Scafidi Sparks Grottoes Offense in Big Win

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.