Junior Minors Lower
Brewers vs. Mets Sunday saw wet and sloppy field conditions at the Battery Park City ballfields, but the level of play was anything but as the Brewers hosted the Mets. The two teams fought a close battle in the rain with several lead changes, but the Brewers’ Jack Clothier raced from the pitchers mound to tag out a sprinting Mets player at the plate to preserve what would be the Brewers razor-thin margin of victory.
A stellar play by Dylan Knox led the Mets’ outstanding defense as he executed a heads-up tag out of a Brewers runner at second. The Brewers had their share of great defensive plays from standouts James Purpora, Max Schuss and first-baseman Brooks Valentine. Clothier paced the Brewers offense which also saw R.B.I. doubles powered by Lucas Gaffney and Sean O’Toole. The Mets Max Goldstein also slammed a double, and the Mets were able to score their runs behind the slugging power of Ty Cutler, James Gonzalez, Bruce Gomez, Michael Rossi, Frey Ronaldo, Ayan Sawhney.
MINORS
Giants vs. Twins
It was an on-again off-again rainy day as the Giants and Twins took to the field. The Giants had a leadoff walk from Felix Parker and single up the right side by Kevin Wu, and a walk by Josh Fish but failed to score as they left the bases loaded— strong pitching from Adam Greenberg on the Twins was a prelude to his team’s success. In the bottom of the first, the Twins scored runs with a combination of walks and stolen bases. The Giants were able to get some momentum going in the bottom of the second, with a lead off hit from Luca Romeo that turned into a daring play at the plate with him evading a tag after a bunt single from Arthur Perry. That was followed by walks from Bobby Harding, Jr. and Drew Child , and with bases loaded Jacob Lawrence Kreiss walked in another run. The Twins pitching proved to be very effective as they struck out three players in the third, two of them looking at a called strike three. In the bottom of the third inning, the Twins had a powerful double down the right field line from Theo Levine, and a great slide at home by Lukas Burger to avoid the tag and walks by Ethan Shoulberg and Lev Gordon led to more runs.. The Giants came back with walks, base stealing and a fly ball hit by Kevin Wu, and had a strong outing from Pitcher Oscar Sullivan, but the Twins were able to keep their lead and add a couple of runs, as the time was running out and the umpire called the game after four innings. It was a hard fought game and spirits were high, as the sun was coming out and the season is still very young.
Angels vs. Tigers
In a superbly played game in which the lead changed hands several times before the Angels’ solid pitching and timely hitting overcame the Tigers. The Angels played a spirited game with a total team effort in all phases of the game. The pitching front had Jackson Vertucci starting us off with an excellent game taming the Tigers prodigious bats, Jonathon Sandella pitching next throwing very well with a key strikeout to end a frame with the bases loaded and Valentino Rosa finishing the game off with superb pitching going the distance in an amazing fashion navigating through the order. He worked several frames and maintained his excellence. James Borrelli, who played the whole game behind the plate, handled the staff brilliantly and provided two outstanding defensive throws gunning down two Tiger runners at third the last one in the last inning which helped preserved the victory. The Angel defense was outstanding in support of our pitching notably Joseph Scaparrelli with two nifty swipe tages at third, Brendan Dougherty playing a steady second base with several key defensive plays, Blas Lee anchoring the squad at short had the key cut off throw to ensure that the last Tiger did not score from home to tie the game. Katherine Constatnico provided a key hit late in the game which produced an errant throw due to her hustle which provided the insurance run that ultimately was the game winner.
The Tigers did a super job to keep it close. Liam Clayton used his cannon of an arm behind home plate to throw out two base runners, Brandon Mirabella made a sparkling defensive play at second base to stop another rally, Alexander Komanoff showed speed, glove, and a strong arm in saving a couple of runs in left field, and Michael Bogdanos made a leaping grab in short left center field from his shortstop position and then turned and fired a strike to Ethan Wallis at third base to complete the double play, getting out of a bases loaded jam. Down in the last inning, the Tigers had the fans on their feet as Liam Clayton laced a double down the left field line, Walker Brandt stroked a single and then used his speed and base-running skills to get a run, while Michael Bogdanos’s bases-clearing double into the bushes in left center field brought the Tigers to within one run. But is wasn’t enough as the Angels won 10-9.
