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By Dean Barker In a matchup of what Broadway head coach Chip Abernathy described as their “most heated rivalry,” the Broadway Bruins were able to emerge victorious at the Montezuma Braves, winning 7-4 in ten innings on Wednesday, July 7. After going down 3-2 in the fourth inning, Broadway added five runs in the last three innings of the game to pull it out. With the win, the Bruins improve to 8-4, and are just a half game behind the New Market Shockers for first place. The loss dropped the Braves to 7-5 and a tie with the Clover Hill Bucks for third. The Bruins were able to overcome a solid pitching performance from Hunter Clever, who gave up two runs and struck out nine in seven innings to get the no-decision. Elijah Dunlap gave up two runs on two homers in the eighth and ninth innings. Jacob Dunford took the loss for Montezuma, giving up three fatal runs in the top of the tenth. Trevor Thomas picked up the win for Broadway, pitching the final three innings and giving up one run on a wild throw. James Riddel started for the Bruins, giving up one run and striking out five in two and two thirds’ innings. Jacob Petersheim pitched four and a third, giving up two runs on one hit and striking out four. The Bruins got on the board in the second inning with a two out, two run double from Ben Reid. Broadway managed to escape a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the first, and Montezuma would strand two in the bottom of the second. Broadway would threaten again in the top of the third, loading the bases with one out. However, Bryce Turner would line out to Gavin Rush at third, and Clever would strike out Peyton Davis to sneak out unharmed. Isiah Blanks would reach on an error in the bottom half, and after stealing second and third, PJ Hanisak would bring him home with a sacrifice fly. The Braves would load the bases again with two outs, at which point Riddel was pulled for Petersheim, who would strike out Forrest Shuey to end the inning. Michael Robertson would lead off the bottom of the fourth with a single, steal second, and reach third on a sacrifice fly from JT Stevenson. Blanks would then rip a no-doubter over the left field wall to give the Braves a 3-2 lead. As he is known to do, Coach Abernathy decided to bring in many pinch hitters late in the game. Stepping in for Bryce Turner, Jaydon Nixon led off the top of the eighth with a solo shot to right field to tie the game at 3. Justin Lohr would walk and reach second, but Jett Shue would fly out to right to end the inning. The Braves would go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth. Dunlap retired the first two batters in the top of the ninth, but Caleb Taylor would rip a fly ball deep to center field. Robertson leaped at the wall, but it was just too far, as Taylor’s homer would put the Bruins up 4-3. Blanks would lead off the bottom of the ninth with a double to right field. The next batter would strike out, but Blanks would try for third on the third strike, causing a wild throw from the catcher Cole Morris. The throw went into left field and allowed Blanks to score the tying run, which sent the game to the tenth inning. Dunford would retire Peyton Davis on a bunt to begin extras. However, thanks to the extra inning base runner rule, the bunt moved Nixon to third with one out. Justin Lohr would walk and then steal second. Morris would bunt Nixon home and reach first safely to make the score 5-4. Morris would steal second, and Natty Solomon would drive in Lohr with a single, moving Morris to third. Solomon would steal second, and Trent Abernathy would add one more with a sacrifice fly to right to make the score 7-4. In the bottom of the tenth, Thomas would strike out Rush and Wyatt Campbell, and Clever would ground out to second to end the game. The Bruins picked up the win despite leaving 13 runners on base and making three errors, while the Braves left 12 on and made no errors. For Broadway, Reid went 1-4 with two RBIs. Turner was 1-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Caleb Taylor went 2-6 with an RBI and a run scored. The Bruins had a total of ten hits. For Montezuma, Blanks went 2-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Robertson went 2-3 with a walk and a run scored. Hanisak was 0-3 with an RBI sacrifice fly. Kyle Armstrong was 1-3 with two walks. Rush went 1-5. The Braves had a total of six hits. Coach Abernathy says this win had a lot to do with his team’s youth, as only five players remain from last year’s RCBL champion Bruins. “Even when we’re down, they don’t give up, and that’s a testament to them being young, and kind of dumb sometimes,” Abernathy said. “They just didn’t know they were supposed to give up, so they keep fighting and fighting, and once they get ahead, they start digging in better.” The Bruins and Braves will face off again tonight at 7:30 pm in Broadway in the last first half game for both teams. With a win, the Bruins will be tied with the Shockers for first place going into the All-Star Break. A win for Montezuma would clinch the regular season series against Broadway, which also ends tonight.
