Mustafa 'Plays For Two' As BR-H Broncos Win Two
BARK RIVER---The sleeve says it all: "Play For Two". It's blue, with gold lettering. And it is on the arm of Bark River-Harris High School sophomore Kadin Mustafa. The sleeve has special meaning, as most of the community no doubt knows by now. It is a heartfelt tribute to John Miron. Mustafa, only 15 years old, was sitting in the passenger seat just a few feet away. He was badly hurt, but healed quickly, and even played American Legion ball last summer. Physical wounds can heal, but pain in the heart takes a lot longer, and in fact, sometimes broken hearts never heal. But Mustafa is doing what he can to honor the uncle he was so close to. Not just by wearing a sleeve. But by dedicating every game he plays to Miron. And so on Friday, after Mustafa delivered the walk-off base hit to give the Broncos a 5-4 win over the Stephenson Eagles in the nightcap of a doubleheader, the tears started flowing. Tears of happiness, maybe, at getting the win? Tears of sorrow that Miron had to see the hit from heaven? Tears of saying 'there, Uncle John, that one's for you'?" Whatever the mindset, all that mattered was that it happened, and it capped a great day for Mustafa. In the opening game of the doubleheader, Mustafa had three base hits, including an RBI double, as the Broncos won, 4-2. Mustafa is certainly an emotional story to this doubleheader, but he was far from the only story. The Broncos overcame some defensive mistakes, and some mental mistakes with runners on base, to win both ends of that doubleheader. In the first game, Mason Korhonen got the start on the mound, and was relieved by Jace Briggs. Briggs worked in and out of trouble, getting the victory by striking out batters to end the fifth and sixth innings...the last of which ended the game. Stephenson took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when the ball went into the dirt and BR-H catcher Logan Heim tried to get Alex Hanson at second base. When Heim threw the ball, Jesus Becerra came home to score the first run of the game. In the second inning, the Broncos took the lead on Sam Hall's infield hit that brought home Drake Draze. Then in the third inning, Matt Richer led off with a single, got bunted to second by Ryan Arndt, and scored on a ground ball by Cole Ray. Then, in the fourth inning, it was Mustafa's turn to get one up into the jet stream. He smacked one over the left fielder's head for a double, scoring Bryce Sundquist to make it a 4-1 Bark River-Harris lead heading into the late innings. In the fifth inning, Stephenson loaded the bases on two hits and a walk, but managed only one run because of Mustafa's play at third base. Briggs struck out Brady Cole to end that inning, keeping it a 4-2 game. But the sixth...and final inning...would be tough. The Eagles got two hits apiece from Hanson, Nate Rasner, and Becerra. For the Broncos, besides Mustafa's three hits, Sam Hall had two hits. The Broncos had ten hits in the game, the Eagles had eight. Rasner took the loss on the mound. In the second game, Richer earned the pitching victory for the Broncos. The Broncos have the weekend off before they travel to Alger County to take on the Athletics for a doubleheader next Tuesday at 4:00. BR-H will host Marquette for two games next Thursday afternoon. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from Friday's game. |
Date | Time | Opponent | Score | Record |
4/19 |
4:00 PM |
at North Central Jets
|
0 - 4 (L)
|
|
4/19 |
6:00 PM |
at North Central Jets
|
7 - 3 (W)
|
|
4/22 |
4:00 PM |
Stephenson Eagles
|
5 - 4 (W)
|
|
4/22 |
6:00 PM |
Stephenson Eagles
|
4 - 2 (W)
|
|
4/26 |
4:00 PM |
at Superior Central Cougars
|
5 - 0 (W)
|
|
4/26 |
6:00 PM |
at Superior Central Cougars
|
14 - 8 (W)
|
|
4/29 |
4:00 PM |
at Escanaba Eskymos
|
0 - 7 (L)
|
|
5/3 |
4:00 PM |
at Norway Knights
|
- (T)
|
RAIN
|
5/3 |
6:00 PM |
at Norway Knights
|
- (T)
|
RAIN
|
5/5 |
5:15 PM |
at Stephenson Eagles
|
11 - 1 (W)
|
|
5/7 |
1:00 PM |
Menominee Red Wave Legion
|
8 - 20 (L)
|
|
5/7 |
3:30 PM |
Menominee Red Wave Legion
|
5 - 4 (W)
|
|
5/9 |
4:00 PM |
Escanaba Eskymos
|
1 - 15 (L)
|
|
5/12 |
4:00 PM |
at Marquette JV
|
- (T)
|
|
5/12 |
6:00 PM |
at Marquette JV
|
- (T)
|
|
5/14 |
10:00 AM |
Houghton Gremlins
|
0 - 6 (L)
|
|
5/14 |
3:00 PM |
Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils
|
11 - 17 (L)
|
|
5/18 |
5:00 PM |
at Gladstone JV
|
5 - 1 (W)
|
|
5/21 |
10:00 AM |
Negaunee Miners
|
2 - 11 (L)
|
|
5/21 |
3:00 PM |
at Escanaba Eskymos
|
2 - 14 (L)
|
|
5/24 |
5:30 PM |
Gladstone JV
|
14 - 4 (W)
|
|
5/28 |
11:00 AM |
at Menominee Red Wave Legion
|
1 - 7 (L)
|
|
6/3 |
1:30 PM |
at Newberry Indians
|
1 - 6 (L)
|