Bears force ‘if’ game behind the hitting of Johnson and Osbourne

BEARVILLE — Top-seed Pierce County staved off elimination here Wednesday in Game 2 of the best-of-three series against regionmate Cook forcing an “if” game with an 8-3 victory.

Brantley Willis (5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 K, 5 BB) and Jonathan Stone (1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP) combined to slow down the sixth-seed Hornets’ (23-13) Game 1 offensive juggernaut to force a deciding game for the right play in the Class AA championship series.

Dylan Johnson (1-for-4) slugged his first career homer, a two-run blast in the first inning for a 3-0 lead, and Christian Osbourne (1-for-3) added a two-run triple in the third frame for a 5-0 advantage in the May 13 nightcap.