Berwick eliminates Patterson in two games

Berwick overpowered Patterson late in both games of the Class 3A, best-of-three, regional round playoff series in Berwick to advance to its first quarterfinal since the 2007 season.
The Panthers (23-9), the No. 3 seed, got one run in the fifth inning and two in the sixth to pull away for a 6-1 win Friday.
Berwick used the same recipe Saturday, breaking open another tight game with three runs each in the sixth and seventh innings en route to a 7-1 win to advance quarterfinals this weekend at Berwick.
The Panthers will host No. 6 Buckeye Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. If necessary, a third game will be played Saturday at 5 p.m.
In Saturday’s finale, both starters — Austin Price of Berwick and Joel Singleton of Patterson — kept the bats quite.
Patterson grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Jamey Fabre’s RBI-double to left field before Berwick responded with the tying run in the fourth when Andrew Askew scored on a wild pitch.
Berwick scored three more runs in the sixth, one on Price’s fielder’s choice and another on a two-RBI single by Cody Roberie to centerfield.
The Panthers added three more runs in the seventh via Lucas Hatch RBI single to centerfield, a wild pitch and a Roberie RBI single to right-centerfield.
Patterson’s Singleton suffered the loss as he pitched 6.2 inning and surrendered seven runs (two earned) on four hits with six walks and fanned four.
“We knew coming in (playing) Patterson, a …. rival, that (Patterson) Coach (Ryan) Jensen does a great job of getting them ready to play us, and it’s always a battle, so we told our kids to play with emotion but don’t let that emotion beat us,” Berwick Coach John Menard said. “We talked about doing the little things well throughout the game to put pressure on them late. Their pitcher, Joel (Singleton), also did a great job of keeping us off balance longer than we would have liked.”
Price also had his best stuff on the mound for Berwick, throwing a complete game allowing just an earned run on four hits with two walks, one hit batter and five strikeouts.
“Looking at the stats, they had just one more hit than us,” Jensen said. “We just had too many free passes, too many errors. Pitching and defense is what wins games, especially this time of year. Can’t say a thing about Joel’s pitching performance, sucking it up going on short rest. That’s a good team over there. They always made that big pitch or hit to keep us down. That’s why they’re the No. 3 seed.”
Patterson committed five errors and surrendered just two earned runs. Berwick had two miscues.
Roberie led the Berwick offense with a 2-for-4 performance with three RBIs. Other top Berwick offensive contributors included Kyle Pitre, 2-for-4; Hatch, 1-for-2, an RBI; and Price, an RBI and a run.
Patterson had just four hits, but three were doubles. Jamey Fabre led the team with a 1-for-4 performance with a double and an RBI, while Noah Bryant was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. John Brooks added a 1-for-3 performance with a double.
Berwick’s next opponent, Buckeye, advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Church Point 10-0 in the first game and 3-2 in game two.
Berwick 6, Patterson 1
Berwick won the first game of the series Friday, 6-1, breaking open a close game in the fifth and sixth innings.
Ahead just 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Berwick scored a run in the inning on an error and added two more in the sixth via a Pitre sacrifice and a Hatch sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Berwick opened the game with two runs in the bottom of the first via back-to-back walks to Pitre and Hatch with the bases loaded.
Patterson cut its deficit to 2-1 in the top of the second on Singleton’s RBI groundout.
Berwick added a run in the second on a balk.
Cameron Wiley earned the win as he pitched seven innings and surrendered one run (one earned) on three hits with four walks and eight strikeouts.
Offensively, Hatch led Berwick with a 1-for-1 performance with a double and two RBIs, while Pitre collected two RBIs.
Bryant suffered the loss. In 1.2 innings, he surrendered three runs (two earned) on one hit with four walks and three hit batters.
Patterson pitching hit Berwick batters six times.
S i n g l e t o n l e d Patterson’s offense with a 1-for-3 performance with an RBI.
Additional reporting by Review Sports Editor Geoff Stoute.