Tom’s Market Pirates stay on top
- Published: July 12, 2018
Another week of improvement in every Minor League team’s performance ended with the Tom’s Market Pirates maintaining their position atop the standings a little more than half-way through the season. But it is still a close race, with the Nipper’s Corner Reds only a game-and-a-half back.
After a late shower rained out the week’s first game Monday, July 2, the Sam and Eddie’s Open Books Braves dominated in a 9–1 victory over the Peach’s Dodgers on Thursday, July 5. The Braves pulled away for good with three second inning runs while adding three more in the fourth. Logan Herzog went 3–3 on the day resulting in a pair of RBIs while Joseph Amend’s single and double knocked in three runs and Teddy Horvath’s fourth-inning triple scored Morty Levinson and Henry Babb. Henry Carr and Tomé Rios went 2–2 at the plate, with Rios scoring the Dodgers’ only run off Lucas Mikesell’s first-inning RBI single.
The same two teams squared off again on Saturday, July 7, when they battled to a 12–12 tie in what was by far the Peach’s Dodgers best game of the year. The game was tied 6–6 after two when the Dodgers bats exploded for five runs in the top of the third. But the Sam and Eddie’s Open Books Braves responded with five of their own runs in the bottom of the fourth, including a three-run homer by Lucas Price to also score brother Owen Price and Herzog. The Braves led by a single run, 12–11, going into the final inning when Dodger rookie Alex Main led off with a single, and then scored on Henry Carr’s ground out to tie the game at 12–12. The Braves had one more chance to win in the bottom of the final inning, but Ezra Lydy threw a pair of infield grounders to first baseman Luc Amend for the first two outs. Ben Morris’ catch of an Owen Price fly ball ended the game and sealed the tie in one of the best played games of the season. The Dodgers’ Lydy also knocked in four runs off a single, double and triple, while Carr, Mikesell and Rios all had a pair of RBIs. Lucas Price and Olivia Hasek powered the Braves, with four RBIs each with Lili Herzog and Horvath each contributing one RBI. Both teams played excellent defense which also contributed to such an even game.
Saturday’s second game saw the Tom’s Market Pirates get back the game they lost in the previous week’s play with an 8–6 decision over the Nipper’s Corner Reds in the day’s second well played contest. Both team’s offenses were strong, with the Reds hammering out 15 hits while the Pirates had 12. Orion Sage-Frabotta’s pair of base hits resulted in three RBIs while Sherrod Wheeler and Bryce Fleming both went 2–2 at the plate with one RBI each for the Pirates, who scored four runs in each of the first two innings. Henry Lake led the Reds with a pair of RBIs off his two base hits and a double, with Noelle Fisher, Kyu Flateau, Brendyn Slone and Noah Diamond adding one RBI each.
The Major League’s Adoption Link Braves remained at the top of the standings heading into the final week of play after a pair of wins last week. They opened with a 16–3 overpowering of the Sunrise Café Indians on Thursday, July 5. The Braves smashed 16 hits while giving up only five. Noah VanHoose scored twice after going 3–4 at the plate for the Braves, while Isaac Grushon and Colin Linderman went 2–4 and crossed the plate three times each. Shawn VanHoose scored twice off a single and a double that also resulted in a pair of RBIs. Sophie Lawson led the Indians with a pair of hits and an RBI.
The Adoption Link Braves took their second win of the week on Friday, July 6, with a 12–8 decision over the Yellow Springs Toy Company Pirates. It was a close game most of the way, with the teams tied at 8–8 after four innings. But the Braves took command in the fifth with three runs and another in the final frame while holding the Pirates scoreless for the last two. Sam Linden, DeAndre Cowen and Linderman led the Braves, each going 2–3 and scoring a pair of runs with Krishan Miller also scoring twice off a base hit and a walk. Hazen VanMeter led the Pirates’ efforts, scoring three runs off his three walks and a base hit, while also leading the team in stolen bases with 10.
The week’s final game saw the Yellow Springs Toy Company Pirates rebound strong and quickly with an 18–12 victory over the Sunrise Café Indians on Saturday, July 7. After several lead changes and playing each other closely, it was a seven-run final inning performance by the Pirates that made the difference. The Pirates led 11–10 after five innings before three hits, four walks and 16 stolen bases put the game away. Substitutes helped the Pirates’ fortunes as Linden scored four runs off a pair of singles and a pair of walks and 10 stolen bases, while Grushon and Linderman both scored twice after each singled and walked. Pirate Frank Machi also had a stellar day with three runs scored off a pair of singles, a walk and nine stolen bases while Josh Clark and J.P Anderson scored twice. The Indians’ William Morris led his team, scoring three runs on a pair of singles, a double and five stolen bases, while Aiden Scavone, Nick Morris and Jacob Felton all scored twice after their base hits and/or walks.
Check the league website at http://www.ysbaseball.org for the latest scores, standings and schedule updates.
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