Juniors kick off Creighton/Bloomfield, advance to third tourney game

The fifth time's a charm.

In a fifth rematch of Tri-County Juniors playing the Creighton/Bloomfield Juniors, the Titans came out on top, 2-1, to advance to the next round of the Class C Area 1 tournament.

The teams met Saturday, July 13, in Creighton.

In this gem of a game, Ryan Rifer took to the mound for Tri-County and Braxton Eggerling for Creighton/Bloomfield.

"Both pitchers threw complete 103-pitch, seven-inning masterpieces," said coach Jeff Shabram.

What turned out to be the difference were two runs scored in the third inning for the junior Titans. RBI hits in that inning were credited to Rifer and Isaac Pavlik, as Isaac Hoferer and Max Bruce crossed home plate.

Rifer’s pitching stats in the 93-plus degree heat were seven innings pitched, allowing one run on three hits and three walks, while striking out 10 C/B batters.

Shabram said the defense played amazing behind Rifer only committing one error in holding C/B scoreless for the first four innings and last two innings when "the game got super tight." This included a spectacular basket catch by catcher Landon Nelson on a high foul ball behind home plate for the last out of the game

Tri-County game stats:

I. Hoferer: 1-4 batting, 1 run.

Bruce: 1-3 batting, 1 run, 1 HBP, 1 stolen base.

Rifer: 3-4 batting, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base.

Nelson: 0-3 batting, 1 BB.

Pavlik: 1-4 batting, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base.

Rogan Robertson: 0-3 batting.

Levi Hoferer: 1-3 batting.

Jacob Pierzina: 1-2 batting, 1 BB.

Parker Frank: 0-1 batting.

Jason Shaver: 1-2 batting.