By PAUL GOTHAM
Trey Buchholz struck out seven and hurled a four-hitter as Bolivar-Richburg (24-2) advanced to the NYSPHSAA Class C semifinal with an 8-1 win over Section VI champion Wilson (14-8) in Far West Regional action at Salamanca High School, Friday.
After allowing a run in the first, the senior right-hander retired eight of the next nine batters that came to the plate. He faced the minimum in four separate innings.
“Another phenomenal showing by him,” said Bolivar-Richburg head coach Dustin Allen. “He’s been pitching in big games for years now. He wants the ball in big games.”
Buchholz retired the last nine Wilson batters he faced.
“Truthfully, I feel he gets better as a game goes on,” Allen said. “He really studies what batters have done against him in the previous time or two. He knows where to pitch them. He knows what will work and what doesn’t.”
The Wolverines took advantage of six errors (three in the first two innings) to score seven unearned runs in the game.
“We were talking the past few days and knew that we wanted to put the ball in play and put the pressure on them,” Allen said. “We wanted to make them field it and be as aggressive as we could on the basepaths. Things worked out for us.”
B-R lead 2-1 after two innings before scoring three runs apiece in the third and four frames.
The regional championship is the fourth in as many tries in program history and third under Allen who has been at the helm 21 years.
“This one, I’m savoring,” said Allen who has also led B-R to regional titles in 2010 and 2014. “I didn’t know if we’d make it back after 10 years. You never know. This group of kids deserves every bit of it. They put in the time since they were little. I’ve coached a lot of them all the way up through.”
Buchholz along with Reiss Gaines and Aydin Sisson had a hit apiece from the top of the order and combined for four runs scored and four RBI. Landon Barkley scored twice and drove in a run. Caden Allen and Maddox Davison also crossed home.
Bolivar-Richburg will face Burke Catholic (IX) in the semifinals. A 1 p.m. first pitch is scheduled next Friday at Binghamton University.
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