Elliot Fires Eight Shutout Innings as Braves Down Aces to Advance to Semifinals

By Ellie Rand

The Metro South County Braves rode an offensive burst in early innings and a dominant pitching performance from left-hander Gavin Elliot (Marymount) to cruise ahead of the Alexandria Aces 4-0 in the playoff Wild Card round. With the win, they advance to the best-of-three league semifinal series against the Olney Cropdusters. 

Metro South County scored all four of its runs in the second and third innings, while Elliot kept the Aces’ offense quiet for eight scoreless innings, striking out eight batters. Elliot allowed just three hits and walked three over 111 pitches. 

Evan Nix (Virginia Military Institute) worked a scoreless ninth to complete the three-hit shutout and record his first save for the Braves.

Metro South County was eager to get the game rolling early.

After a scoreless first frame, the Braves broke through in the second. Matt Wright (Ferrum) opened the inning with a double down the right-field line before Ben Robinson (NJIT) launched a two-run dinger to deep left field, giving Metro South County an early 2-0 lead.

The Braves tallied on two more runs in the third. Owen Peltier (Virginia Military Institute) singled and stole second before advancing to third on Christopher Krese’s (Stevens Tech) sacrifice bunt. 

Robert Kelly (Monmouth) followed with an RBI single to left, extending the lead to 3-0. Kelly later stole third. During Albright’s at-bat, Kelly broke for home as Aiden Simoneau (Marymount) stole second. The throw down to third sailed away from the Alexandria catcher, allowing Kelly to score and stretch the lead to 4-0.

Robinson finished 2-for-4, notching the two-run homer, while Kelly went 1-for-2 with an RBI, two walks, and two stolen bases. Wright added a double and scored twice as Metro South County collected seven hits and swiped six bases.

Alexandria was limited to three hits, but the Aces threatened in the seventh inning. Jackson Sgro (Haverford) worked a leadoff walk before Daniel McGinnis (Shepherd) lined a hard ground ball down the third-base line that deflected off the third baseman and trickled into left field, putting runners on first and second. Jack Warner (UPenn) followed, hammering the ball down the right field line, sending Sgro around third.

Initially, Sgro appeared to stop at third, but after the throw from right field sailed wide of home plate, Sgro was waved home. Braves catcher Collin Lott (Northern State) recovered the loose throw quickly, relayed the ball to the pitcher covering the plate, and Sgro was tagged out well before crossing the plate, ending Alexandria’s best chance to cut into the deficit.

A positive for the Aces was the bullpen keeping the game within reach. Jack Couture (Haverford) allowed one earned run, striking out four over two innings. Will Vieira (Fordham) followed, tossing two scoreless innings, tallying two strikeouts, and Brody Shawn (High Point) finished with four Ks over two shutout frames.

Despite the strong effort, the early offense was all Metro South County needed, as the Braves advanced to the semifinals while the Aces’ season is done.

The No. 4 Braves will face off against the No. 1 Cropdusters in a best-of-3 game series beginning Saturday at OBGC Park.