By Jen Chan
A quick trip up to New Market, Virginia for the first RCBL radio game of the season has been the shortest of all the broadcast games thus far. With being just under 180 minutes the Clover Hill Bucks were able to outrun the home team, New Market Shockers, in a 5-3 victory.

How it happened:
The game started off strong for the Bucks off of a lead-off double from Josh Eberly to left field but would be stranded on 2nd after 3 consecutive outs. The bottom half of the 1st would look the same with Kaden Spaid blooping one into shallow center field with one out. The inning would end in a double play off of a hit from Dawson Russell at Eberly who would throw it to 1st to get the out.

After a 3 up, 3 down top of the 2nd, Nick Goode would get the game started with a quick sprint over to 2nd base off a great hit to left center field. He would then score off a single to left center field from Harrison Madagan. The inning would end leaving Shockers’ MVP Brodie Pullen on 2nd base.

With quick work from both pitchers and each batter not having a high pitch count, the bottom of the 4th inning came quicker than realized. This is where the Shockers would score their final runs of the night. First up was Russell who would ground one to 3rd baseman Kevin Navedo but would reach on a throwing error. Pearce Bucher would then give himself a bunt single to advance Russell to second for Madagan who got on base from a pitch that took a piece of him. With the bases loaded, Pullen would draw a 4 pitch walk for his only RBI this game. Bucher would then steal home on a wild pitch and Ethan Burgreen would steal 2nd on a wild pitch to Nate Brookshire. With 2 runners in scoring position with 2 outs, Steven Woerner would do the trick and get his 4th K of the night.

The Bucks were able to hold the Shockers the remainder of the game and would rally their team to scoring some clutch runs in the top of the 6th inning. Navedo would rocket one into left field with one out. Shockers’ pitcher Aiden Henry would then give his first and only walk of the game to Luke Shifflett to put 2 runners on base for John Siciliano to pop one sky high to right center field. Pullen calls it in right center field, gets his glove on it, but is unable to hang onto it as Navedo crosses the plate to give the Bucks their first run of the night. With Shifflett and Siciliano in scoring position, Cody Swisher takes a ball to the back to load the bases. Micah Canterbury would send a sac fly to score Shifflett followed by a 2 RBI double down the 3rd base line by Alex Knicely to give the Bucks their first lead of the game.

The insurance run for the Bucks was scored in the top of the 8th after Siciliano would make it on base off an infield hit, advance to 2nd on a sac bunt from Swisher and would score off a RBI single to left field from Canterbury.

Siciliano would cross home twice, as both Canterbury and Knicely would walk away with 2 RBIs this game.

The Valley Care Management Player of the Game would be Woerner with his first start of the game with 8 innings worked allowing 6 hits and 3 runs cross the plate.

The Shockers are back in action tomorrow, June 30 at Broadway Highschool as they play the Broadway Bruins. The Bucks will play at Ray Heatwole Park on Friday July 1 with both games starting at 7:30 pm.

By Jen Chan
The Bridgewater Reds and the Clover Hill Bucks battled this Friday evening for 1st place in the RCBL.

The Reds would get on the board first as Grey Sherfey would double to Jacob Grabeel in center field. Derek Shifflett would then sacrifice to advance Sherfey. After a walk to Brett Tharp, Corbin Lucas shot one to right center field to move them to 1-0 in the ball game. The top of the inning would end in strikeouts to Blake Sipe and Noah Cornwell stranding 2 runners left on base.

The next run in the 4th inning would come from Liam Simpson of the Reds after he singled in the 5/6 gap. He would then steal 2nd and steal 3rd from a wild pitch to Jordan Yankey. He would then score on a fly out to right field from Sherfey.

No runs would be scored until the bottom of the 6th. Jose Rocha would be walked to start off, the first lead-off batter to be walked the entire game. A bauk would move Rocha to 2nd and later would steal 3rd off of a early lead. A line drive from Drew Easter to left field would score Rocha to decrease the Reds lead to 2-1.

The first 2 batters for the Reds would go down with a groundout and a strikeout. This would leave 2 ours with Lucas up to bat. After fighting off a few pitches Lucas would shoot one to left center field. With everyone thinking that it would hit the ground Eberly would be running to grab it with everything he got as he dives for it to end the top of the 7th.

