Bruins back on track

After a short detour in the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday night, the Beatrice Bruins baseball team got back on track Wednesday.

The Bruins downed the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Grays from Kansas City, Mo., 5-1, winning the three-game MINK League series between the two teams 2-1.

Beatrice opened the series with a 7-0 win over the Grays Tuesday, but then fell 5-0 in the nightcap.

Bruins manager Bob Steinkamp said the team had a “much, much better” effort in Wednesday night’s victory.

“Everybody was focused tonight,” Steinkamp said.

Wednesday, the Bruins had all three phases of their game — offense, pitching and defense — back on track.

The Bruins offense produced five runs on seven hits, including three solo home runs.

 “We had enough timely hitting to get the job done,” Steinkamp said. “We’re still not exactly hitting the ball real well.”

Pitchingwise, the Bruins benefited from a solid performance by starter Brian Feekin.

Feekin threw the first five innings of the game, allowing one run on two hits, one walk and two hit batters. He struck out seven.

Erik Bird threw two innings in relief of Feekin, shutting out the Grays. He allowed two hits and struck out five.

Bruins’ closer Shane Minks faced three batters in the seventh, giving up a walk, but ending the game with a ground ball double play.

“Our pitching was outstanding,” Steinkamp said.

Defensively, Steinkamp said the Bruins had another good game.

Steinkamp said shortstop Evan Porter is playing especially well for the Bruins.

“Evan Porter is an outstanding shortstop,” Steinkamp said. “He really gets the job done defensively. He’s got great hands and he’s so quick.”

Mark Ramos single-handedly put the Bruins on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning.

Ramos hit a lead-off home run in the Bruins’ first at-bat, putting the team up 1-0.

The game remained a one-run contest until the top of the fifth inning.

In the fifth, the Grays tied the score at 1-all on a two-out hit batter and back-to-back singles.

The Bruins regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth.

Ramos again started things off for Beatrice, walking to lead off the inning. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Evan Porter and took third as Tyson Parks grounded out.

A double by Darby Brown scored Ramos and put the Bruins up 2-1.

Brown then scored on a single by Tant Shepherd, making it a 3-1 contest.

In the seventh inning, Devon Dageford put the Bruins up 4-1 with a solo home run.

The Bruins final run also came via a solo out-of-the-parker as Porter led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a blast over the left-field fence.

Beatrice finished with seven hits, including the home runs by Ramos, Porter and Dageford.

Brown had a double and single for the Bruins, while Shepherd and Travis Parker added a single each.

Next action for the Bruins will be Wednesday, July 30, and will be their final home game of the 2008 season.