by Andrew Barbieri
Postgame interview with Yeti Coach Glenn Roper. pic.twitter.com/ynxeqfdFTt
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 10, 2023
Great pitching from both sides were the main takeaway of the season opener in the Boys of Summer 14u American Division. Thanks to a late rally from Titans Baseball with great base running made the game result in a draw.
Jack Doucet for Yeti and Jack Tallon for Titans Baseball got the start and were effective especially when there was traffic on the bases.
In the 1st, Teague Nolan led the game off for Yeti and walked. He then stole 2nd and 3rd but while that occurred, Tallon focused on the batters at the plate and struck out 3 in a row after the walk to Teague. Doucet retired the side in order then Tallon followed in the top of the 2nd which was only the beginning of a low scoring affair at Joe Nathan Field.
The first real trouble either pitcher got into resulted in Yeti’s only run of the ballgame in the top of the 3rd. Daucet helped his own cause by leading off the inning at the plate with a walk. Tallon collected strikeout number 5 and 6 on the evening after the free pass but with 2 outs, he surrendered three straight walks to Nolan, Ryan Deluca, and Connor Dubeaw got Yeti on the board first.
While still hitless, Yeti takes a 1-0 lead via a Connor Dubeaw walk.
MID 3: Yeti 1, Titans Baseball 0 pic.twitter.com/r6V2DLoh3c
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 9, 2023
Things would stay that way for a while but not without good opportunities for Titans baseball to tie or even take the lead. Dario Baerga walked then Erick Derea blooped a single into the leftfield and James Delucia moved them over with a sacrifice bunt. With 2nd and 3rd and one out Doucet locked in and struck out Joe Sowden and Henry Kasout to escape danger and preserve Yeti’s 1 run lead.
Titans Baseball got a leadoff single from Chase Braun and he immediately swiped second base and but Dubeaw made a diving catch in center which hung Braun out to dry in between 2nd and 3rd for a double play.
Daucet worked through another jam in the 5th but by then he was at 87 pitches and Yeti looked to Matteo Marano to try and get the final 6 outs.
After giving up a run in the 3rd, Tallon’s day was done and Titans Baseball while threatening on offense got great pitching from Magnus Healy in relief. Overall, on the evening, the tandem of Tallon and Healy struck out 12 Yeti batters and only allowed 2 hits, both belonging to Jack Santelli.
While Healy kept the deficit at 1, Titans Baseball looked to crack the code on the new pitcher Marano. Delucia singled in the 6th but got picked off which simmered down their momentum and left them to their final 3 outs.
Cleanup hitter Aidan Scott worked a walk, stole 2nd, stole 3rd and scored on an overthrow on the attempt to throw him out at 3rd but when things were said and done, a winner would be found at Joe Nathan Field.
Titans Baseball stranded 6 on base throughout the entirety of the game and of the 12 strikeouts that Yeti batters had, 4 of them were looking, something coach Glenn Roper would certainly like to see his group improve on.
Both clubs have quick turnarounds still searching for their 1st win of the season as they both play doubleheaders this weekend in league play.
