DOWN 6-2, THE MONARCHS RALLY IN DRAMATIC FASHION FOR FIVE RUNS IN THE FINAL INNING TO USURP THE CRAWFORDS AT DOMINICO FIELD AND WIN THE OPENING GAME OF THE BEST OF SEVEN MIDGET DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
With the game tied 6-6, Baiden (8) is poised to blaze home from third on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth to score the Monarchs winning run over the Crawfords.
What a game to kick off ‘September Madness!’
Daniel’s (2) painful lead off at bat in the bottom of sixth sparked the Monarchs miracle comeback.
Beneath the lights on a warm and humid evening at Dominico Field at Christie Pits, the Monarchs edged the Crawfords 7-6 in six innings to win the opening game of the Midget Division Championship Series.
Trailing 6-2, the Monarchs rallied in dramatic fashion with five runs in the bottom of the sixth to overtake the Crawfords and take a 1-0 lead in the best of seven championship series.
Daniel (2) led off the inning with a bizarre at bat that sparked the Monarchs. After Daniel hit a tough pitch off his leg, he fell down to the ground in a heap of pain as he exited the batter’s box. As the ball dribbled across the grass towards third, the Crawfords retrieved the ball for what seemed like a sure out. However, the Crawfords throw to first sailed high and went down the first baseline.
With encouraging exhortations from his teammates and Monarchs Head Coach Steve Smith, Daniel gamely picked himself up. With grit and determination, Daniel ran down first baseline and just beat the return throw from the outfield to first base and was ruled safe.
An atomic RBI triple by Sam (9) ignited the Monarchs five run surge in the final inning.
Sam (9) followed with a powerful RBI triple to the deep dish pizza nether regions of the outfield that allowed Daniel to reach home. Subsequently, Sam would score on a wild pitch and trim the Monarchs deficit to two.
After Oliver (10) [dropped third strike], Geordie (6) [single] and Baiden (8) [walk] reached base to load the bases, Spencer (11) drew a RBI walk that allowed Oliver to saunter home. An ensuing wild pitch by the Crawfords allowed Geordie to come home with the tying run.
After a walk to Markus (8) that reloaded the bases, Baiden pounced like a cougar on another wild pitch by the Crawfords to motor home with the Monarchs winning run.
Runs came at a premium for both teams in the early portion of the proceedings as it remained a low scoring and taut affair for three innings.
In the top of the first, the Crawfords took an early 1-0 lead after Stanny (8) scored on a wild pitch. With some defensive help from his teammates, Monarchs starter Sam (9) tamed the Crawfords offensive thrust.
Crawfords starter Tyler (10) set down the Monarchs in 1-2-3 fashion with two strikeouts in the bottom of the first to keep them off the scoreboard.
Nick (5) sparked the Crawfords offense with a 2 RBI single in the fourth inning.
With some solid defense behind him, Monarchs reliever Alex (12) kept the Crawfords off the scoring ledger with a one strikeout effort in the top of the second.
Tyler of the Crawfords weaved his magic in the bottom of the second to keep the Monarchs off the scoring abacus with a one strikeout effort and preserve his team’s slender one run lead.
Monarchs reliever Markus (8) mowed down two Crawfords in the top of the third to keep them off the scoresheet.
The Monarchs punched across two runs in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead. After Sadie (13) led off the inning with a walk, she reached third after a stolen base and a passed ball. As the Crawfords uncorked a wild pitch, Sadie seized the moment and blazed down the third baseline and slid home safely in a cloud of dust to tie the proceedings 1-1.
With two outs, Oliver stroked a clutch double. After stealing third, Oliver motored home safely after a wild pitch to give the Monarchs the lead.
Taking advantage of a wild pitch by the Crawfords, Sadie (13) of the Monarchs slides home safely in the third inning with a run to tie the game 1-1.
However, the Crawfords rallied with four runs in the top of the fourth to retake the lead 6-2. After Caleb (9) [double], Tommy (7) [walk] and Stanny [walk] reached base to load the bases, Adrian (13) delivered an one out RBI single that allowed Caleb to come home with the tying run.
Nick (5) followed with a clutch two RBI double that brought Tommy and Stanny homeward bound and put the Crawfords back in front. Abirham (6) stroked a RBI single that cashed in Adrian from third.
With the Crawfords playing some solid defense, Crawfords reliever Stanny (8) pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth to keep the Monarchs offense at bay.
In the top of the fifth, Monarchs reliever Baiden (8) extricated himself from a bases loaded jam with a strikeout and some defensive assistance from his teammates.
Crawfords reliever Adrian (13) retired the Monarchs in order in the bottom of the fifth to maintain their four run advantage.
In workmanlike fashion, Monarchs reliever Baiden quelled another Crawfords uprising in the top of the sixth with a little help from his friends.
Down 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth, it was at this juncture in the game where the Monarchs readied themselves for their final at bats and came face to face with their moment with destiny.
The Crawfords and Monarchs will play Game 2 of their Midget Division Championship Series on Friday, September 6 at Dominico Field at Christie Pits at 7 p.m.