Sluggers edge Reds in high-scoring tilt, 11-10
Special to The Eagle
In recent Pine Island Little League Majors Division play at Bobby Holloway Memorial Field, the game between the Pine Island Sea Sluggers and Reds got off to an uncharacteristic wild start.
Amidst a flurry of miscues on both teams, a combined 14 runs were scored in the first two innings, leaving the Reds ahead of the Slugs, 8-6.
The Reds got to Slugs’ starting pitcher Trey Clark quickly in the top of the first inning. Mason Wells led off with a triple, with Jaime Huerta and Chase Barnhill added singles. Fielding mistakes by the Slugs, along with the Reds hits gave them a 3-0 lead after half an inning.
The Slugs bounced right back to tie the game at three in their half of the first, Davis Wold led off with a home run against Reds starter Ty Young. A couple of walks and fielding miscues scored two more Slug runs. The Reds then tacked on five more runs in the top of the second. Again, errors on the Slugs defense aided the five-run uprising, which was highlighted by a big two-run double off the bat of Izzy Funair. Mason Wells added his second hit of the game, a double, in the big inning.
Not to be outdone, the undefeated Slugs bounced right back in their half of the second, scoring three of their own on a Mark Smith three-run homer.
The game settled down after the first two innings. Davis Wold relieved Trey Clark on the mound for the Slugs. He pitched scoreless ball in the third and fourth innings, striking out the side in the third and again, in the fourth after giving up two hits to the Reds to start the top of the fourth.
The Slugs scored a run on a Luke Harre home run in their half of the third to make the score 8-7 Reds. Ty Young was relieved by Chance Barnhill in the bottom of the fourth for the Reds. The Slugs came alive with a four-run inning, highlighted by a two RBI single off the bat of Trey Clark, followed by a two RBI double by Carter Olson, giving the Slugs their first lead of the game, 8-11, going into the last inning.
In the most exciting game of the season, the Reds refused to die. Dalton Dooley came on to pitch in relief of Davis Wold for the Slugs. With a run already in, the score 9-11, and a runner on base for the Reds, Chance Barnhill came to the plate as the potential tying run for the Reds. Barnhill blasted a pitch to the right centerfield alley. Slugs outfielder, Grace Tisler, raced to the ball, made a fine relay throw to Trey Clark who relayed the ball to Mark Smith, as Barnhill chugged around third with the potential tying run. Smith made a bullseye throw to Slugs catcher, Davis Wold, who applied the tag for out number three, in textbook fashion. An exciting finish to a wild 11-10 Slugs victory. With the win the Sea Sluggers are now 9-0 on the season. Davis Wold was the winning pitcher for the Slugs. Dalton Dooley picked up the save. The Reds outhit the Slugs, 12-10 in the highest scoring game of the season.
Mason Wells was a standout defensively for the Reds, making several fine plays in the field and adding three hits at the plate, a triple, a double, and a single. Ty Young and Jaime Huerta added two hits each to the Reds attack. Liran Potts and Mike Jendrusiak also had hits for the Reds. Dalton Dooley added a hit for the Slugs.
The Pine Island Sea Sluggers are sponsored this year by Pine Island Pizza while the Reds are sponsored by the Bobby Holloway, Jr Memorial Fund.
The Slugs and the Reds meet for the season ending game at Bobby Holloway Memorial Field today, June 9, at 6 p.m. Come out and see some exciting baseball while supporting our Pine Island Youth.