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By Leyton Pullin
On Wednesday July 7 the Bridgewater Reds defeated the Grottoes Cardinals 13-7 for their fourth win of the year. The Reds were able to capitalize off of 8 Cardinals errors in route to the win. The Reds got the scoring started in the top of the first inning as Adam Dofflemeyer got the start for Grottoes. Brett Tharp would hit a ground ball and reach on a fielder’s choice as Derek Shifflett was thrown out on his way to second. Tharp stole second and the next pitch stole third but after Dofflemeyer had gotten the ball back from the catcher. Then Dofflemeyer proceeded to throw it to Dalton Nicely at third to throw Tharp out and the throw was airmailed into left field to allow Tharp to give Bridgewater a 1-0 lead. Grottoes would strike back in the second and do a number on starting pitcher Nick Griffin putting up 7 runs in the second alone. Jacob Zoller walked to lead off the inning and was driven in the next at bat as Jacob Merica hit a liner to the fence for a RBI triple. The next two hitter for Grottoes walked jamming the bases for Noah Burtner who struck out. Griffin would get ahead to a 1-2 count on the next hitter Dalton Nicely before he tagged Nicely with a pitch allowing Merica to score. The inning took a turn from there as Boogie Saunders and Clayton Michael hit back-to-back 2 RBI base hits before the inning was capped off by a Dylan Nicely RBI single to tally the seventh run for the Cardinals. Dofflemeyer looked to have found a rhythm after being handed a 6-run lead to work with as he retired 6 of the next 8 hitters he faced before utter chaos ensued. In the 5th inning Bridgewater put 6 runs across to tie the game. Jonathan Sexton opened the inning with a single to the opposite field. Grey Sherfy came to the plate next and hit a ground ball to third base that squirted between the legs of Nicely at third base allowing him to reach and put runners on the corners. Cayden Clements followed and attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt attempt but when the ball got to Dofflemeyer he was not able to get it out of his throwing hand almost as if the ball was stuck to his hand. This allowed for everyone to reach safely and allowed Sexton score. Shifflett would then bunt to third base as a sacrifice to mover Sherfey and Clements up to second and third. Tharp walked the next at bat to load the bases for a Hunter Miller base clearing 3 RBI double. Logan Phelps had been moved to the mound for the Reds the inning before and then hit a 2 RBI single to tie the game and create his own run support scoring Miller and Noah Cornwell. Kevin Saylor came in to relieve Dofflemeyer in the 6th. He surrendered a walk and a base hit to the first hitters he faced Sherfey and Clements. Shifflett came up the next at bat and crushed a two-strike pitch to deep right center all to be caught by Saunders who had to run full sprint and make a spectacular catch on the run. Brett Tharp was up next with one down and attempted to lay down a bunt that would’ve been a sacrifice opportunity. Saylor fielded the bunt and made the throw to first to only hit Tharp in the helmet sending the ball way out in right field. Sherfey and Clements would score on that error. As the first baseman Andrew Baugher got to the ball, he then launched it across the pond to third base where Nicely was not able to field it in an attempt to get Tharp out. The ball then found its way out of play allowing Tharp to score on a dead ball in one of the craziest plays in the 2021 RCBL season. Bridgewater took a 10-7 lead on the play. Shifflett was then called upon and went to the mound looking to shut down the Grottoes bats and that he did not allowing a run from the bottom of the sixth on in a rare 12 out save. He struck out 7 and walked 2 in his outing. He also got some support from his offense and the Grottoes defense. The Reds scored 3 more runs to extend their lead out to 13-7 off of 3 hits and 2 more Grottoes errors. The Cardinals tallied a season high 8 errors in the game. For Grottoes they fall to 7-7 on the year and now have lost three straight and find themselves 2.5 games back of first place New Market (9-4). Kevin Saylor (0-1) takes the loss for Grottoes despite only allowing 2 earned runs. As a staff Dofflemeyer, Saylor and Baugher only allowed 3 earned runs and 9 hits while striking out 12. The Cardinals will look to turn things around quickly as they will be back in action at Elkton (2-11) with the hopes of getting back to above .500 on the year on Thursday July 8 at 7:30PM. Bridgewater picks up their second consecutive win and move to 4-10 on the year. Logan Phelps (1-2) picks up the win and Derek Shifflett (1) picks up a save. Shifflett and Phelps both did not allow a run and only gave up 2 hits each in their relief efforts. The Reds will have nearly a week off as they will not play another game until after the All Star break as they will host the current front runners