Rain doesn’t dampen players’ spirit
- Published: July 24, 2014
Last Friday’s soaking rain played havoc with last week’s Minor League schedule, wiping out both Saturday games, leaving only a single completed game for the week as the only other scheduled contest was a forfeit. That means the Winds Cafe Indians hang on to their top spot going into the last two weeks of the 2014 season after outlasting the third place Vintage Truck Dragons in a high-scoring affair, 18–10, on Wednesday, July 16.
The two teams combined for 44 hits, including four extra base hits. The Dragons played well early, jumping out to an early lead in the first on Gage Kostrzewa’s infield single that scored Cameron Bruggeman. But the Indians scored six runs in their half of the first thanks to a two-run triple by Krishan Miller and RBI singles from Jake Ortiz-Thornton, Lucas Dunn, Isaac Grushon and Henry Smith-Heston. But the Dragons fought back in the top of second with four runs to make it 6–5 on RBI singles from Bruggeman, Kostrzewa and siblings Kenji and Tyson Housh.
The Indians roared back in their half of the second, adding six more runs thanks to Miller’s two-RBI singles, and RBI double by Ava Schell and RBI singles from Grushon and Ortiz-Thornton to go up 12–5. A three-run third inning helped bring the Dragons within four, 12–8, on Bruggeman’s third RBI of the day off a double that scored Rocky Warren, a fielder’s choice that saw Kenji Housh reach base and score Christian Bruggeman and then Kostrzewa’s base hit that scored Housh.
The Indians extended the lead in the bottom of the third on Ava Schell’s RBI double that scored Lucas Dunn and an RBI single from Aiden Scavone that scored Schell. The Dragons rally continued in the top of the fourth with two more runs on RBI singles from Cameron Bruggeman and Kenji Housh. But once again, the Indians answered in the bottom of the inning, with four runs of their own on RBI base hits from Brady Baker, Scavone, Grushon and Smith-Heston to push the final score to 18-10. Miller led the Indians by going four-for-four with four RBIs and two runs scored, while the Dragons’ Cameron Bruggeman played well, also going four-for-four with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Despite forfeiting to the Tom’s Market Pirates on Monday, July 14, the Sam and Eddie’s Open Book Reds managed to hang on to second place with a 4–3 record, followed by the Dragons at 3–4 and the Pirates at 2–6.
The Reds B widened their Major League lead to three full games following wins over both Reds A and Reds C teams last week. Their first win came on Wednesday, July 16, in a 13-2 domination of the Reds C. The Reds B scored six runs in the first two innings to get the offense going. Dylan Rainey, Jason Lansing, Eamonn Cary, Tony Marinelli and Kai Maruyama all went two-for-two and each scored twice for the Reds B, with Albert Glover and Ty Thompson each scoring once. Tony Marinelli turned in a great performance on the mound, keeping the Reds C scoreless through the first three innings thanks to nine strikeouts and only four walks. Austin Turner and Quinn Wilson finally put the Reds C on the board in the fifth inning, each scoring once.
But the Reds C bounced back quickly, earning their first win in a 15–4 victory over the Reds A on Thursday, July 17. Tony Marinelli did it with his bat this time, hitting a pair of triples and a home run, while Wilson went three for three at the plate and scored three times. Jake Woodburn added a pair of base hits and two runs for the Reds C. Ty Thompson scored twice off a single and a walk, Turner scored twice after as many walks and Albert Glover crossed the plate twice after a single and a double. The Reds A jumped out to a 4–0 lead after the first inning but were then shut down by Reds C pitcher Fabian Williamson who struck out seven in four innings.
The Reds B then took their second win of the week on Sunday, July 20, in a 14–6 defeat of the Reds A. The Reds B took an early lead, scoring three first inning runs and adding six more in the second, while holding the Reds A to only a single run in the second, but giving up five more in the third. Dylan Rainey scored four times off a double, two base hits and a walk, while Eamonn Cary also scored four times off a base hit, a double and a pair of walks. Albert Glover scored twice, while Jake Woodburn, Liam Hackett, Tony Marinelli and Josaiah Zinger-Mitchell all scored once. The Reds A third inning rally fell short, but not before Laken Cosby, DeAndre Cowen, Blaine Baker, Dominick Fisher and Quinn Wilson each crossed the plate to bring the Reds A within three at 9–6. But they were held scoreless the remainder of the game, while the Reds B sealed the victory with another pair of runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to put the game away.
The Reds B record of 6–1 gives them a three game lead over the Reds A at 2–1, while the Reds C are currently at 1–5.
Minor League games are played on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. and at 7 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday evenings at Gaunt Park. Major League games are played Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. in Gaunt Park. You’ll find game results and the full schedule on the league website at http://www.leaguelineup.com/ysoyouthbb.
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