Staff photo / Brian Yauger Hubbard’s Gabe Rusnak delivers during the team’s 1-0 victory over Sheffield Brookside on Tuesday. Rusnak pitched a complete game shutout in the win.

HUBBARD — Sometimes, one is all you need.

Hubbard scored quickly in the bottom of the first, and Gabe Rusnak and the Eagles’ defense did the rest, helping Hubbard to a 1-0 victory over Sheffield Brookside in a Division IV, district semifinals contest.

Despite the Cardinals’ best efforts, putting Hubbard’s back against the wall multiple times throughout seven innings, the Eagles always had an answer.

Experience helps.

“They’ve kind of been there before. They’ve battled,” Hubbard coach John Schiraldi said. “I knew Gabe wasn’t gonna get rattled. He pitched in this same round when he was a sophomore, and we won 1-0 that day too, so this isn’t new for him. We’ve got an experienced group, and they just play hard.”

That lone run came off a triple by Geno Leshnack, who sent Jonny Adamson home.

It was enough of a cushion for Rusnak and the Eagles. Hubbard’s senior arm threw a complete game shutout, despite the pressure from Brookside.

“It really just comes naturally to me,” Rusnak said of his composure in tough moments. “I feel like I’m a very calm player, and I can get active whenever I need to. It was really important for me to just really make sure I’m getting that first big strike in today.”

It wasn’t just Rusnak’s composure that helped push Hubbard on Tuesday.

Some great defensive plays when the Eagles were backed against the wall made a difference.

In the bottom of the fifth, Brookside tried to lay down a bunt. The bunt went high and sailed into the glove of Matthew Bobovnik, who threw the baserunner out while returning to first base.

“Matt made a big play on that,” Schiraldi said. “He came in and fielded it, and then as he’s throwing that on the run, I’m like, ‘Oh my God,’ but it was right on the money. I think that’s the difference. A lot of high school teams try to make that play and it gets thrown into right field, and you’ve got problems. His throw was on the money and like I said, it’s just a group that I can trust. They’ve been in these moments before, they’ve worked hard all year, and I think now’s the time where that’s gonna pay off.”

Runners on didn’t faze the Eagles, even if the bases were loaded. They always seemed to have an answer to whatever Brookside offered.

The Eagles are set to take on Norton in the district finals at the Pipe Yard in Lorain on Thursday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

With a tough Panthers team awaiting them, Schiraldi wants the bats to be a little more active, but he has faith in the pitching staff to deliver.

“Our pitching’s been really good. Braydon (Songer) will be able to go on Thursday. He’s been really good all year, conference player of the year, so we feel good when he’s on the mound, but that goes for anybody. We feel good when Gabe pitches. He’s tied a school record for wins (in a season) before, Matthew (Bobovnik, who was) over at third today, has been really good pitching for us too. Our rotation has been solid.

“Hopefully we score a few more runs, but it’s not often you’re going to get that one run in the first to hold up the whole time, so we’ll see what happens.”