The bottom half of the 7th would start out the same way for the Bucks. With 2 outs Grabeel would hit a ground ball to 3rd, but the weird hops it takes to get there would leave Grabeel safe at 1st. He would then steal 2nd on a wild pitch to Eberly. Eberly would hit one all the way to the wall in left field, but great tracking from Sipe would get the 3rd out of the inning.

The 8th inning would bring the lead-off batter for the Reds, Sipe to knock a solo home run over the taller fence in left field to increase the Bridgewater lead to 3-1. The top of the inning would end with 3 ground outs and the bottom portion of the inning would end with 1 K, a groundout, and a shot right back towards Tyler Conley on the mound.

The Reds would end up scoring 2 insurance runs in the top of the 9th as Derek Shifflett would launch one in the 3-4 gap to make its way to right field. Shifflett would then steal 2nd after Conley overthrows the ball to Swisher at 1st. With great base running and a slip a few feet away from 1st base Shifflett makes it to 2nd base by a mere second. The next 3 batters would then be walked to score Shifflett on an RBI walk from Sipe. Tharp gains the final run for the Reds when he gets into Conley’s head and causes Conley to throw back to 3rd but overthrows it to advance the runners once again.

With the last chance to battle back against the Reds, the Bucks start off the bottom of the 9th with a groundout to Lucas at 3rd. Kevin Kirk is able to his a speedy grounder to Lucas, but Lucas is unable to make the throw over to Cornwell in time to put 1 runner aboard with 1 out. Lucas Clark puts one in the left side gap to put 2 runners on base. Both runners are able to advance off a wild pitch to Ross French. French is able to get a ball in play and is called safe at first. The Reds did not agree with the call made at first and went to appeal it, but the ball was still live. The runners were able to advance once again and added a run onto the board. With runners at 2nd and 3rd Grabeel comes in clutch with his hit into shallow right field to score the final run of the game.

The Bucks tried to battle back to continue their winning streak but were unable to connect their hits as the 8 and 9 hole hitters, Tanner Montgomery and Grabeel, were the only ones on the Bucks able to have a multi-hit game.

The Valley Care Management Player of the Game: Derek Shifflett – 7 innings pitched, 5 K, 1 walk, and 1 unearned run. Honorable Mention: Blake Sipe – a clutch grab in the 7th & solo home run in the 8th.

The Bucks are back in action tonight at Buck Bowman Park to face the Stuarts Draft Diamondback starting at 7:30. The Reds will host the shockers on June 21 with game time starting at 7:30.

By Leyton Pullin
The Grottoes Cardinals defeated the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks 14-3 on Tuesday night.
The Cardinals hopped on the board early in the top of the second as Witt Scafidi clobbered a ball to left field for a solo home run to make it 1-0.

Scafidi was the heart of the Cardinals offense all night as he came up in the top of the fourth with a runner on and ripped a RBI double to score Eli Lam stretching the Cardinals lead to 2-0. Later in the inning Garrett Huffman would sacrifice his at bat on a RBI sac fly to score Scafidi making it 3-0 Grottoes.

In the bottom half of the fourth the DBacks would respond with a long ball of their own as Ryan Farris crushed a solo shot to put Stuarts Draft on the board 3-1.

After the top of the fifth went down in order the DBacks had another chance with a lead off single by Terrell Thompson but he would get caught stealing and the DBacks would strand two. 

That would also end the night for Stuarts Draft starter Trevor Vernon as Jacob Dunford took over in the top of the sixth. Dylan Nicely took the first pitch of the inning for a solo home run to make it 4-1. After a dropped fly ball the inning would take a turn allowing three more Cardinals runs to score unearned making it 7-1.

In the top of the seventh Grottoes would add another as Scafidi hit into a fielder's choice allowing Cam Irvine to score and make it 8-1 Cardinals.

Stuarts Draft had another opportunity in the bottom of the seventh after a Will Hass walk and a Farris single but would leave two runners stranded for the fourth time on the night. In total the DBacks would go on to leave 14 runners left on base on the night.

Stuarts Draft would struggle to get an out in the top of the eighth until Scafidi hit a sac fly for his third RBI of the night. In total the Cardinals pushed across six in the frame to make it 14-1.

