Team Win sees Bucks over Cardinals

By Tyler Carney
​The Clover Hill Bucks held off the Grottoes Cardinals in a great game Monday Night. A solid team win that stayed close the entire way and never saw more than 1 run scored in a single inning as the Bucks won 4-3.
 
The Bucks got off to a hot start as Josh Eberly would hit a triple on the first pitch of the game. He would then score on a double from Kevin Navedo. However the Cardinals would tighten up and get out of the 1st without any more damage.
 
The next two at bats for both sides were uneventful as all 6 batters would get out in order. The Cardinals would tie the game on a Witt Scafidi sacrifice fly ball that scored Dillion Nicely.  The Bucks would take the lead back in the 3rd off a Luke Shifflett sacrifice fly that would make the game 2-1.
 
The Bucks would extend their lead to two in the 4th. TJ Johnson hit a double and would reach 3rd and he would easily score on a sacrifice fly from Alex Knicely. The 5th would then stay scoreless on both sides, however the Cardinals had a runner on but a smart play from the Bucks catcher as he fielded a ball in play to tag the batter who thought it went foul. After some discussion, including some with coaches, the umpires ruled him out.
 
The Cardinals would get back into the game with a run in the 6th as they loaded the bases and shortstop Clayton Michael would work a walk, walking in a run. The Cardinals would tie it in the 7th as Dylan Nicely would get an RBI single and an error in center field would allow Garret Huffman to score from first evening the game 3-3.
 
The Bucks would score the winning Run in the 8th off of their 3rd sacrifice fly of the game from John Siciliano. Tyler Conley would then shut down any offense for Grottoes and end the game on a ground out.
 
Grottoes’ pitching saw Adam Dofflemyer get the start, striking out two and allowing three runs. He would be replaced in the 5th by Lucas Cash who would strike out three but would allow the 4th and winning run giving him the loss. Noah Burtner would close the game coming in in the 9th striking out two while only allowing one hit.
 
“ Pitching is something I’ve been happy with but we have got to start hitting better from here on out, “ said Cardinals Manager Tim Nicely, “ we couldn’t string any hits together.”
 
On the other side the Bucks would start Jaden Isidro who’d strike out three and only give up one run earning him the win. Sam Imeson would come in the 5th inning and strike out two and give up two runs. Tyler Conley would come in the 9th and as mentioned before shut down the hopes of extras or a walkoff for Grottoes. He retired the side in just four batters allowing only one hit earning him the save.
 
“ A good team win. You gotta find a way to win these tight games pitching shut down when we need to,” said Bucks Manger Kevin Chandler “ We found our way to win, we are playing good ball but gotta clean up the little things executing those better going forward is what we need.”
 
The Cardinals(4-5) will look to get back to .500 at home June 14th against the Diamondbacks(3-6) who are coming off of a big win against the Reds.
 
The Bucks(7-2) will look to try for a 3rd win in a row at home  June 16th against the Elkton Blue Sox who are still winless.