On a night where the Mets and Yankees kicked off the Subway Series, two other teams familiar with one another squared up under the lights at Cantiague Park.
Game 1:
The NY Longhorns were in control for much of this game until the last inning. They did fall behind 1-0 in the first inning on an RBI single by Joe Meyer to left field which scored Jake D’Amico but he was thrown out trying to stretch into a double. Longhorns’ RHP Marco Comande ended the inning with a groundout to first base.
They faced Knights RHP Lucas Schwabe. The hard-thrower worked around a single to Comande in the first inning with a 9-3 double play initiated by the right fielder to escape the inning.
Comande settled in with a 1-2-3 second inning with two strikeouts to get his offense back in the dugout.
The Longhorns completely took control of the game in the second inning when they sent 10 batters to the plate and scored three runs. Logan Ho got things going with a single to left center field and moved to third on a double to center field by Derek Kohlman. Braden Grill ripped a single to center to tie the game and Jayden Schrader‘s double give them a 2-1 lead. They continued to do what good teams do and that’s pile on runs. Bryce Cutrone‘s fielder’s choice scored the third run of the inning and Evan Bontigh‘s RBI single made it 4-1. After Jackson So‘s walk and a groundout, Dylan Ynoa capped the scoring with an RBI single and two-base error to make it 6-1. The inning finally came to an end when Matt Schlitt’s line drive was caught at second base on a nice leaping grab.
After the Knights went down quietly in the third inning, the Longhorns added another run on an RBI groundout by Comande to score Gavin Porter, who led off with a single.
Joe Meyer came through with his second run-scoring hit of the game for the Knights which cut the lead to 7-2 in the fourth inning but they stranded two runners on with a strikeout of Lucas Schwabe.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Longhorns added another run on an RBI single by Landon to score Jackson So after he led off the inning with a triple.
Things did get more interesting than they should’ve in the sixth inning thanks to some uncharacteristic command issues and defense by the Longhorns. A leadoff single by Grady Blind got things going. A walk to Jake Blind moved him to scoring position. After a strikeout, two more walks and a pickoff, the bases were loaded. Anthony D’Amico blooped a single by the mound to score a run and make it 8-3. The next batter hit a pop up to the mound that was dropped and scored two more runs. The game was finally ended when the next batter was retired to give the Longhorns the 8-5 victory.
Game 2:
This was not the most efficient of games as the two teams were only able to complete four innings before the time limit expired. Both offenses came to play.
The Longhorns got on the board right away when Derek Kohlman ripped a two-run double to score Comande and Ho and just like that they were off to a 2-0 lead. The Knights went down 1-2-3 in the first inning with three infield pop outs and the Longhorns went down 1-2-3 as well.
In the bottom of the second, the Knights’ bats woke up. After Meyer was retired to start the inning, Dallas Bednarik walked to get the rally starter. Lucas Schwabe ripped an RBI double to cut the lead in hal to 2-1. The next two batters walked – a wild pitch tied the score – which set the stage for Anthony D’Amico who ripped an RBI double to give the Knights the 3-2 lead. They added another on a wild pitch to score Nicco Cecala to extend the lead to 4-2.
Unfortunately, the lead did not last long. In the top of the fourth, the Longhorns nearly batted around, sending 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs to take a commanding 8-4 lead. The rally began with a leadoff walk drawn by Matt Schlitt and RBI hits came by Gavin Porter, an RBI ground out by Aidan Ynoa, RBI double by Kohlman, an error, RBI triple by Schrader and a wild pitch. Finally, the inning ended on an ground out to first but the damage was done.
With the time limit approaching, the bottom of the fourth needed to take 13 minutes in order for the game to end after four innings. The Knights ability to work the count at the plate and their discipline actually worked against them as they drew some deep counts, drew two walks and reached on an error. This took roughly 15 minutes, and they stranded the bases loaded to end the game with a score of 8-4.
The Longhorns, one of the top teams in the age group, get out to a 2-0 start to the 2021 Fall Clash season.