The DBacks would get a chance in the bottom of the eighth as 2021 RCBL MVP Zach Roberts singled, driving in Tyler Wilcher. Later in the inning Hass followed with a RBI single of his own scoring Grayson Bush to make it 14-3 before the side was retired and the game was ended.

Scafidi’s hot night at the plate ultimately drove the Cardinals offense as he went 2 for 4 officially at the plate with three RBI. Dylan Nicely added two RBI of his own while Huffman and Lam each went 2 for 5 at the fish with a RBI. Trey Deane (1-0) picks up the win after tossing 2.2 scoreless. Grottoes (4-3) will have quite a bit of time off before they take on Montezuma on Sunday June 19. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. 

For Stuarts Draft (5-3) Thompson led the team at the plate going 3 for 4. Hass also added a multiple hit performance as well. Vernon took the loss for the DBacks despite a quality 5 IP start giving up three earned runs. Manager Les Sandridge and company will be back at it on short rest on Wednesday as they host the Bridgewater Reds. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

By Leyton Pullin
The Grottoes Cardinals have been known for lighting up the scoreboard over the past few seasons but Montezuma pitcher Elijah Dunlap held the Cardinals scoreless in a complete game for a 7-0 victory on Sunday.

The Braves knocked on the door a few times in the four innings but didn’t push any runners across.

Dunlap got his first run support in the top of the fifth as Adam Dofflemeyer took over on the mound for the Cardinals. Back-to-back singles by Gavin Rush and Andrew Barrese put two Braves aboard. A Hunter Clever walk later in the inning loaded the bases for Jonathan Sexton. Sexton delivered with a two RBI single to put the Braves up 2-0.

Later in the inning Connor Houser delivered with a two RBI base knock of his own to score Clever and Sexton stretching the Montezuma lead to 4-0.

In the top of the eighth the Braves would strike again, this time with two outs in the frame. Barrese would single driving Cude in to score putting the Braves lead to 5-0.

Grottoes would have a chance to put a run on the board in the bottom of the eighth as Jacob Merica singled and would advance all the way to third before he was stranded on a Cam Irvine ground out to end the inning.

In the top of the ninth Logan Jones delivered a base knock that got away from Merica in left field, allowing Sexton and Clever to score to extend the lead to 7-0.

Dunlap (1-1) went from start to finish for the Braves, only allowing six hits. The Bridgewater Eagle only allowed one walk and struck out two, relying on his defense.

Offensively for the Braves Sexton, Jones and Houser each had two RBI. Barrese also went 3 for 5 at the plate with an RBI.

Adam Dofflemeyer takes the loss for Grottoes and drops to 0-1 on the season.

Dalton Nicely was the only Cardinal with multiple hits, going 2 for 3 at the dish. 

Montezuma (2-6) will enjoy an off day Monday before hosting the Broadway Bruins (2-5) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Grottoes (3-3) will also be back in action on Tuesday as they will travel to Stuarts Draft to take on the Diamondbacks (5-2). First pitch from the Diamond Club is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

By Jen Chan
After another slow start to the game, the Cardinals were able to get on the score board first in the top of the 2nd inning after 2 RBI single from Dalton Nicely just beyond the glove of Gavin Rush. Nicely would later be stranded on 1st to end the inning.

The Cardinals would not score another run until the top of the 4th as a lead off hit from Garrett Harrison puts him on base after hitting it above Rush’s head about 4 feet, but unable to secure it in his mitt as he came down. David Wood would advance Harrison to 2nd on a fielding error from Isaiah Blanks. Another error in this inning went to Jacob Cude would give Nicely a single and score Huffman on an error with smart base running and only 1 out. The Cardinals would end the inning by stranding 2 runners on base but did move the score in their favor of 3-0.

The final few runs for the Cardinals came from the top of the 5th as Dylan Nicely made it to 1st on a throwing error from Rush. He would later steal 2nd on an inside pitch to Wit Scafidi. Scafidi would make it on base off a fielding error from Blanks to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Huffman would then battle at the plate and send the ball deep into right center field for a 3-run home run to move the Cardinals ahead 6-0.

