Bark River-Harris Baseball Sweeps North Central: Ives Hits First Career Home Run

The Bark River-Harris baseball team put on a show in their doubleheader sweep over North Central on Friday, with freshman Ethan Ives stealing the spotlight by belting his first career home run.

In game one, the Broncos came out swinging, scoring seven runs in the first inning thanks to key hits from Jacob Mileski, Ethan Ives, Troy Johnson, Lucas Hall, and Dominick Langtange. Ives, who finished the game 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored, capped off the offensive explosion with a solo home run in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 15-9. The Broncos went on to win 18-9, with Manny Oswald also having a standout performance, going 5-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.

In game two, the Broncos continued their offensive dominance, scoring eight runs in the first inning. Gabe Spear, Mileski, and Ives all contributed RBI hits in the early onslaught. On the mound, Dane Schmitt was lights out, allowing just one earned run off two hits and striking out 10 in four innings of work. Ives and Mileski each finished 2-for-2 with three RBI and three runs scored, while Hall added two RBI to help secure the 11-1 victory.

After the game, Ives credited the team’s confidence at the plate for their success, stating, “Everyone is confident when they get up to the plate, and we are all making good contact.” Coach Al Botwright praised Ives as the engine driving the team’s offense, highlighting his performance as the lead-off hitter.

With the impressive sweep over North Central, the Bark River-Harris baseball team continues to showcase their offensive firepower and solid pitching, setting themselves up as a force to be reckoned with in the remainder of the season.