in the pennant race the New Market Shockers (9-4) on Tuesday July 13 at 7:30PM. By Olivia Carson New Market continues to bounce back and improve with now an 8 - 4 record on the season as they dominated the Montezuma Braves once again at Rebel Park. Unlike their last matchup, this was a low scoring contest with only 4 runs between the two teams. Henry Delavergne and Ty Bennet each had 2 hits for New Market and leading hitter for Montezuma was Micheal Robertson with 2 hits as well. Delavergne started the game off with a single and continued by stealing second and later scoring off of a double from Pearce Bucher. Bucher scored later in the inning off a hit from the bat of Kaden Spaid. The Shockers stayed in action during the bottom of the second inning beginning with a missed catch by the Braves outfield that allowed for Luke Estep to triple. Delavergne returned to the plate to score Estep soon after with a single. The Shockers are able to hold back the Braves until the top of the fourth when Hunter Clever doubles and reaches home plate later after a single from Logan Jones to the infield. Montezuma was unable to do enough damage and New Market kept a 3 - 1 advantage over the Braves for the remainder of the game. Winning pitcher, Kirk Messick, had 3 strikeouts on the night and only walked one batter in 8 innings. Pitching for Montezuma was Grant Thomas who had 6 strikeouts while pitching all 9 innings. New Market continues with a 3 game win streak and will play again on Wednesday July 7 against the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks at Diamond Club. Montezuma fell last night with now a 7 - 4 record and also plays again tonight July 7 at home against the Broadway Bruins. By Dean Barker Two days after a 19-9 loss to the Elkton Blue Sox, the Bridgewater Reds dominated the rematch two days later, winning 12-1 in seven innings at home on Monday, July 5. With the victory, the Reds won the regular season series with the Blue Sox 2-1. It was also the first home win for Bridgewater this season, who is 1-5 at Ray Heatwole Field. The win moved the Reds to 3-10 and helped them leapfrog Elkton to move into 7th place in the RCBL. The Blue Sox fell to 2-10, and are now in 8th/last place. Derek Shifflet picked up the win to move to 2-1, pitching seven innings and giving up just one run on five hits with eight strikeouts. Jacob Leveall took the loss in his first pitching performance of the year, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on five hits in one third of an inning. Will Craig would give up four runs in 4 ⅔ innings on six hits. The Reds wasted no time getting to work, bringing thirteen batters to the plate in the first inning. Shifflet and Brett Tharpe would reach on infield singles, and Corbin Lucas’s grounder to the pitcher was bobbled. Hunter Miller’s walk would bring in Shifflet, and Tharpe would steal home while nobody was looking. Antonio Sosa singled to right field to reload the bases. After Patrick O’Neil’s flyout to first base, Jonathan Sexton was hit to bring home a run, and Grey Sherfey would be walked for another run. Logan Phelps would hit a single to shortstop that would bring home another run. Shifflet would help his own cause with a two RBI single, at which point Leveall was pulled for Craig. Tharpe looped a single past the second baseman to bring home an eighth run. The inning would end on a flyout to center field, when Tharpe was thrown out trying to take home. The Blue Sox would score one run in the top of the fourth, thanks to a throwing error from Sexton to third as Jeremy Kwolek tried to steal. Kwolek reached on a double to left field. The Reds would get the insurance they needed in the fifth. Sexton led off with a double to center field, and reached third on a passed ball. Sherfey’s flyout to center would bring him home. Walks to Phelps and Tharpe, along with a single from Lucas, would load the bases for Miller. Miller ripped a three RBI double to left field to make the score 12-1, which is how the game would end. Kwolek led the Blue Sox in defeat, going 1-3 with a run scored. Mack Rexrode was 1-2. Elliot Erkel, Robert Carbello, and Cameron Shields all went 1-3. The Blue Sox left five runners on base. Miller led the Reds, going 3-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Sherfey was 1-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Sexton was 3-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Lucas was 3-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Shifflet was 2-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Reds head coach Robert Sherfey was very pleased with his team’s hitting. “Little bit more patience at the plate, being more conservative, swinging at strikes paid off,” Sherfey said. “They hit the ball, and it was a good game. Good win for us.” After starting the season 1-8, the Reds have won two of their last four games with one game left in the first half. Sherfey is hopeful that his team will continue to trend in the right direction after the All-Star Break. “You’ve just got to take it game by game at a time, stay focused, and just have fun,” Sherfey said. “Once we start doing that… and now they’re starting to gel a little bit together, things should come together. And the way I see it, that’s where I want to be come playoff time.” The Reds will play their last first half game on Wednesday, July 7 at the Grottoes Cardinals at 7:30 pm. The Blue Sox will host the Clover Hill Bucks on Wednesday, July 7 at 7:30 pm, and finish the first half on Thursday against the Cardinals at the same time. By Olivia Carson