Dodgers vs. Angels The clouds parted and the sun started shining just in time for the Angels and Dodgers to meet each other in a game that featured bursts of offense and terrific relief pitching, with the Angels outlasting the Dodgers by 11-4.
Jackson Vertucci started for the Angels and retired the potent Dodgers line up in order in the first. But the Dodgers weren’t so lucky as the Angels plated five runs in the bottom of the inning showing great plate discipline. Blas Lee, James Borelli, Vertucci, Valentino Rosa and Sal DeRogatis scored on walks. But the Dodgers immediately answered in the top of the second inning. Spencer Kiehl started the rally with a long double to left center field and Lucas Pryor also had a hit. Kiehl, Yannick DeGuchteneere, Jordan Roseman and Noah DeGuchteneere all scored as the Dodgers patiently took their walks and Matthew Levine recorded an R.B.I. on a fielder’s choice to shortstop. Jonathan Sandella came on in relief and recorded two strike outs to end the rally.
Lucas Pryor came on in relief for the Dodgers and struck out the side in the bottom of the second inning. But he was matched strike for strike by Sandella, who shut the Dodgers down over the succeeding five innings, recording 11 strike outs and not allowing any further runs. The only hits by the Dodgers came from the bats of Kiehl and Charles Fenn in the fourth inning, but Sandella worked out of trouble without allowing a run. Meanwhile, the unrelenting pressure of the Angels offense in the third inning forced the Dodgers into misplays that allowed the Angels to plate 6 runs. Lee, Rosa, DeRogatis, Sandella and James Stinett all hit the ball too hard for the Dodgers defense to handle.
The final three innings went quickly as Sandella continued pounding the strike zone. Jackson Mansfield and Yannick DeGuchteneere for the Dodgers quieted the powerful Angels offense. But the Dodgers could not mount a rally against Sandella.
Pirates vs. Reds
In the top of the second, the Pirates had no luck offensively as Ava Villalba cranked a sharp chopper deep in the hole between 3rd and short. Adams, doing a fabulous (left-handed) Derek Jeter impression, snared it, and with his momentum carrying him towards third base, whirled around and fired a long throw to Rohan, just beating Villalba by a hair. Best struck out the next batter; then fielded Hudson Kussie’s grounder to shut out the Pirates again.
In the bottom of the inning, Rio Hope Gund was on the mound for the Pirates. Although he loaded the bases with no outs, he was able to escape unscathed with back to back strikeouts and a pop up to the pitcher.
Rio brought in Morgan Witt with an R.B.I. single, and up came his brother Kofi Hope Gund with the bases loaded. His frozen rope liner to right field went for a 3-run triple. Tyler Rohan tried to hold it together on the mound, but walked classmate Gabe Leitner. After a pep talk from his catcher, Rohan was able to strike out the next batter for out three, and the score was a close 5-4. In the bottom of the third, Rio struck out the Reds’ first batter, but walked Frere-Holmes. Stapler’s sweet shot to centerfield brought in Frere-Holmes, who had stolen two bases
In the top of the fifth, Rohan walked Lam, but fielded Witt’s grounder for the first out, and Adams was brought in to relieve him. He rose to the challenge, with a quick strikeout and a grounder to Stapler at first, ending another scoreless inning for the Pirates. In the bottom, the Reds added five more. Frere-Holmes’ single drove in Rohan. Stapler’s crank to left center brought in another run, and Memmo’s walk added another. Marable’s seeing-eye blooper found some grass just behind the third baseman’s right shoulder, and brought in another two runs for the Reds.
In the top of the sixth, down 11-4, the Pirates had an abbreviated rally which started with a high fly ball to centerfield by Rio. He rounded second as the ball was thrown in, and was caught between bases, but made it to third in an exciting contest. Adams struck out the next batter, and Leitner’s grounder to first produced an R.B.I. fielder’s choice. Villalba than cranked the ball right through the shortstop’s legs for a well-deserved single. Constantin took a base on balls, and Kussie’s single brought in the second run of the inning. But Adams wouldn’t succumb to the rally and promptly ended the game with a strikeout. Final score Reds 11, Pirates 6.
