by Vin Messana
Baseball U coach Julien Arcos on their 10-3 win on Friday night over Team Francisco @EcybTournaments pic.twitter.com/Axw3ruQx3s
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 23, 2022
After Team Francisco Notorious 9 opened up the top of the first with a lead thanks to a three-run blast by Sapano, the tides shifted considerably in this Friday night battle between two talented 11u teams in the ECYBL Fall Clash.
Baseball U’s offense batted around, scoring five runs to take back the lead and they would never relinquish it.
Matteo Rico started it up with a single to center field and he scored on an RBI triple by Lucas Sikiric. Nick Merolla drove him in with an RBI double to make it 3-2. Liam Cruz hit a ground ball to third which was thrown away to score two more runs and give them a 4-3 lead. They added one more run on a fielder’s choice to first base that made it 5-3.
After that, the game moved incredibly quick.
Joe Connolly, the hard-throwing RHP for Baseball U worked around a single in the second inning to fire a scoreless inning and he got his offense back in the dugout. They added two more runs in the home half of the second inning to make it 7-3 and give them a little more breathing room. That rally started with a HBP of Matt Flachner and featured an RBI single by Nick Merolla.
Neither team scored in the third or fourth innings which kept a brisk pace to the game.
Final: Baseball U 10, Team Francisco 3
WP: Joe Connolly @EcybTournaments pic.twitter.com/iy5k8Lswqu— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 23, 2022
In the home half of the fifth, Baseball U kept the pressure on with three more runs – highlighted by a HR by Joe Connolly to make it a 10-3 ballgame and that’s how it would end.
In speaking with coach Julien Arcos after the game – he noted that he’s been with the team since they were 8u with the Sharks Baseball Academy and they have performed very well as they moved up to the larger field.
