Brady Van Scoyoc has served as a leader for East Buchanan baseball

WINTHROP — Brady Van Scoyoc was born into a baseball family.

His dad coached baseball and was a softball coach when the East Buchanan freshman was born. Van Scoyoc grew up around a diamond even before he gravitated to T-ball, Little League and travel ball.

“I loved the game and never stopped playing it,” Van Scoyoc said. “It came pretty natural.”

Van Scoyoc’s passion has produced a solid season for the Buccaneers, who hosted Clinton Prince of Peace in the first round of the Class 1A District 10 play Saturday. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one run and earning a no-decision in the Buccaneers’ 2-1 victory in eight innings.

Brady Hogan smacked a base hit into center field to chase home Tanner Thurn for the game-winning run with two outs. Thurn had an RBI single to score Tristan Cornell for East Buchanan’s other run in the third. Will Hansen pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win.

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East Buchanan improved to 14-8, surpassing last year’s win total and posting the second-most wins in a season in at least 16 seasons.

“We were going to have a lot of guys this year that played a lot of baseball and have a lot of talent,” said Van Scoyoc, who scattered seven hits and faced 21 batters. “We were expecting a big year, especially after last year. We set a new standard and hoped to build off that.”

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Van Scoyoc has been a key component of the success. He took the mound Saturday with a 7-1 record with a 1.80 earned-run average. He has a knack for throwing strikes, fanning 42 batters and walking just nine in 50 2/3 innings pitched before Saturday. He allows just 1.22 walks and hits per inning.

“There are a lot of things but the biggest thing is how efficient he is,” Buccaneers Coach Thomas Crawford said. “He’s had multiple complete games. I know one of them was 73 pitches in seven innings.

“He makes it work. They might put the ball in play but he has trust in his defense behind him to make the plays.”

Van Scoyoc also entered the district game with a team-high 24 hits, batting .338 with a .360 on-base percentage. Despite being a freshman, Crawford said other players look to him as a leader.

“I try to be a leader as much as I can,” Van Scoyoc said. “We’re young but talented. I just play as good as I can and hope the other guys play to their abilities, too.”

Van Scoyoc has demonstrated maturity beyond his two years in the program. He also has a cerebral approach, which was echoed by East Buchanan head football coach Jerry Alden, who noted Van Scoyoc is a top contender for starting quarterback in the fall.

“He’s played a lot of baseball,” Crawford said. “His baseball IQ is through the roof. Just him being able to analyze things as they happen as the game is going on is a big thing.”

Van Scoyoc is part of a talented group of underclassmen. Crawford, who moved from Nevada, Iowa, and is in his fourth season as Buccaneers head coach, heard about the upcoming class. They are making their impact on the program.

“When I took the job, I had a lot of guys telling me there are young kids coming up through the program and they’ve played a lot of baseball,” Crawford said. “Now, we’re starting to get those kids and I think that is another big thing leading to success.”

Only three seniors are on the East Buchanan roster. Center fielder and multisport standout Thurn is the lone senior starter. The future looks bright as Van Scoyoc and his teammates focus on meeting the program’s new standard.

“We’re only going to get better from here,” Van Scoyoc said. “We only lose one senior this year, so next year we’re going to be more experienced.”

Belle Plaine tops Midland

Belle Plaine advanced to the 1A District 10 semifinals with a first-round victory over Midland Saturday night at East Buchanan High School in Winthrop.

The Plainsmen used an eighth-inning rally for a 3-2 victory over the Eagles. They will face host East Buchanan Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The two teams traded a run in the first four innings. Midland starter Anthony Harrington walked and scored on a Dane Ballou single in the first, giving the Eagles the first lead.

Belle Plaine tied the game in the fourth. Nate Hoover reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on an error.

Harrington and Hoover stymied opposing batters. Hoover allowed one run on two hits through six innings, while Harrington gave up one run on three hits through 6 1/3 innings.

The Plainsmen (11-10) took the lead in the top of the eighth. Rhett Parrott and Hoover led off with back-to-back singles. Mason Walter’s sacrifice bunt moved them both into scoring position. Hayden Neuhaus followed with a two-run single, making it 3-1.

Harrington doubled and scored on Matt Sauer’s single in the bottom half. Sauer stole second, putting the tying run in scoring position.

Belle Plaine reliever Ty Alcott struck out the final two batters to end the threat and secure the win.

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