After getting run ruled in their past two games against Grottoes and Montezuma, the Blue Sox were able to flip the switch and end their game last night early with a 19 - 9 lead over the Reds. With high energy, the Blue Sox achieved their second win and ended the matchup with the most runs that they have had in a game this season. Bridgewater put up a good fight in the beginning starting with Xavier Moore scoring off a sacrifice fly from Jonathan Sexton and a double from Patrick ONeil that scored Nick Griffin in the top of the first inning. Elkton started with a double from JJ Loker that sent Tristan Gordon home putting the Blue Sox down 2 - 1 at the top of the second. Two more doubles from Corbin Lucas and Noah Cornwell sent home 3 runners in the second inning for the Reds but Elkton responded well and scored 4 runners to tie up the game. Bridgewater 3rd baseman, Moore, misses a line drive from Elliot Erkel to allow the Blue Sox two runs. Jeremy Kwolek then sends Erkel home off a shot to center field and Tillman Butler follows, hitting one out of the park with no one on base. The teams were tied 5 - 5 moving into the 3rd inning and Elkton managed to break it when Seth Berry doubled, stole 3rd and scored during Jack Bourdon’s putout in the bottom of the 3rd. The Reds gathered another run in the top of the 4th with ONeil scoring Lucas off of a single, but that wasn’t enough to stop the Blue Sox as Loker had a 2 RBI double and later got sent home by a single from Berry. Elkton ends the inning with an 8 - 6 lead over Bridgewater. Elkton continued their momentum into the fifth inning scoring 4 more runs and not allowing Bridgewater to get on base. An RBI double from Butler and another RBI single from Loker caused a pitching change for the Reds, subbing Wyatt Dansey for Jared Peake. Soon after, Berry gets a walk to first with bases loaded to send Loker home giving Elkton a 6 run advantage. A home run from Lucas with no runners on base helped the Reds in the top of the 6th inning but the Blue Sox were still on fire. Erkel had an RBI double and later scored off a sac fly to center field to lead into another Bridgewater pitching substitution, putting Grey Sherfey on the mound who did not allow Elkton to score again in the 6th (14 - 7). Elkton made three pitching substitutions in the seventh inning in an effort to hold back the Reds even more. Hunter Powell leaves the mound first for Chase Pullin to allow 2 hits and 2 walks leaving the bases loaded for his sub, Robert Carbello. A Blue Sox catching error allowed ONeil to steal home and then a walk with bases loaded scored Dylan Horne. Elkton makes their final pitching change, subbing in Tristan Gordon to prevent any further runs from the Reds. At the bottom of the seventh, Elkton capitalized on their lead as Jacob Cude got a 2 RBI triple and was able to score later on a walk. To finish the ball game early, Loker singles to score 2 last runners and collect 5 personal RBI’s on the night. With a total of 19 runs and 19 hits, the Blue Sox didn't skip a beat last night, scoring at least one run in every single inning. Veteran player and lead hitter of the night, JJ Loker was very happy with his team's approach at the plate against the Reds. “I think we just came out and hit the ball a little bit better today, [the] ball bounced our way a few times. I thought we hit the ball well last night [against Grottoes] but it was just going right at [them], so we were able to find some holes tonight,” says Loker. Loker still thinks the Blue Sox have some things to work on in the field for the rest of their season but hopes they will come out ready to play when they face the Reds again on Monday July 5 in Bridgewater. This win gave the Blue Sox their second of the season, continuing with a 2 - 9 record while the Reds fell 2 - 10. By Dean Barker The Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks had their own fireworks celebration for Independence Day Weekend, scoring eleven earned runs to give the first-place Montezuma Braves their first home loss, 11-3 on Saturday, July 3. With the win the Diamondbacks improved to 7-5 and are just one game out of first place, while the Braves fell to 7-3. Liam Kehoe picked up the win for the Diamondbacks to move to 2-0, pitching the complete game and striking out seven with three earned runs. Braves starter Kyle Armstrong took the loss in his