Brooklyn Center baseball ended last week’s busy schedule with an action-packed 8-7 home win over its neighbors from North Minneapolis, Patrick Henry, at home on April 27 to earn its second victory of the season.
It was Brooklyn Center’s first win over a Class AAA team this season. Brooklyn Center plays in AA and has faced two losses to AAA teams this season.
A little patience was required before Brooklyn Center kicked off a busy evening of baseball, with both teams being shut out in the first inning. Grant Tenhaeff made an immediate impression on the game, pitching a strong top of the first for Brooklyn Center. Along with Jesus Anzaldo Lopez, he also hit a single in the bottom of the first.
After another good performance by Tenhaeff at the top of the second, the fun began for the Centaurs. An RBI single by Sean Johnson led Dalorian Davis home from second base to get the game’s first run. The Centaurs eventually loaded the bases with Igor Chernyak, Johnson, and Gabriel Morales. An error created an opportunity, with Chernyak and Johnson both heading home to make it 3-0.
Jaxon Brenny continued a positive game at first base in the top of the third, picking up a tag to end the inning and keep the visitors off the score sheet. Byron Hawkins then brought a share of gasps to the diamond at Brooklyn Center with a spectacular deep hit, earning himself the time and space to round all three bases and head home. The Centaurs led 4-0 heading toward the fourth inning.
The connection between Tenhaeff and Brenny was key in a scoreless fourth. Brenny picked up two outs for Brooklyn Center. The Centaurs returned to their scoring ways in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double from Tenhaeff to get Morales home. Lopez then grabbed an RBI to get Tenhaeff a run of his own, making it 6-0.
The sixth inning proved a dramatic one for all sides. Brooklyn Center made a large-scale change with two Patrick Henry players on bases, adjusting several positions, including relieving Tenhaeff for Morales on the mound. Already under pressure from Patrick Henry, the Centaurs struggled to handle a surge from the visitors. Patrick Henry eventually took a 7-6 lead.
Brooklyn Center faced the possibility of its day’s work not earning them a win but the team found runs for Emmanuel Seward and Morales to retake the lead at 8-7.
Thomas Alcott then came in to pitch for the Centaurs and earned a shutout to win the game at the top of the seventh. earning Brooklyn Center their second win of the season and cueing celebrations.
Brooklyn Center head coach Kevin Pitman told the Sun Post that the weekend win was a reflection of the type of work the team has focused on this season. He also noted the effort the team showed to respond to adversity and secure the win.
“We’re really focusing on putting the ball in play. Good things happen when you put the ball in play. So if you get a fastball, stay on top of it and put it in play. Give us a chance. ... We talk a lot about playing up to our potential whether we’re winning or losing,” Pitman said. “Knowing we’re in a game, whether the scoreboard reflects it or not, we’re taking it inning by inning. I’m really proud of the guys finding what we needed today.”
Pitman noted that the program, which returned to play in 2021 after an absence, has focused on understanding their abilities individually and as a team, playing to that level in each game.
“This is our fourth year back in existence and a really big push for this season was just playing good teams well, whether we’re up or down,” Pitman said. “Play to our potential. Sometimes that’s a loss. Sometimes it’s a win. But that has to be our target.”
Other results
Brooklyn Center opened last week with a 6-5 win on the road against the PACT Charter School. The non-conference win was the Centaurs’ first victory of the season. Two days later, the Centaurs lost 11-1 on the road to St. Paul Johnson.
The Centaurs will play three games the following week, hosting Washington Tech on April 29 (after this edition has gone to press), before traveling to St. Croix Prep and re-matching Washington Tech on the road on Tuesday, April 30, and Friday, May 3, respectively.
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