Sunday and Monday had 2 doubleheaders scheduled against last years LL Champs @ the Miller Huggins - Casey Stengel complex in St. Petersburg. The parents were still talking about the come from behind victory vs. Drew from the day before in Tampa!
Game # 1 featured a matchup of Skidmore's ace Ed Reilly and Blair Veenema. Overall, a well pitched game on both sides with only single runs being scored in any given at bat for either team.
Our boys went up 3-0 and then held on for a 3-2 win, John Fishback getting a save after the win in relief against Drew!
Our team came to life offensively and continued its offensive assault with 19 hits and 11 runs in game 2, following 15 hits and 15 runs vs. Drew.
Ryan Sullivan, Blayne Fuke, and Matt Francis each had 3 hits in the 11-6 win in game #2. Pete McEneaney got the win.
We were all feeling pretty good about the teams start, some things to work on, but a split on Sunday would be a great start to the LL season!
Skidmore started strong and built a 7-2 lead after 4 1/2 innings. The boys answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the 5th and 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th to take an 8-7 lead and John Fishback got them out 1-2-3 in the top of the 7th with 2 strikeouts and a ground out to shut the door! Dan Brien had 3 hits and Chris Olsen got the win in relief of Steve Guzski! Now 3-0 in LL, we were thinking sweep - greedy, but now possible!!
In the second game of the day and 4th against Skidmore, the pattern continued. Skidmore was up 1-0 through 4 1/2 innings and we came back with 2 in the 5th and 1 in the 6th to take a 3-1 lead through 6. Skidmore would not go away and answered with 2 runs in the top of the 7th and 1 in the top of the 9th to take a 4-3 lead.
Matt Francis started the bottom of the 9th inning off with a single, Nate Stein struck out, Dan Brien pinch hit for Pat Locke and singled, sending Francis to 3rd. Andy Cannon grounded out to 3rd with Francis holding and Brien advancing to 2nd. Jim Bard was sent to pinch run for Brien at second, representing the winning run in the bottom of the 9th! Ed Kahovec was now at bat. The pitcher got ahead 0-2, and then Eddie ripped a single into the outfield scoring 2 runs and helping UR go 4-0 against Skidmore. The team mobbed him at 2nd base in celebration of another come from behind win!! For many this was the game of the week in terms of drama and excitement! Eddie had 3 hits and 4 RBI's and Nick Cacciola got the win in relief of Mike Park, who pitched well!!
A 5-0 start and 4-0 Liberty League start were better than expected by most, and left all of us very optimistic for the UAA Tournament.
After the game, the UR travelling caravan headed out to the Orlando area and Altamonte Springs for the UAA Tournament in Sanford starting on Tuesday.
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