WARR ACRES — A late Bethany rally sent the Bronchos past neighboring Putnam City 8-5 Friday (April 9) at the Northwest Optimist Darrel Palmer Classic.

Bethany scored six runs over the last two innings for the win.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Bethany’s GameChanger shows the score as 9-5, with an extra run in the seventh. Putnam City lists the score as 8-5. The score reported to the OSSAA was 8-5.)

“The guys battled.. fought to the end,” Bethany coach Robert Lee said via text. “I was proud how they handled the adversity…tough week playing Tuttle in district and then playing Mustang. But that’s when you find out who you are…glad we responded well against PC.

“Those guys play hard,” Lee said of the Pirates, “Coach (Joseph) Wood is doing a great job building that program.”

Trailing 5-2 in the sixth, the Bronchos got a double from sophomre Cruz Burleson and a triple from junior Damyen Aguilar.

Tied 5-5 in the seventh, Bethany led off the inning with three straight singles from junior Ozzie Brown, sophomore Stoli Melton and freshman Jayden Rose. Then, sophomore Cooper Suarez reached on an error which gave the Bronchos the lead.

A bases-loaded walk and a passed ball extended the lead.

The Pirates took a 3-0 lead in the third inning on singles from freshman Dylan Grigsby and senior Henry Thein. In between, senior Justin Knight was hit by a pitch and senior Brandon Bennett advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt.

Later, junior Jared Potter doubled home a run for a 3-0 lead.

Bethany answered in the fourth inning. Junior Brody McLaren walked and score on a double from junior Cooper Willis. Willis later scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2.

The Pirates extended the lead with a two-out rally in the fifth inning. The Pirates loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. After two strikeouts, junior Chase Guethle doubled home Knight and senior Brandon Bennett to make it 5-2.

The Bronchos collected 11 hits in the win. Brown was 2-for-3 and Melton was 2-for-2 on the day. Willis, Rose, Suarez, Burleson, senior Trip Williams and junior Damyen Aguilar each had a hit.

Burleson, Willis and Melton had doubles while Aguilar notched a triple.

Junior Connor Sydnes pitched 4 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits and four earned runs. Syndes walked three batters and struck out 10. Rose pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless ball with three strikeouts.

For Original, Thein was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Grigsby, Knight, Potter and Guethle each had a hit.

UP NEXT

4A Bethany (12-7) faces 6A Putnam City West (9-10) Saturday (April 11) at 1 p.m.

Putnam City (3-21) meets Putnam City North (2-18) Saturday at 10 a.m.

West beat North 12-7 Friday.

Got to be ready to go against PC West tomorrow. They are well coached. We need to play well.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Bethany (12-7)	0	0	0	0	2	3	3	8	11	2
Putnam City (3-21)	0	0	3	0	2	0	0	5	6	2