Final: Oil City Bandits 6, Westchester Jr Ducks 0.
Ivan Epps and Todd Segarra combine to throw a no-hitter. pic.twitter.com/ReJIvpIvBT
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 26, 2019
The 12u Oil City Bandits, coached by Tommy Beirne, defeated the Westchester Jr Ducks 6-0, without allowing a hit in the process.
The Bandits pushed across the only run that they would need in the top of the first inning. Todd Segarra was hit by a pitch, and as a result of some sloppy defense by the Ducks, came around to score the first run of the game.
In the bottom of the inning, the Ducks did threaten to score, working back to back walks with two outs. But Bandits starting pitcher, Ivan Epps, was able to focus up as he struck out the following batter to escape the jam.
Not content with just one run, the Bandits added on to their lead in the second inning. Again, a hit batter sparked things, as Carson Fessler was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. An errant pickoff throw allowed Fessler to move into scoring position, and he was then driven in by Chase Haffey on a fly ball to right field.
As things continued to unravel, Sean Arnott worked a walk. Ryan Piccola hit a single to center field, bringing Haffey in to score, and moving Arnott over to third. Segarra then drove in the final run of the inning when he grounded out to the shortstop.
Now trailing 5-0, the Ducks once again threatened to score in the bottom of the second, as they worked three consecutive walks, with only one out. However, none of the runners would score, as Epps once again worked out of trouble, retiring the next two batters he faced.
Epps’ third inning and final inning of work was his cleanest. After getting a groundout and a strikeout, he looked to be out of the inning. A grounder to short was mishandled, allowing the batter to reach. Showing time and time again to be unfazed by baserunners, Epps got the next batter to weakly pop out to the first baseman.
The fourth inning saw Todd Segarra on the mound for the Bandits. After a weak groundout, he walked Tyler Widman. The runner was quickly erased, as Widman’s lead got a bit too big, and he was picked off. Segarra finished up the inning with a strikeout, to complete the fourth inning of no-hit baseball.
Segarra immediately found himself in trouble in the fifth inning, issuing three straight walks before getting an out. As happened time and time again, him and his defense worked out of trouble without allowing a run. With the bases loaded and no outs, Segarra got the batter to pop up weakly, and infield fly was called. The following batter, Robert Keller, hit a hard ground ball to the Bandits shortstop who turned a 6-6-3 double play to get out of the inning.
For good measure, the Bandits tacked on one more run in the top of the sixth inning, which would be the last. Arnott walked, and later came around to score as the Ducks attempted to throw out another baserunner stealing second base. Now with a 6-0 lead, Segarra looked to secure the victory
Segarra successfully finished the game, saving his best stuff for last. He mixed a strikeout in between two weak groundouts to not only win the game, but to complete the no-hitter as well.
Epps and Segarra both mentioned pitching with a lead as being important to their performances. Epps noted that “It gave me more confidence,” while Segarra said “it’s definitely a good cushion, and knowing that you’re safe no matter what. It definitely helped.”