first mound appearance of the year, giving up seven earned runs in 4 ⅔ innings on eight hits. Jacob Dunford would give up three earned runs in 3 ⅓ innings. Taran Baker would give up one earned run in the ninth. Kehoe threw a complete game, but he was expecting a short appearance on the mound. “I only had the mindset to go up there and throw a few innings, but after I hit a few innings, I was feeling good, just in the zone,” Kehoe told RCBL’s Dean Barker. “Innings were flying by, and I just managed to keep being able to go out there, and I pitched nine, I just looked up and there it is.” The Diamondbacks loaded the bases in the first inning off a walk to Terrell Thompson, a double that one-hopped the right field wall from Will Hass, and a walk to Cody Bartley. A sacrifice fly to center field from Dan Scott would score Thompson to put Stuarts Draft up 1-0. The Braves would respond in the bottom of the second, as JT Stevenson would walk, steal second, reach third on a passed ball, and come home on an RBI single to left from Owen Marshall to tie the score at 1. Stuarts Draft would bat around the lineup in the top of the fifth. Hass would drive in Calen Owens and Thompson with a single to right. He would come home on a single from Scott. Doug Pollock would then hit a single up the middle, and would reach second on a failed fielder’s choice to third. With two outs, Chaz Harvey would launch a three run homer off the right field light pole to make the lead 7-1, at which point Armstrong was pulled for reliever Jacob Dunford. The Braves would chip away at the lead in the bottom half. Following the first out, Tyler Smith would be walked, and Michael Robertson would rip a single that sent him to third. A hopper from Isiah Blanks was too much for shortstop Grayson Bush to handle, as a deflection would allow Smith to score and Blanks to reach. Hunter Clever’s grounder would lead Blanks to be caught at second, but he would break up the double play, as a wild throw to first would make way for Robertson to score and make the score 7-3. The D-Backs would add some insurance in the top of the eighth. After a single from Bush and a double from Owens, Thompson would rip a double to left field to bring them both in. After Thompson stole third with no throw, Hass would plate him with an RBI groundout to second. In the ninth, Tyler Wilcher would plate one last run with a sacrifice groundout to make the final score 11-3. Robertson went 3-5 and scored once for Montezuma. Blanks was 1-4 with one RBI. Marshall went 1-3 with one RBI. PJ Hanisak went 2-4. Gavin Rush was 1-3. Stevenson went 0-3 with one run scored, and Smith was 0-3 with a run scored. The Braves were held to eight hits and left seven stranded. Hass went 4-5 with three RBIs and a run scored. Harvey was 2-5 with three RBIs and a run scored. Thompson went 1-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Scott was 1-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Witcher was 0-5 with one RBI. Owens went 2-4 with two runs scored. Pollock and Bush were both 2-5 with a run scored. The D-Backs had 14 hits and left seven runners on base. Kehoe relied heavily on the D-Backs’ offense to get through the evening. “We had some guys that were really teeing off tonight, and it was really nice,” Kehoe said. “It’s a luxury having that, because when you’re down, it’s hard to keep a good mindset.” The Diamondbacks will hope to push their win streak to three on Monday, July 5 at 7:30 pm, when they travel to Shifflet Field to face the Grottoes Cardinals. The Braves will hope to bounce back on Tuesday, July 6 at 7:30 pm, when they head to New Market to take on the Shockers. By Leyton Pullin
The New Market Shockers defeated the Grottoes Cardinals on Saturday July 3 by a score of 5-4 at Shifflett Field. New Market got the scoring started right away as Matt House reached on a lead off single and driven in the very next at bat by a Kaden Spaid RBI double. New Market continued the scoring later in the inning as Luke Estep hit an RBI single to score Spaid and put the Shockers out in front 2-0 before Grottoes even got to the plate. Starter Calvin Pastel kept the Cardinals hitless for the first two innings before Rhett Moyer doubled to left field in the 3rd inning. Dalton Nicely drove in the first run for the Cardinals the ensuing at bat with a RBI single right back up the middle to score Moyer. The Cardinals would then load the bases after a Clayton Michael singled and Dylan Nicely was intentionally walked. The Cardinals left the bases jammed after a Tucker Garrison strike out ended the inning with the score 2-1 in favor of the Shockers. New Market would stretch their lead the next half inning in the top of the 4th. Ethan Laird and Joel Smith reached for the Shockers on back-to-back singles and would be advanced into scoring position by a sacrifice bunt by Pastel. Spaid then put a ground ball in play later in the inning with two outs and the throw over to first didn’t make it to the