by Gabe Zoda
Got to speak with Brayden Soutar after the game after his 1-2 1RBI day at the plate and his 6 2/3IP, 4Ks day on the mound. pic.twitter.com/J5dwxR3bpN
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 21, 2021
If there was a definition of what a humid summer day feels like, this double header would be exactly it. LI Boys of Summer had some 15u action yesterday between the Body Armor Titans and LIB Vexxum.
The first game of the DH they played was close but at the end it would be the Titans taking it by a score of 3-1 but the second game is what was even more exciting and thrilling to watch.
That second game would end in a 2-2 tie but without a couple of crucial performances from a couple of players , that tie wouldn’t have happened.
After winning the first game, the Body Armor Titans were riding some pretty good momentum into the second game, they would show just that by scoring a run in the top of the 1st inning.
Jack Fanning would start off the game with a leadoff walk. He quickly then stole second and then was able to make his way over to third after good situational hitting from Tyler Cook to get a grounder to the right side.
With that run only 90 feet away, it would be Peter Beisel who would bring in Jack Fanning. He did this with a hard ground ball that would make the 3rd baseman unable to cleanly field it, thus the ball getting away from him and allowing Fanning to score from 3rd.
After that run in the first, it would take really good pitching and defense from both sides. Starting pitcher, AJ Aschettino, for the Titans and Brayden Soutar for LIB Vexxum really produced quality innings and getting batters to hit into weak contact to allow for their defense to make plays behind them.
Along with the pitching, the shortstops (Jack Fanning for the Titans and Aaron Femine for LIB Vexxum) for both teams made a couple of really great plays displaying their arms and range.
The next runs the game would see was in the bottom of the 4th. This half inning was crucial as LIB would put up 2 runs and take a 2-1 lead.
LIB Vexxum was able to do this with a little rally to kick things off. That started with a walk to leadoff batter Aaron Femine. Danny Psaki would put the second runner on with a huge 2B down the 3rd base line.
Now with 2 runners in scoring position, they just needed to bring them in and one would score off of a single from SP, Brayden Soutar. His single passed by the diving 2nd baseman and Femine would score easily.
The second run would score by a passed ball. Danny Psaki was waiting for his shot to come in and after a couple of wild pitches and passed balls, he would find his opportunity and come in. His smart baserunning would give Vexxum the lead but the Titans knew they were better than they were playing and wanted to get back to prove that.
In the bottom of the 7th, they would do just that. It would take a couple of clutch hits to tie this game and the boys on the Titans were able to tie it up at 2.
The inning didn’t start in favor of the Titans chances as they would get out by Brayden Soutar via a strikeout and a ground out. With two outs, the Titans needed a big hit and they would get it.
It would be Peter Beisel who would shoot out a 2B to get the guys rolling. After Beisel set them up, Aaron Babaev would bring him in with a clutch 2 out single into RF. That would tie the game at 2.
Titans tie things up in the top of the 7th. They make it 2-2 and this single from Aaron Babaev Scores it. pic.twitter.com/IM1geme4Ql
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 20, 2021
LIB Vexxum was unable to get in any runs in the bottom of the inning so that would end the game in a tie. Now the Titans look to carry the momentum from the late game rally into an upcoming tournament in Atlanta while LIB Vexxum looks the continue the strong pitching and defense from this game when they face off against Team Francisco LoDuca-15U on the 22nd.
