Coach Chad says the preparation that led to today’s 16 runs is just business as usual for the team: pic.twitter.com/3K0kUYL3ey
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 9, 2019
by James Ryder
Both teams battled right from the start on Sunday morning at Plainedge Park in a back-and-forth scoring exchange that lasted three straight innings. However, it was 11u Batting 1.000 that outlasted Team Steel Gold and ended up winning having scored double their opponents runs.
Batting 1.000 scored runs every time they came to the plate, resulting in 16 runs on the day. Steel Gold consistently chipped away for three innings and scored eight runs before coming up empty in their final two frames.
The scoring barrage started in the top of the first inning when Gold Steel scored their first run. Alex Casey hit a triple to right field and came home on a pass ball. In the bottom of the first, Batting 1.000 had a huge response to take the lead and set the tone for the rest of the game. The first three batters loaded the bases, each of them having walked. Derek Yormack drove in one run by reaching first safely on a ground ball that ate up the second baseman. The bases were loaded again when Brandon Meyers also walked. Lucas Lucchi hit a sac-fly to RF to bring home Ryan Bayer to take the lead 2-1. Jack Zagariello came to bat next and singled to load the bases for the third time. A Chase Goldberg bunt single, an Anthony Kenner walk, and a pass ball scored the final four runs of the inning, respectively. Batting 1.000 went into the second inning up 6-1.
An error at first base on Logan Booth’s grounder to third and Joseph Menella stealing home after a throw to second base by the catcher allowed Steel Gold to cut the deficit in half, 6-3. But, Batting 1.000 scored another three to regain a large lead. Matthew Tolipano’s infield single scored one before Meyers’ infield single scored two runs making it 9-3.
Again, Team Steel Gold scored enough runs to make it a competitive matchup in the third inning. Another error at second base allowed them to score the first of five runs on the inning. This was followed up by an inside the park 3-run home run by Casey that was launched into RF and rolled for a couple dozen feet. Menella added an additional run when he too put the ball in orbit for an RBI triple. These heroics were enough to bring the score to 10-8 going into the bottom half of the third.
Unfortunately, this would be the last time Steel Gold scored. Batting 1.000 responded right way by padding their lead, adding two runs. Timmy Lynch hit an RBI double that was hit hard enough to deflect off the third baseman’s glove. The second run came when Bayer hit a blooper to shallow center field and beat out a throw to first. However, the throw went past the first baseman which gave Lynch the opportunity to score. They now lead 12-8.
Finally, Batting 1.000 put the game far out of reach in the bottom of the fourth by scoring their final four runs. Ryan Yormack and Meyers each led off the inning by walking. Then, Lucchi advanced the runners by popping up and being called out on the infield-fly rule. Zagariello’s followed this up with a one run single. On the same play a throw was made to first to hold him there. The throw was off once again and went past first allowing one more runner to score. Believe it or not, yet another throw past first occur on the very next at bat when the catcher tried throwing out Goldberg who broke from home having struck out on a pass ball. Another run scored due to this. Lastly, a pop out to the shortstop in shallow left field allowed one last runner to cross the plate.
In the end, the game was ended after the top of the fifth due to a time limit on the game. This game was the first of a double header for both teams. Even if given the opportunity to do so, it is unlikely Steel Gold could have overcome the very large lead 11u built for themselves. Final Score: Batting 1.000 16, Team Steel Gold 8.