first baseman David Wood. As the ball rolled to the fence behind the bag both Laird and Smith came into score and stretch the lead to 4-1. Grottoes struck back in the bottom of the 5th as Boogie Saunders and Michael singled back-to-back to lead off the inning before Dylan Nicely delivered a two RBI single to draw the Cardinals back to within a run at 4-3. Right on cue New Market applied some pressure on the scoreboard in the 6th. Calvin Pastel tripled with one down and was driven in the following at bat as Matt house made solid contact for a RBI single to stretch the Shocker lead back out to 5-3. Grottoes battled back once more in the bottom half of the 6th. Ben Custer walked to lead off the inning followed by a Moyer single. Both runners would be advanced into scoring position by a Dalton Nicely sacrifice bunt to set the plate for the top of the order. Saunders would go down on strikes the ensuing at bat chasing at three pitches out of the zone. With two gone in the inning Michael deliverdd an RBI single to score Custer and put the game back to one run at 5-4. Grottoes had another chance in the 8th as they caught a break and Moyer reached first on an error by Josh Tayman at third base. Moyer would end up stranded at third base when the third out was recorded. New Market had another chance to stretch the lead in the top of the 9th as Tayman lead the inning off with a single. Ty Bennet laid down a bunt following the single and reached on a fielder’s choice as Dylan Nicely tried to make the out at second and the through was airmailed into center field allowing Tayman to reach third base. George Aul was up later in the inning after a Luke Estep strike out and grounded up the middle. Moyer at second would opt for the out at the plate to save the run for the second out. Laird grounded out to Wood at first to end the inning. Grottoes came to the plate in the 9th with a chance only trailing by a run. Spaid retired the first hitter in the inning during his relief effort before Garrison tried to provide his own run support with a blooper double. Jacob Merica came to the plate next and grounded a ball to Spaid on the mound. Spaid made the heads up play and checked on Garrison and got him hung up between second and third base and getting him out while Merica reached at first with now two gone in the 9th. David Wood came up as the last hope for the Cardinals and got ahead 2-0 in the count before he got under a fastball from Spaid and flew out to Estep in centerfield for the final out. For Grottoes they fall to 7-5 on the year with the loss. Tucker Garrison (2-2) takes the loss for the Cardinals after he tossed a complete game for Tim Nicely and company. Garrison tossed a pretty good game despite taking the loss only allowing 3 earned runs and striking out 7. The Cardinals will enjoy a day off for Independence Day then will be back at it as they do battle once again with nearby rival Stuarts Draft (7-5) winners of two straight over the last two teams to occupy the top spot in the league standings. That game will be in Grottoes at 7:30PM on Monday July 5. Calvin Pastel (2-1) picks up the win for the Shockers after tossing 6 innings, striking out 8 and giving up 4 earned runs. Spaid (1) also picks up a rare 9 out save for the Shockers. Nolan Potts and company were rather shorthanded on the night as they only had nine players available. Yes, you read that right only nine players. Nolan Potts described the win as “… an all-around team effort…. We had guys step into the lineup that normally don’t hit and they put good swings on it and were able to squeak out a victory” The Shockers (7-4) will get back in action with another intriguing battle towards the top of the RCBL standings with the Montezuma Braves (7-3). The Shockers will have a chance to take first place in the standings with a win. That will take place on Tuesday July 6 at Rebel Park in New Market at 7:30 PM. By Olivia Carson
Coming out of their biggest win this season against the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks at the beginning of this week, the Cardinals managed to obtain an even larger win against Elkton this Friday night July 2 at home once again. The game ended midway through the seventh inning leaving the Cardinals at a 13 - 2 advantage. The Grottoes winning pitcher for the night was Adam Dofflemyer who threw 6 innings completing 4 strikeouts and allowing the only 2 successful runs from the Blue Sox. Scoring started in the bottom of the first inning for the Cardinals when Dylan Nicely tripled to score Keegan Woolford. Without giving the Blue Sox a chance to score, the Cardinals continue to step on the gas in the second and third innings. A RBI single from designated hitter, Tucker Garrison, and a 2 RBI double from second baseman Clayton Michael puts the Cardinals up 4 - 0 in the second. Garrison stepped up to bat again in the bottom of the third with bases loaded and sent one far to right field, singling and scoring 2 runners. With