Aviators Strike Early to Down the Warriors 6-2

Alliance, OH- The reigning Eastern Buckeye Conference Champs welcomed the reigning OHSAA Division III State Champions to town on a beautiful Tuesday evening. Unfortunately for both, their success from the year prior has put a target on their backs this season, especially last week when West Branch dropped both conference games to Marlington and Alliance dropped their set with Carrollton.

Both teams came out of the gate looking to get the ship righted, with the Warriors putting runners on the corners with only 1 out in the opening frame. Aviators starter Valentino Fisk buckled down and was able to escape the jam unscathed, bringing the Aviators to the plate against the winning pitcher from last seasons State Championship game, Anthony Perry. The hosts welcomed Perry by sending 9 to the plate in the home half of the 1st inning. They would score 4, with two coming on Senior Kamden Jones’ 2-out 2 run single to right.

Alliance Aviators Kamden Jones with a 2 RBI single in the bottom of the 1st. (Video: Derek Dimit)

The score remained 4-0 as both hurlers settled in after a rough 1st inning on both sides. It wasn’t until Aviator Senior Ben Craig laced a 2-0 offering over the fence in left to extend the Aviator lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the 3rd. Craig was 3-3 on the day with 3 RBIs.

Ben Craig sends a 2-0 Anthony Perry offering over the left field fence to extend the Aviator lead (Video clip from Smee Sports Live Stream of the Game. Video Credit: Nathan Smee of Smee Sports)

The Warriors got on the board in their half of the 5th, but the two runs they were able to manufacture wouldn’t be enough. The Aviators went with Brodee Bugara in relief before bringing in Kam Burton for the 21st out, securing the victory for the Aviators.

The two square off tomorrow evening in Beloit, as the Warriors (5-7 [2-3]) look to end their 3 game conference slide. The Aviators (8-4 [3-2]) will look to follow the lead of the Dukes by sweeping the series set against the Warriors.