The bottom of the 5th inning started with a “lazy liner towards (Eli) Lam,” from Logan Jones to get the first out. Cude would then get a base hit towards Cam Herron and steal second on an error. A throwing error would be made off a hit from Kyle Armstrong. The bases would be loaded as Blanks would be walked, but Hunter Clever would be unable to put the ball in play to end the inning with bases loaded.

After a quick 6th inning from both teams and a 3 up – 3 down scene from the Cardinals in the top of the 7th, the Braves were able to make way into scoring their runs. Cude started off the inning with a lead-off hit to shallow right field. Rush then lined low past Huffman into left field to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Armstrong would bunt towards the typical spot for the short stop, but there would be no fielder there to advance the runners, loading the bases with no outs. Blanks would then make up for the errors in the previous innings with a shot to the fence giving him a 3 RBI stand up double. Blanks would then steal 2nd and eventually the bases would be loaded once again after 2 strikeouts and 2 walks. Blanks would later score off another drawn walk from Jones to decrease the lead to 6-4 in favor of the Cardinals. With the bases loaded again and the order for the Braves gone around fully once, they were unable to score any additional runs.

The 8th and 9th innings of the game came quickly and ended just over 2 hours after the game started. The Cardinals increase their season record to 3-2 as the Braves drop another one to put them at a 1-6 season record.

Both teams will be on the field again tomorrow at 6:30 at Shifflett field.

By Jen Chan
The Bridgewater reads traveled down to Grottos to play the Cardinals. Before the game began the Bridgewater Reds were 1-1 and the Grottoes Cardinals were 2-0.

The game was off to a slow start for the Reds as they went down in order in the top of the first. The Cardinals got the game started in the bottom of the first as Cam Herron got the game going on a single that went through the middle of the infield. Herron would later be too quick for catcher Brett Tharp and successfully steal second base all while Cameron Irvine would get his first strikeout of the season. With two outs and Herron and Dylan Nicely aboard, Eli Lam would get a 2 RBI double to left center field starting the game off strong for the Cardinals. The inning would end with Lam left on base.

The top of the second is where the Reds started to get some runs of their own. With two outs it was Liam Simpson up to bat. Simpson shot one to left center field to get himself an extra base hit. He would later steal 3rd on a wild pitch from Adam Dofflemyer to Grey Sherfey. And with two runners aboard it was Jordon Yankey who brought in both runners for his first triple of the 2022 season. Yankey would later be left stranded to end the half. The bottom of the second gave Hunter Campbell his first career hit as a Cardinal landing one just fair of the foul line down the 1st base line. But with two runners aboard they were unable to connect all their hits to end the bottom of 2nd.

The Reds were unable to secure any baserunners for the next 3 innings, but the Cardinals were able to extend their lead in the 3rd and 4th innings. Hayden Lutz walked, Witt Scafidi sent a blooper to shallow left field to get 2 runners on for Lam to hit a line drive down right center field which would score both runs. Tucker Garrison would then be walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Lam would end up making it home on an error while Scafidi steals third. The Cardinals would leave 1 runner stranded. In the bottom of the fourth, Irvin got things started with 1 out lining one out to right center field. The next 3 batters would be walked adding to Lam’s RBI count of the night to 4. But with bases loaded the Cardinals were unable to execute runs as they end the inning in strikes stranding 3 runners.

The 6th inning is where the Reds were able to gain another run which would help them secure a chance at tying the game. Tharp would send a ball on the left side of the pitchers mound that was grabbed by Garret Huffman and thrown to first but Tharp was safe. Tharp did the unthinkable and dove to 1st base which is why he was safe. He would then steal the next 2 bases and make it all the way to third with 1 out. He would make it home on a sac fly from Tim Troyer to make the score 4-6 Cardinals still in the lead.

Things would not get interesting until the top of the 9th inning. Noah Cornwell would get the first out flying out to Irvin in left field, but with one out Filhart would walk the next 2 batters that he sees after long battles at the plate. With 2 runners on Simpson would then send one to right center field advancing the runners. Sherfey would gain 2 more RBI as he sends one the opposite direction giving himself his first double of the year. As the lone runner on base the inning ends with a pop out and a strikeout. The Reds were able to hold back the Cardinals from scoring stranding Jacob Dansey on 3rd base. But after the damage has been done the score of the game is tied at 6-6.

