Baseball: Union City battles to hard earned sweep over rival Bronson

BRONSON – The rivalry between the Bronson Vikings and the Union City Chargers runs deep, whether it is on the football field, wrestling mat, basketball court or on the diamond.

This usually leads to some exciting action on the field and Tuesday was no different as the two rivals met for Big 8 Conference baseball action.

Union City secured the doubleheader sweep, winning 12-3 and 5-3.

Game 1 of the twin bill quickly turned into a bit of a home run derby, as both teams went yard to start the contest. For Union City it was senior Owen Jackson starting the scoring, hitting a solo bomb to right field to get the Chargers on the board in the first.

The Chargers then rallied with two outs, as a Tucker Zweng triple, followed by a Carson Liles double pushed Union City’s lead to 3-0. The Chargers were able to manufacture two more runs to lead 5-0 early.

Bronson responded with a long ball of their own as Carson Stevens led off the second inning with a solo home run to deep right field, closing the score to 5-1. The Vikings went on to score two more runs thanks to a James Jourdan double and a Logan Long single, closing the score to within 5-3 after two.

Union City took control of the game after that, scoring seven unanswered runs after out hitting the Vikings 9-7, as it was the Chargers taking the 12-3 win.

Eli Payne secured the win on the mound for Union City, throwing four and two-thirds of an inning in the start. Payne allowed five hits and three runs with four walks and seven strikeouts.

Four of Union City’s nine hits were of the extra base variety with a home run from Jackson, triples by Ryan and Tucker Zweng, and a double from Liles. Alex Boyer finished the game going 2 for 5 with two RBIs while Ethan Neveraski also drove in a pair of runs.

Max Byler took the loss on the mound for Bronson after throwing three innings and a third in the start, allowing four hits and seven runs, five earned, with eight walks and five strikeouts.

Carson Stevens led the offense with his first home run at the varsity level, while Jourdan and Owen Kimmons both added doubles.

Game 2 was more of a pitcher's duel compared to game one, as Union City went on to take the 5-3 win.

Union City led 3-1 after the first inning, only to see the Vikings tie things up with two runs in the third. Union City added runs in the fifth and sixth inning to put away the victory, despite Bronson recording more hits at an 8-7 advantage.

Ethan Neveraski took the win on the mound for Union City after throwing six innings in the start. Neveraski gave up eight hits and three runs with one walk and six strikeouts.

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Ryan Zweng recorded the save on the mound, throwing the final inning and allowing no hits with a strikeout.

Zweng was also on fire at the plate, finishing a perfect 4 for 4 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored.

Carson Stevens took the loss on the mound for Bronson after throwing five innings in the start. Stevens allowed five hits and four runs, two earned, with four walks and six strikeouts.

Dawson Soergel, Owen Kimmons and Warner Wotta all recorded a pair of hits, with Kimmons and Wotta knocking out doubles. Wotta drove in two runs in the tough loss.

With the win Union City improves to 8-9 overall on the season while Bronson falls to 7-10 overall on the year.

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Baseball: Union City secures hard earned sweep over rival Bronson