IN A THRILLING BARNBURNER, THE MIGHTY GIANTS FEND OFF THE PESKY BUCCANEERS TO HANG ON FOR A SHIVER ME TIMBERS VICTORY AT BICKFORD PARK
THE CLOSER: Despite giving up a solo home run, Giants reliever Jamie (13) struck out one and initiated the 1-3-2 double play in the bottom of the third inning that sealed the deal on the Giants one run victory over the Pirates at Bickford Park.
Beneath a blanket of warm and humid skies, the Giants edged the Pirates 10-9 in a thrilling three inning Mosquito Division barnburner this evening at the Bickford Park South Diamond.
It was an entertaining rock em’ sock ’em affair between two talented teams from the first pitch to the final out with continual shifts in momentum that dazzled the fans in attendance.
Sam (14) delivered a RBI single in the top of the third that brought Jamie (13) home with the Giants winning run.
The Giants jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. After Ethan (2) has led off the inning with a single and a pair of stolen bases to reach third, Jeremy (15) followed with a RBI single to bring Ethan in with the Giants first run. Later, with two outs and the bases loaded, Lucas (1) drew a RBI walk to bring Ethan home.
Pirates starter Will (13) eventually found the groove and pitched himself out of a mojo jojo bases loaded jam by striking out three Giants to quell the threat.
In the bottom of the first, the gnarly Buccaneers answered the salvo by taking advantage of five walks and a pair of key hits to score four and take a 4-2 lead. After back to back walks to Andre (15) and Jonah (10) to lead off the inning, Will delivered a RBI single to Andre homeward with the Pirates first run of the game.
After a walk to Charlie (3) loaded the bases, Jeremy (4) and Ella (8) would respectively draw RBI walks that allowed Jonah and Will to jig home. Olivia (6) followed with a RBI single to bring home Charlie.
Making hay of six walks and a series of Pirates errors, the Mighty Giants scored four in the top of the second to retake the lead 6-4. Leo (7), Sasha (7), Ethan (6) and James (4) would come home to roost.
The Bucs would feast upon a serving of seven walks in the bottom of the second to plate four and reclaim the advantage 8-6. With one out and the bases loaded, Aaron (2) would draw a RBI walk that brought home Jasper (11). Adi (7) would brazenly steal home to tie the proceedings.
After Oscar (1) of the Pirates drew a walk to reload the bases, Andre and Will would follow with consecutive RBI walks that allowed Lucas (9) and Aaron to mosey homeward.
Like a prized boxer answering the bell, the Mighty Giants responded with four runs in the top of the third to take back the lead 10-8. After Ethan (2) singled and Jeremy walked with one out to put two Giants runners on base, a series of Buccaneers defensive faux pas allowed them to reach home and tie the proceedings.
Will (13) slides under the tag of Giants catcher Leo (7) to score a dramatic inside the park home run in the bottom of the third that drew the Pirates within one run of tying the game.
Subsequently, Gus (9) would deliver a two out double. However, a Pirates error would allow Gus to reach home and put the Giants in front 9-8. After Jamie (13) singled, he would advance to third after a Pirates wild pitch and error. At this juncture, Sam (14) would stroke a clutch RBI single to score Jamie.
Even with their mizzenmast under siege by the Giants, the pesky Pirates refused to accept defeat as they gamely mounted a daring comeback in the bottom of the third.
With Jolly Roger swagger, Will led off the inning by stroking a grace under pressure hit down the first baseline that he hustled into an inside the park home run to pull the Bucs to within one. In a chitty chitty bang bang play at the dish, Will just slid safely under the tag of Giants catcher Leo (7) to score the dramatic run.
Charlie would follow with a clutch triple to put the Pirates tying run at third. Next, Jeremy would draw a walk to put two Buccaneers on base with no outs.
Shaken, but not stirred, Giants southpaw closer Jamie (13) found his rhythm and icily struck out the next Pirate to record the first out of the inning.
With one out and the game on the line, Jamie would induce the next Buccaneer to ground a comebacker to the mound. Jamie fielded the ball and threw to first baseman James (4) to record the second out at first.
At this juncture, Pirates baserunner Charlie made a smartly dash for home in a shiver me timbers bid to bring home the tying run. However, Giants first baseman James made a laser throw to catcher Leo, who adroitly applied the tag on the sliding Charlie to record the third and final out. A dramatic 1-3-2 double play that saved the game for the Mighty Giants.
BONUS PIRATES GAME LOG by Captain Jeff Kolyn.
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In the top of the first had Will (13) was on the mound for the Pirates with Jonah (10) catching his first game behind the plate. Will pitched a strong inning with three strikeouts, including two swinging and freezing the last out of the inning with paint corner strike.
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In the bottom half of the first inning, the Pirates rallied for four runs, started off by Andre (15) with a walk and two stolen bases, then coming in to score on Will’s RBI single. Jonah and Charlie (3) also worked walks, and came around to score on RBI walks from Ella (8) and Jeremy (4), and a RBI single from Olivia (6) to end the inning.
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In the second inning, the Pirates started their eleventh different pitcher to date with Ella taking the mound and throwing some solid pitches, including a few swinging strikes. Ella effectively worked the counts and forced the hitters to be on the toes.
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In the bottom of the second, Jasper (11) led off with a walk, and stole two bases. Adi (7) then walked and promptly stole second. After Lucas (9) walked to load the bases, Aaron (2) drew a full count walk to score Jasper. With Oscar (1) up, Adi proceeded to steal home on a heads up play. Oscar was able to draw a walk to reload the bases, and Andre and Jonah each drew RBI walks to close out the inning.
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The third and final inning was pitched by Olivia, who struck out the first batter she faced.
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Mark (12) made a great catch on what looked like a possible Texas leaguer.
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Olivia made a great play for the final out of the inning, scooping up a slow grounder, and gunning a throw to first, that was cradled nicely by Oscar to complete the 1-3 putout.
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In the bottom of the third, Will led off the inning with an all-out hustle home run, just beating the play at the plate with a great slide.
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Charlie followed that up with a triple and Jeremy walked, and stole second.
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The inning ended on a bang bang play at home with Charlie just missing scoring the tying run.