BETHANY — Bethany senior Layton Reither’s RBI-single to right field in the ninth inning broke a tie with Mount Saint Mary, sending the Bronchos to a 4-3 win Thursday (May 1) in the Class 4A Region 8 tournament.

“Total team win,” Bethany coach Robert Lee said via text. “Our guys showed great resilience. Very proud of them.”

The win over the Rockets came just six days of Bethany’s regular season finale, an 8-7 walkoff win over Mount Saint Mary.

Tied at 3-3 in extra innings, Bethany (25-5) got consecutive walks from seniors Joe Berry, Andrew Taber and sophomore Cooper Willis to load the bases.

Reither sent a 1-1 pitch on the ground into right field to seal the win.

Seniors Charlie Tolle and Brock Cross combined for 15 strikeouts and nine walks on the mound. Cross pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, working out of jams in the eighth and ninth innings.

“Charlie and Brock pitched extremely well,” Lee said.

After the Rockets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Tolle homered over the left field wall. The shot scored junior Judson Gilliland, who walked to lead off the inning.

It was Tolle’s second home run of the day after he went deep in Bethany’s 14-4 win over Seminole to start the tournament.

The 2-1 lead held until the fourth inning when Rocket senior catcher Harry Tesio led off the inning with a solo shot to center field to tie the game.

Mount Saint Mary took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh on three walks to load the bases. Sophomore Gage Southard scored on a passed ball that got past Gilliland.

The Bethany catcher redeemed himself in the seventh inning with a one-out single to left field. Tolle doubled to left, sending Gilliland to third base. Junior Karter Thomas was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Berry coaxed a walk on a seven-pitch at-bat to score Gilliland and tie the game, 3-3.

The Bronchos threatened with runners at second and third base in the eighth but couldn’t score.

Cross walked three batters in the top of the ninth but struck out the side to preserve the tie game, leading to the walkoff win.

Reither was 3-for-5 in the contest and Tolle added a 2-for-4 performance in the win.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mount Saint Mary (23-10)	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	3	7	1
Bethany (25-5)	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	8	0

Photographs courtesy of Kristie Escoe of Life in Action Photography.

BETHANY 14, SEMINOLE 4

Bethany routed the Chieftains to open the regional as every player in the lineup but two had a hit and Broncho hitters walked 11 times.

Tolle went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three runs batted in. His first inning two-run homer started the big win.

Gilliland was 1-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. Cross added a 1-for-2 day with a double, a sacrifice fly, two runs scored and an RBI.

Sophomore Cooper Willis was 1-for-2 with a double and sacrifice fly. Willis scored once and had an RBI.

Four Broncho pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, allowing six hits in six innings of the run-rule win.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Seminole (6-16)	0	0	0	3	0	1	4	6	2
Bethany (24-5)	4	2	3	0	0	5	14	8	1

UP NEXT

The Bronchos face the winner of Bridge Creek/Seminole versus Mount Saint Mary Saturday for a chance to clinch the regional title. The Bronchos’ game will be at 4:30 p.m.

CLASS 4A REGION 8 PLAYOFFS (AT BETHANY)

THURSDAY, May 1, 2025
Game 1: Bethany 14, Seminole 4
Game 2: Mount Saint Mary 12, Bridge Creek 7
Game 3: Bethany 4, Mount Saint Mary 3
Game 4: Bridge Creek 10, Seminole 4 (Seminole eliminated)

FRIDAY, May 2, 2025
Game 5: Bridge Creek vs. Mount Saint Mary, 2 p.m.
Game 6: Bethany vs. Game 5 winner, 4:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, May 3, 2025
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 1 p.m. (if necessary)