good I can do.”
Lorain coach Brad Ternes was pleased with the showing from his senior after not expecting him to pitch more than five innings.
“For early in the season, he was right on the money today, so I couldn’t be any prouder of how he pitched or expected any more out of him,” Ternes said. “I didn’t
even expect to get more than five or six innings (out of him), so for him to be able to go all seven was excellent.”
The Titans scored two runs off three hits in the first game. Tre’von Morgan broke the scoring drought in the fifth inning, making it safely home off an error at third base, while Jeff Santana added another run off a fielder’s choice.
Devin Houdeshell knocked in Brookside’s only run, scoring Owen Rozanc in the top of the sixth to put the Cardinals on the board.
In Game 2, Brookside used five hits to score six runs and top Lorain, 6-0, to split the doubleheader.
Senior Alex Vroman got the win on the mound, pitching a two-hitter in five innings and adding five strikeouts.
Brookside coach Brad Bomback was impressed with how his team jelled considering this was the Cardinals’ first outing as a team this season.
“I think today was a good day,” Bomback said. “The first game we had a couple timely errors and mistakes that came back to haunt us, but being our first game — we haven’t even scrimmaged yet — it was a pretty good showing. I’m happy for the boys and what they did today.
“I think we came together as a team. We have a different mix of guys and some guys who haven’t played together in the past and the team has come together quickly and that’s always a good thing.”
Jarod Pierce had a double, Travis Fortney had a two-RBI single, and Stephen Williams, Charles Liggitt and Houdeshell all added hits in the second game.
“Brookside played well today,” Ternes said. “They played a pretty clean game. Their pitcher was really good keeping our hitters off balance in the beginning.
“Hopefully we got that first one out of the way and some of those nerves and jitters. We’ve got guys playing that have never played varsity before, so for them to get the first win under their belt, we’ll go forward and hopefully build a little momentum with it.”
Lorain (1-1) hosts Bedford March 27 in the first game of LEL play, while Brookside (1-1) travels to Avon Lake March 28 for another nonconference matchup before PAC play begins.
“Being our first game — we haven’t even scrimmaged yet — it was a pretty good showing. I’m happy for the boys and what they did today.”
— Brookside coach Brad Bomback