Bucks Top Blue Sox in Slugfest

By Olivia Carson
Clover Hill took the win last night in a very high scoring matchup against the Elkton Blue Sox. The last time these two teams competed against each other, Elkton came out with a 12 - 10 advantage over the Bucks. This time however, Clover Hill traveled to stonewall memorial park with vengeance and defeated the Blue Sox 26 - 18.
 
Both teams completed a total of five pitching changes during the night which mostly occurred in the 6th inning, along with most of the scoring. Winning pitcher and starter for the Bucks was Eric Yankey who pitched 4 innings with 3 strikeouts, allowed 4 walks and 7 out of 18 of Elkton’s runs.
 
Kevin Kirk was the first to score for the Bucks at the top of the 1st inning when Bryce Suters walked to first base with bases loaded. A single from John Siciliano and Hayden Baldwin adds three more runs to the board, ending the first inning at 4 - 0.
 
Kevin Navedo starts off the second inning hitting a home run with no one on base. Suters followed with another home run to add 4 more runs for Clover Hill. Elkton started scoring in the bottom of the second with two singles, one from Seth Berry (1 RBI) and another from Gauge Jenkins (2 RBI) entering the 3rd inning falling 8 - 3.
 
Elkton made their first pitching substitution at the top of the 3rd, changing Jack Bourdon for Wyatt Estep who only allowed the Bucks to score one run in the 3rd off of a sacrifice fly. The Blue sox also only added one run in the 3rd inning from Tristan Gordon who scored off a dropped catch.
 
Clover Hill did not get a chance to score in the 4th inning but allowed for Elkton to gain 3 runs off of a JJ Loker homerun with two runners on base, finishing up the inning still falling to the Bucks 9 - 7.
 
The Second Elkton pitching change occurred in the middle of the top of the 5th inning right before back-to-back home runs from Clover Hill. Jenkins subbed in as pitcher for Elkton as Cody Swisher hit one out of the park with bases loaded and Suters followed directly after to hit a home run with no one on base. The Bucks improved their lead 14 - 7 going into the 6th inning where they were able to add 10 more runs. Sam Imeson got subbed in to pitch for Clover Hill in the bottom of the 5th and did not allow Elkton to add any runs.
 
Before the 6th inning started, Elkton subbed in Chase Pullin to pitch. Pullin allowed three walks leaving the bases loaded for his sub, Gordon who let Ross French walk for the Bucks, scoring Kirk. Two more runners scored off a line drive from Suters to left field and another two off a single from Josh Eberly. Jacob Grabeel walked with bases loaded and another RBI single from Jenkins left the bases loaded for Taylor Fitzgerald who then doubled and scored three more runners. Fitzgerald reached home plate later in the inning off of a single from Drew Easter after one last Elkton pitching change, subbing in their catcher, Robert Carbello.
 
Colby Knicely got subbed in to pitch for the Bucks at the bottom of the 6th to allow 2 walks and a 2 RBI single by Gordon that caused another pitching change to Shannon Knicely. Jacob Cude scored off a dropped catch and Gordon scored later once Jeremy Kwolek was walked with bases loaded. Jacob Leveall got hit by a pitch with bases loaded  and Koice Quintanilla advanced to 1st because of an error at second base, letting two more runners score. Clover Hill made their last pitching change for the inning, subbing in Tucker Hrasky who allowed an RBI single from Mack Rexrode leaving the bases loaded once again. Jose Rocha and Cude both walked to first, each walking a runner to home plate to gain Elkton’s 9th and final run of the inning. 
 
Both teams managed to add two more runs each in the seventh inning starting with a home run from Grabeel scoring himself and one other runner on base. Elkton attempted to catch up after the Bucks sub in Grabeel to pitch at the bottom of the 7th and Carbello scored off Leveall’s putout. Another scored run by Cam Shields off a sac fly to center field puts the Blue Sox down 26 -18, ending the game after the 7th inning.
 
Elkton falls to a 2 - 11 record while Clover hill continues at 7 - 5 and will play the New Market Shockers at Rebel Field on July 9. The Blue Sox will play another home game tonight at Stonewall Memorial Park against the Grottoes Cardinals at 7:30pm.