Verrado Fends Off Late Buckeye Rally to Win
The Vipers kept the momentum rolling with a strong 8–5 win over Buckeye Union on April 12. Verrado jumped ahead early and built a comfortable 8–0 lead heading into the 6th before holding off a five-run push from the Hawks.
Senior Braden Marchese set the tone on the mound, spinning four scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts and only 4 hits allowed. Nico Doyen, Jackson Duncan, and Kyan Sims all contributed in relief, with Doyen striking out two and Duncan tossing a clean inning.
At the plate, Verrado’s offense was spread out and steady. Braxton Bjur led the way with two hits and an RBI, while Bode Acton crushed a triple that brought in a key run. Nico Doyen made his one at-bat count, launching a solo homer in the 4th. Eli Bebleh, Nolan Raissle, and Acton each drove in a run, while Ethan Williams, Aaron Gutierrez, and Cole Cassidy added pressure on the base paths with stolen bases.
Defensively, the Vipers kept things clean — just one error on the day — and turned multiple big plays to keep Buckeye quiet through five innings.
The Hawks showed life late with a five-run 6th sparked by walks and timely hits, but Verrado’s early cushion and strong bullpen work sealed the win.
