The first of two baseball skirmishes this week between 6A Premier Region and city rivals #2 Basha and #1 Hamilton tilted Basha's way on Tuesday.

The Bears prevailed with adequate pitching and an abundance of baserunners in thwarting the Huskies by a final count of 7-3 in their Premier Region opener at Hamilton High. Basha improved to 14-5 overall. With the loss Hamilton is 14-4. The teams play again on Thursday afternoon at 3:45 at Basha.

Basha never trailed in dealing Hamilton starter and senior Carson Johnson his first loss in five decisions. The Bears had baserunners aplenty - collecting 12 hits plus seven more runners (four hit batters and three walks). Every player in their starting lineup reached base, eight of the nine had a hit and five drove in runs.

Senior left-hander Bradyn Barnes earned the victory for Basha. Barnes allowed three runs in six innings. He surrendered his share of baserunners (10 - four hits, five walks and one hit batter). Barnes, however, helped himself by picking off a runner in the first and getting a double-play grounder in the fourth. Carter Boone pitched a 1-2-3 seventh fanning two. 

Three Basha players delivered multiple hits, going 2 for 4 --  Tyler Clementz, Cannon Albright and Alex Dabrowski. Dabrowski and Brady Lord - both hitting in the bottom third of the order - drove in two runs apiece. Teammate Drew Douglas blasted the game's only home run - a leadoff shot in the sixth.

Logan Krei was the lone Hamilton player with multiple hits. Krei was 2 for 3. The Huskies Liam Wilson and Jeter Mauzey drove in a run apiece.