Elkton Mercy Rules Bridgewater with a Season Record of 19 Runs

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.