bases still loaded, Michael followed with a walk to first, pushing David Wood home. To end the inning with a 9 - 0 lead, Woolford singled and sent both Garrison and Wood home. Elkton picked up some slack at the top of the fourth after a walk from JJ Loker, a single from Tillman Butler and some miscommunication from the Grottoes outfield allowed Robert Carbello to single and score both runners. After the Blue Sox were unable to get on base, Dylan Nicely returned in the bottom of the fifth inning with bases loaded to score Boogie Saunders and Dalton Nicely off a base hit. Dylan, Michael and Garrison all tied with a game high of 3 RBI’s for the night. Will Craig stepped in for Seth Berry to pitch for the Blue Sox at the bottom of the sixth, right before an RBI single from Dalton Nicely put the Cardinals up 12 - 2. Soon after, a fielder’s choice allowed Hayden Lutz to score the 13th run for Grottoes moving into the seventh inning. Kevin Saylor stepped in to pitch for the Cardinals in the last inning, assisting his infield in making a double play at first and second to clear the bases and collect 3 outs for Elkton ending the game with a 13 - 2 win for Grottoes. The Cardinals were able to improve since their last matchup against the Blue Sox with 13 RBI’s and 13 runs compared to 10 RBI’s and 11 runs. Grottoes continues with a 7 - 4 record and plays at home again tonight July 3 at 7:30PM against the new market Shockers. The Blue Sox fell to 1 - 9 on the season and will take on the Bridgewater Reds at Stonewall Memorial Park July 3 for the second time. By Leyton Pullin
On Friday July 2 the Montezuma Braves defeated the Clover Hill bucks 5-4 on a JT Stevenson walk off single in the 9th inning to remain atop the RCBL standings. Lance Tate got the start for the Braves and came out rather shaky hitting and walking the first two batters he faced before retiring the side. He would have the same troubles in the 2nd inning loading the bases on two walks and a Ross French bunt single. Alex Knicely flew out for the first out of the inning but then Bryce Suters fought off a 3-2 count to draw a walk to score the first run of the game as Kevin kirk was forced in to make it 1-0 Clover Hill. On the other side of the coin Steve Woerner got the start for the bucks and retired 9 of the first 11 hitters he faced in the first three innings. In the 4th inning that run would come to an end. Isiah Blanks led the inning off with a single. Kyle Armstrong walked and Jacob Critzer singled to load up the bases. Logan Jones struck out to make it two outs before Gavin Rush delivered a 2 RBI single to score Blanks and Armstrong. Wyatt Campbell followed with an RBI single of his own to score Critzer. Montezuma loaded the bases once more with a hit batsman before JT Stevenson walked to force across Rush to cap off a 4 run inning for the Braves and put them in front 4-1. Clover Hill would slowly crawl back in the 5th as Tanner Montgomery delivered an RBI single to score John Siciliano on the new pitcher Hunter Clever and make it a 4-2 game. The Bucks got another inch closer in the 6th as they loaded the bases before Cody Swisher hit a ground ball to Rush at second base for a ground out allowing Knicely to score and make it a 4-3 game. The Bucks had another chance in the 7th with runners at first and second with one out in the inning. Clever would step off the rubber and pick off to second base leaving Knicely hung up in a run down. Blanks would get the pick off and throw to Critzer who then tagged Knicely out as he retreated towards the bag and in one motion Critzer also dove and tagged Ross French out as he tried to advance to second on the play in one of the wildest double plays on the RCBL season. Clover Hill would finally capitalize in the 8th. Clever retired the first two batters of the inning via the punchout before his Bridgewater College teammate Jacob Grabeel singled. Montezuma made the change and went with another Eagle in the form of the power pitcher Keegan Oliver. Oliver squared off with another Bridgewater Eagle Kevin Navedo. On the 11th pitch of the at bat Navedo nailed an Oliver fastball right back up the middle for an RBI double to score Grabeel and tie the game at 4-4. The Bucks had another opportunity in the top of the 9th, this time to take the lead. Siciliano lead the inning off with a walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Kevin Kirk squared up and lead down a bunt down the first base line the next at bat. Oliver fielded it and made the throw to Clever at first base and as Clever caught the ball he and Kirk collided. Kirk was originally called safe on the play before further discussion between the umpiring crew that eventually ruled Kirk out. All of this allowed Siciliano to advance to third. Oliver then did what closer are supposed to do. The former Riverheads Gladiator struck out the next two hitters on elevated fastballs to get out of the inning. In the bottom half of the 9th inning Eric Yankey