by Aaron Rothschild
Ryan Buderman on the double header sweep pic.twitter.com/HnKF2bsQbo
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 10, 2021
It is always a treat to be able to watch good baseball at any level, but it is especially rewarding when the athletes are just eight to nine years old and play well above their age.
The LI Titans Buderman would sweep the double header from Team Beast Black by scores of 7-6, and 12-2.
The game started with a 1-2-3 inning that induced a ground out as well as two strikeouts for starter Brody S. The Titans would come to bat in the bottom of the inning where Joey F. would make it onto third but would be left stranded after a strikeout from Team Beast Starter Simon Morris.
In the second Brayden Bjornson would strike a one out double and would steal a base, he would then be drove in on a ground ball RBI to the first baseman by Anthony Campagnone to open the scoring. In the Bottom of the frame the Titans would go on to strike big for 4 runs highlighted by a smattering of singles as well as a couple walks to the bottom of the order. Headlining the inning would be an RBI double by Jackson W. The crafty baserunning of the Titans in this inning can not go unrecognized as during this inning they would be flying all over the base paths.
To start the third Brody S. would work around a 2 out error to escape the inning with the three run lead intact. The Titans would come back and strike for one more after a double to start the inning by Joey F. and would be driven in on a sac fly to right by Ryan Buderman to extend the lead to four.
In the top of the fourth the Titans would bring in a new pitcher Mason Martinez. A leadoff walk followed by a ringing double would make it second and third with nobody out. Simon Morris would step to the plate and drive in both runners to cut the lead in half, making it a 5-3 ballgame. Martinez would be able to get a big strikeout and leave two stranded headed to the bottom of the fourth. The Titans would come to bat and respond once again as they have throughout the game as Sean B. would single and then steal two bases, an RBI groundout to short by AJ P. would make it a 6-3 ball game. A walk by Brody S. and two more stolen bases would bring him to third as we would see more good situational hitting on a fielder’s choice RBI to make it 7-3.
To start the fifth Brayden Bjornson would single and then steal his way around the bases to cut the lead to three. But Martinez would once again keep his composure and get out of the inning. In the Bottom of the fifth Team Beast would bring in RJ Merkle to pitch and he would work around a error and a walk to keep the score as is.
The top of the six was certainly an eventful half inning Nico Sandoval would lead off with a walk and two stolen bases. A fantastic play by the Titan Second Baseman laying out to get an out at first would give up a run but keep another runner off base. Max Denino would then steal home to make it a 7-6 game. With two outs a ground out to third off the bat of John Danisi would render an extremely close play at first resulting in the final out of the game sending Team Beast fans and coaches into a frenzy! But that’s baseball and sometimes the game can be cruel.
Great relay saves a run! Headed to the bottom of the fourth, Titans lead 5-3. pic.twitter.com/qScOjjCkMi
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 10, 2021
In the second half of the double header the game certainly loved the Titans. The Titans would be the away team in this one and started fast with a leadoff single by Mason Martinez he would then steal a couple bases and be driven on a single to follow, this would become a theme for the Titans as they would get on base, steal a couple bags, and be driven in. This resulted in a 5 run top of the first inning off of pitcher Niko Sakatis.
The Titans would start Jackson R. who had a live arm but was having some control issues dishing out four first inning walks, as Bjornson would have an RBI walk as well as the pitcher Sakatis helping his own cause with an RBI walk, with one out the Titans would turn to Ryan Buderman who would get consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.
To second inning would be led of with a single and two stolen bases by Max S. He would then score on an RBI groundout to third. A single by Martinez would be a controversial play as he was ejected for bat throwing, but the man running for him would score on a single by Joey F to make it 7-2. Buderman would come out for the bottom of the second and get an out on a diving play by the shortstop to start the inning. He would then work around a walk and get consecutive strikeouts looking.
The Titans would extend their lead in the third after a home run by Brody S to right center field as he motored around the bases. In the bottom of the frame Buderman would get some help by his shortstop once again as a single would be erased by a great double play turned by the shortstop.
In the fourth back to back doubles by Cooper P. And Jackson W. would drive in a run and Jackson would go on to steal home making it a 12-2 ball game headed to the bottom of the fourth with the mercy rule in play. Buderman would come in and keep up his great work on the bump striking out the side in order to end the game.
It was a great display of baseball and sportsmanship by these relatively young kids and truly a pleasure to watch.