9 innings isn’t enough for these teams as we go into extra innings and following international tie breaking rules the last out is placed on second base to try to move the game along. Back up to the top of the line up for the Reds as Shifflett pops one out in center field to advance pinch runner Christian Rodriguez to 3rd base. Tharp pops one up to right fielder Dansey and scores Rodriguez to move the lead to 7-6 Reds.

The bottom of the 10th is played in almost the same way as Scafidi starts on 2nd base and ends up scoring the tying run once again on a RBI single from Ram. Lam has strategic base running and is able to make it to 3rd, but the inning ends in ground outs to prevent the Cardinals from ending the game.

To the top of the 11th we go! Cornwell starts on 2nd for the Reds and ends up scoring on a RBI single from Caden Swartley chopped into right field. The go ahead run comes from a walk to Yankey as he is walked on base and scores Huffman. The final out comes from a ground out to Garrison who takes it to 1st base to end the top of the 11th.

Huffman starts the bottom of the 11th on 2nd base and moves to 3rd as Dansey grounds out to 1st base. Herron hits one straight to short stop Yankey who fumbles it a little bit but successfully makes it to 1st to get the second out of the inning. And with a runner on 3rd Irvin doubles down the middle of the infield and scores Huffman. With the winning run in scoring position on 2nd, Tharp strikes out Lutz to finish the game in extra innings.

The Valley Care Management player of the game: Jordon Yankey

Both teams are now 2-1 in the season as they finish the first extra innings game of the season.
The Reds will be in action again on Sunday against the Broadway Bruins at Broadway High. The Cardinals will be at home again to face the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks. Both games start at 6:30

By Jen Chan
On Tuesday after opening weekend, the Montezuma Braves hosted the RCBL champions, the New Market Shockers at Ruritan Field and come away with a 5-4 victory.

The games started slow for both teams, going three up and three down. The top of the second with Valley Care Management player of the game, Brody Pickette launched the ball deep right center in a 3-0 count to start the Shockers with a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the second Bridgewater College Eagle Tristian Gordon lined in the 3-4 hole to give the Braves their first hit of the game. Kyle Armstrong battled against Kaden Spaid with an 11 pitch at bat, resulting in a walk.  With two runners aboard Thomas Smith grounded one to short stop Matt House and ended up reaching on an error that scored Gordon. Armstrong would later get out on a hit from Jacob Cude. Smith would later score off another error from House.

From both teams in the third inning there were two strikeouts, one walk, and two groundouts. With pitcher Spaid up to bat, he lined one right back to the pitcher Tucker Hensley, who smacked it down with his glove and threw it over to first basemen Conner Houser. The top of the fourth ended in groundouts. The bottom of the fourth inning started off with a clutch hit from Johnathan Sexton to left center field and ended up scoring off a sacrifice hit from Cude.

The Braves were able to score their final run of the game in the fifth inning from Isaiah Blanks. A hit from Hunter Clever advances Blanks to second. A wild pitch to Gordon, moves Blanks to third and later ends up scoring from an error from Ty Bennett.

The top of the sixth went well for the Shockers. Calvin Pastel started off with a lead off single down the middle of the infield. Jaden Click was hit by a pitch and got a pass to first. Lead-off hitter Henry Delavergne was walked, loading the bases for Spaid. Spaid hit a line drive down the right field line to score two runs to make the score 4-3. Pickette drove in the final two runs for the Shockers down the middle of the infield. Harrison Madagan would get hit to put Pickette on second. House would then single in the ¾ gap to load the bases with one out. To get the Braves out of the jam Gavin Rush would turn a double play to go 5-2-3 to end the inning.

Both teams were unable to connect their hits for the rest of the game, leaving at least one batter on base for the rest of the game.

House pitched four innings with five hits, one run, and five strikeouts takes the win, as Pastel takes the save with one inning pitched with two hits. Hensley takes the loss with six innings pitched with seven hits, five earned runs, and a strikeout.

New Market (3-0) will take on Clover Hill on Friday at Buck Bowman Park and Montezuma (0-2) will travel to Stuarts Draft on Saturday.