would continue his dominant relief performance as he had retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced including the first two hitters in the 9th. Michael Robertson then grounded a ball to the first baseman French that got away from him allowing him to reach safely. Robertson showed off his speed advancing to second on a straight speed putting the winning run in scoring position for Stevenson. Stevenson stepped up and delivered with a single to right field allowing Robertson to score and walk it off for the Braves 5-4. For Clover Hill they drop to 6-4 and to a tie with New Market for No. 5 in the RCBL Standings. The story for the Bucks was the fact they left 14 runners on base. Eric Yankey (0-2) gets the loss for the Bucks despite pitching 5.0 innings, striking out 9 and not allowing an earned run. The Bucks will be back in action on July 5 as they host the Broadway Bruins (6-4) at the Clover Dome at 7:30 PM. For Montezuma they protect their top spot in the RCBL standings at 7-2. They now sit a full game up on second place Grottoes. Keegan Oliver (2-0) gets the win for the Braves after going 1.1 innings and only giving up one hit and one walk. The Braves will host Stuarts Draft (6-5) on Saturday June 3 at 7:30 PM. By Dean Barker
A seventh inning three run homer from Cody Bartley would give the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks the cushion they needed to beat the defending RCBL champion Broadway Bruins 5-1 at home on Friday, July 2. The win came after two straight losses for the Diamondbacks, who moved to 6-5, but will stay in sixth place. The loss dropped the Bruins to 6-4 and a three-way tie with the Clover Hill Bucks and New Market Shockers for third place. D-Backs starter Trevor Mitchell gave up one earned run on five hits with four strikeouts in four innings. Reliever Parker Heinemann qualified for the win, giving up just one hit in four innings and striking out five to move to 1-0. Chandis Goff had one walk and one strikeout in the ninth for Stuarts Draft. Starter Jacob Petersheim took the loss for Broadway, giving up two earned runs in three innings. Isaac VanMeter would pitch the next three scoreless innings, giving up four hits with two strikeouts, while also going 1-1 at the plate. James Riddel gave up three earned runs on three hits in the last two innings. The D-Backs would threaten in the second, as Cody Bartley reached third on a single from Chaz Harvey, but both runners would be stranded. This would make way for a one-out solo shot from Jett Shue in the top of the third to make the score 1-0 Broadway. The Bruins would then load the bases, but Mitchell would retire the next two batters to escape the jam. Stuarts Draft would respond in the bottom half, as with two outs and the bases loaded, Dan Scott would rip a two RBI single to right field, making the score 2-1. However, Will Hass would be thrown out trying to take third. The D-Backs would leave the bases loaded in the fourth. VanMeter led off the sixth inning with a hopper over shortstop Grayson Bush. After a groundout from Bryce Turner moved him to second, he would reach third on a passed ball. Broadway, however, would not be able to bring him home, and VanMeter was the last Bruin to reach scoring position for the night. The Diamondbacks bats would go silent until the bottom of the seventh, when Zach Roberts single and Calen Owens would be hit, and both runners advanced on a passed ball. Broadway head coach Chip Abernathy would contest the calls on both the hit by pitch and the throw to third on the passed ball, but to no avail. Jeff Riddel would retire Will Hass, but Cody Bartley would rip a three run homer over the left field fence to finalize the score at 5-1. Shue led the Bruins in defeat, going 2-3 with a single and one RBI on a home run. Trent Abernathy went 2-3 with a single and a double. The Bruins were held to five hits and two walks, and left seven runners on base. Stuarts Draft was led by Bartley, who went 3-4 with three RBIs and one run scored. Scott went 1-3 with one hit-by-pitch and two RBIs. Roberts went 3-4 with a hit-by-pitch and two runs scored. Owens went 0-3, but was hit by two pitches and scored twice. Hass and Chaz Harvey both went 2-4. The Diamondbacks had twelve hits, one walk and four hit-by-pitches, and left nine runners on base. Neither team had any errors in the field. Bartley said he was able to perform at the plate by going after the pitches. “I was looking to get a hit, I wasn’t up there trying to take a walk or nothing. I was looking to attack the baseball,” Bartley told RCBL’s Dean Barker. “I also went up there with a confident attitude, and I think (I had) a really good four at-bats.” The Diamondbacks will travel to Montezuma tonight at 7:30 pm to take on the first-place Braves. The Bruins will take the weekend off before heading to the Clover Dome on Monday, July 5 at 7:30 pm to take on the Clover Hill Bucks. |
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