by James Ryder
On Monday night, the 2019 MLB Home Run Derby took place at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was mesmerized by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 91 home runs and ultimately exhilarated about Pete Alonso’s 23 home runs to take the Derby crown. On Friday night at Plainedge High School, there were no home runs, but a game between the 13u LI Thunder and the Titans produced nearly the same number of walks with LI Thunder edging out the LI Titans, 7-3.
The many walks came thanks to great plate discipline from both teams. However, this does not mean either team went without a few hits and RBI. The Titans got the game started by scoring one run in the top of the first inning following a pair of singles. After the number 2 hitter Matt Cruz hit one to left field, James Coates hit the other to shallow right field, putting runners on first and third. A passed ball allowed Cruz to steal home, giving the Titans a 1-0 lead.
The Thunder came right back in the bottom half to take their first lead. Michael Jazylo walked and stole second base before being brought home on Anthony DiChiano’s RBI double over the center fielder’s head. DiChiano scored on an RBI single by Doug Davies to make it 2-1 Thunder. The top of the second inning truly began the Walk Derby, as it was the first of a few frames that saw several walks and resulting runs. The Titans tied the game when Cruz worked a bases loaded walk with 2 outs. Following two scoreless frames, it was the Thunder’s turn to jog the bases. With the top of the order coming to bat, LI had four straight walks that gave them the lead back at 3-2. The next two batters each got out, but the carousel didn’t end there. The Thunder drew another three consecutive walks to bring the score to 6-2.
Game called due to time limit, 7-3 final. Here is Coach Dom on the offensive approach that allowed the team to score 4 runs on seven walks: pic.twitter.com/HNG7oApiiC
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 12, 2019
The top of the fifth would be the final time the Titans came to bat because the game ended midway through the bottom half due to time limit. In their effort to get back into the game, they walked three more times to load the bases and scored just one run when Jeran was bit by a pitch. The Thunder had the final two walks of the game and scored one last run on a bloop RBI single to RF from Davies. There were some nice plays from both teams on both sides of the ball, but the game would have been completely different if it was not for the plate discipline and walk parade that ensued. The game was undoubtedly decided by the seven walks that LI drew in the fifth inning, which led to four of their six total runs. Walk Derby final score: Thunder 7, Titans 3.
