IMS 2 Van Buren 6

The IMS baseball team hosted #3 ranked 2A Van Buren Thursday night, rescheduled from a rain out earlier in the season.  Senior stand-out pitcher Jackson Brokaw took the hill for the Maroon and Black  but quickly found himself in a battle to begin the game.  After a nine pitch at-bat, their lead-off batter earned himself a base on balls to start the game. Van Buren’s second hitter, a lefty, then took an 0-2 fastball outside and pulled it over the right-field fence giving the Warriors from Van Buren an early 2-0 lead.  They would follow with back-to-back doubles and add another run to their lead.  Jackson would battle tough though, striking out the next hitter and getting the final two outs on ground balls to Cameron Gingerich at short and Marshall Schrock at third.  Jackson would find his grove the next four innings not allowing a run and only one run.  The IMS offense, however, was stifled by their number one pitcher and righty, Corey Garrett, although IMS would get a runner in scoring position in all innings but one. Van Buren would tack on another, with an unearned run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to increase their lead to 6-0. 

IMS would not go away quietly as Ethan Gingerich led off the seventh inning with a single.  This was followed up by a  single by Jackson Brokaw and then the key hit finally came off the bat from Marshall Schrock who doubled down the left-field line scoring both Gingerich and pinch runner Reggie Hostetler to finally break open the scoring drought.  It was just a bit too little too late, however, and Van Buren shut the door on the comeback, winning the ball game 6-2. 

Jackson ended the night with seven  strikeouts.  IMS is now 12-12 overall and face off against Highland in their final regular season games at home Friday night.   First pitch will be 5:30 pm for this double-header varsity conference match-up. The seniors and their parents will be honored tonight between games.