Dialog reporter
WILMINGTON – Conrad’s Ryan Bradigan scattered five hits and got out of trouble in the final inning as the Redskins defeated Archmere, 3-1, in Diamond State Athletic Conference baseball April 19 at Frawley Stadium. The junior righty improved his record to 5-0, and his team is now 8-2.
Liam Delaney opened the seventh for the Auks with a triple to deep left-center field, but Bradigan was not rattled. He struck out the next two batters, then retired Colin Lynch on a popup to second for the complete game. Bradigan was not overpowering, but he was effective. Those two strikeouts gave him four for the game.
His counterpart on the mound, Archmere’s Andrew Orzel, was nearly as effective. He allowed just two hits, both of which scored runs, and had four 1-2-3 innings, with three strikeouts.
Conrad struck first in the bottom of the second. Brett Nowell walked to open the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a one-out single by Anthony Madonna.
The Auks tied it up in the fifth. Delaney reached on an error and would score on a single by Thomas Alexander.
But the tie was short-lived, as Conrad plated two in its half of the inning. Chris Kramedas and Bradigan both reached when they were hit by pitches, putting runners on first and second with one out. Marshall Awtry followed with a run-scoring knock to right, and Kyle Walker brought in the Redskins’ third run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right.
The game’s best defensive play occurred in the home half of the sixth. Orzel fielded a high chopper barehanded while running toward right field. He flipped the ball to his second baseman, who threw the runner out at first for the 1-4-3 putout.
Archmere is now 5-3 and travels to Canby Park to play St. Elizabeth on Saturday at noon. Conrad is also on the road on Saturday, facing Concord at 11 a.m.
