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Weir and Miller combine for 12 strikeouts to help Camden-Frontier baseball beat Pittsford

Joseph Flaherty, Hillsdale Daily News
·4 min read

PITTSFORD — A tough matchup was played out over at Pittsford High School between two rival SCAA baseball programs.

The Pittsford Wildcats matched up with the Camden-Frontier ball clubs. It was the league openers for both teams. It was also the first time Pittsford has been able to set foot on the diamond this season.

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While Pittsford was eager to shake off the rust, the experienced pitchers of Camden-Frontier managed both games to victories for their squads. Coach Michael Conant and Camden-Frontier made a three-run swing at the top of the seventh in order to pull off the nail-biter 7-6 win against the Wildcats.

It was a combined pitching effort from seniors Rodney Weir, who started the game, and Brayden Miller. Miller would end up earning the win.

"It was really a matter of our team getting together," Weir said about the comeback and combined pitching effort. "It's a matter of teamwork and getting everyone up. (The biggest takeaway) was our ability to battle through adversity."

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Rodney Weir and Brayden Miller combine for 12 strikeouts

The pitching effort for Camden-Frontier baseball was led by senior Rodney Weir, who through four solid innings, striking out eight batters and giving up five runs. The Wildcats got strong batting efforts in the first half of the game to take a 5-3 lead over Camden-Frontier. Camden-Frontier got one of those runs back in the top of the fifth to make the score 5-4.

Senior Brayden Miller then came into the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. The senior struck out one runner and earn two more quick outs from a pop up and ground ball for a quick bottom of the sixth inning. This would give Camden-Frontier their fighting chance at the top of the seventh to mount a comeback.

A triple from Dawson Shaw drove in a run from Kaiden Conroy. Miller then drove in Shaw on an RBI ground out to give Camden-Frontier the lead 6-5. They were able to add one more run to their total with a single from Jaden Martinez that sent Brandon Hukill home.

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After two quick strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh, Pittsford was on the ropes, but a big triple base hit from senior Mason Payne drove in a run from Ethan Pickford. The Wildcats closed in with a runner on third. On a full-count, Miller, who credited his relaxed mindset, got the strikeout against senior Lane Lewis to end the game and seal the comeback.

"It's just about relaxing, keep your head and playing as a team, " Miller said about game scenarios like the one he faced. "Us and Pittsford is always a big rivalry, so it feels good to get the win on them early in the year."

For Camden-Frontier, freshman Jaden Martinez had a standout game with three hits in four at-bats, with one RBI. Byron Hukill scored three runs. Logan Leggett scored twice. Conroy had two hits, including a double, an RBI and one run. Shaw had the triple that drove in a run, and he would score once. Luis Castro-Thilo had one hit and one RBI.

Camden-Frontier senior Brayden Miller would relief pitch after fellow senior Rodney Weir struck out eight in four innings. Miller struck out four batters over three innings and then earned the win.
Camden-Frontier senior Brayden Miller would relief pitch after fellow senior Rodney Weir struck out eight in four innings. Miller struck out four batters over three innings and then earned the win.
Camden-Frontier junior Kaiden Conroy slides safely into third before an error on the throw would send him home to score the tying run.
Camden-Frontier junior Kaiden Conroy slides safely into third before an error on the throw would send him home to score the tying run.

It was an impressive opening season effort from the Wildcats, who look to be a player for the division title against Camden this season and for district contention. Jacob Drawe got the start for Pittsford, earning four strikeouts and three earned runs. Senior Gavyn Carden pitched four innings, earning three strikeouts and giving up four earned runs.

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Pittsford senior Landon Governo had one double-base hit and two RBIs. Hunter Peiffer had a standout effort with two hits, one RBI, two runs and four stolen bases. Mason Payne had the triple base hit, two total hits and an RBI. Owen Hensley and Jacob Drawe would score a run each.

On deck for Camden-Frontier will be a visit to Waldron and then a doubleheader against Homer this Friday. For the Wildcats, they look for their first win of the season against Athens on Friday.

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This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Camden-Frontier baseball and starts league play with comeback win