by Aaron Rothschild
Game one, of the double header ends in a 5-5 tie. @EcybTournaments pic.twitter.com/5fWA1v0lkv
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 26, 2022
Yesterday was a great day to play two between the 12U Dodgers Nation and LIB. Both games featured impressive pitching resilience and some offensive production.
Game one would feature a great comeback resulting in a 5-5 tie. The game started with Dodgers Nation starter Salvatore Gallucio firing a scoreless first. Dodgers Nation would then come up to bat and score four early runs on a flurry of base hits including a two-run double by Anthony Branscum Jr. After this, however, LIB starter Zach Sisto would find his rhythm and both pitchers would fire scoreless second innings.
In the third, LIB would come up to bat and notch a run across on a steal of home by their first baseman Valentine. In the bottom of the frame Dodgers Nation would get that run back on an RBI double by Kyle Simcox making it 5-1 through three.
In the top of the fourth, LIB would notch in two more on a two-run double off the bat of Chase Yang to make it 5-3. LIB would then put in a new pitcher #25, Garcia who would go on to fire three scoreless frames to give his team a shot.
The game would stay at this score until the top of the 5th, when Garcia would tie the game with a two-run hit making it 5-5. The game would stay here as both relievers Garcia and Dodgers Nation reliever Kyle Simcox would shut the door. Both pitchers allowed base runners in the sixth however they stayed composed and got the job done. Both teams would move on two game two in what appeared to be quite the even matchup.
Game two however would be a little more lopsided and feature a great showing from Dodgers Nation. They once again started the game hot with a four-run top of the first inning headlined by a Simcox triple. On the bump for them would be Tobias Young and he was fantastic as he would hold LIB to just one run through the first three innings.
Anthony Branscum discusses the victory for Dodgers Nation this afternoon @EcybTournaments pic.twitter.com/C0PJ0HywWy
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 26, 2022
Dodgers Nation would tack on another in the second on an RBI single by Connor Hartman making it 5-1. They would score 5 more in the top of the third with a multitude of doubles against two different LIB pitchers.
LIB was not done fighting however, after another run in the top of the third they faced a possible mercy rule finish trailing 11-1. A two-run home run off the bat of Garcia would keep his team alive as they would score another run in the inning but Young was able to get out of trouble.
Headed into the 5th, due to time constraints it would be the final inning, both teams would notch across one more run in the inning and the game would result in a 12-4 victory for Dodgers Nation.
A great relay ends the game! Dodgers Nation wins, 12-5 F/5. pic.twitter.com/yZhHJzw3lm
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 26, 2022
Even with the lopsided score it was impressive to see the boys of LIB keep their heads up and fight hard. Both teams played above their years in all aspects of the game and it was a fun matchup all the way.
