BANTAM > Monarchs Top Stars 13-9


THE GRITTY MONARCHS PREVAIL OVER THE PESKY STARS IN THE BANTAM DIVISION SEASON OPENER AT DOMINICO FIELD

After stealing second base and taking advantage of a pair of errors on the play, Mark (9) of the Stars would motor home in dramatic fashion and elude the tag attempt of Monarchs catcher Gabe (3) to score the Stars eighth run in the bottom of the third inning at Dominico Field at Christie Pits.

Beneath a blanket of warm and hazy skies, the Monarchs defeated the Stars 13-9 in four innings of Bantam Division action this afternoon at Dominico Field at Christie Pits.

The season opening game for both teams was an entertaining contest from the first pitch to the final out. In a tight battle, the Monarchs eventually took the prize in the final frame by making the most of their offensive opportunities and by neutralizing the potent Stars batting order with some solid pitching.

The Monarchs jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Following a leadoff walk and stolen base by Leandro (10), Teddy (9) would stroke a single. On the play, the Stars would commit a faux pas which allowed Teddy to move to second and Leandro to motor home with the first run of the game.

Alden (7) would spark the Monarchs offence by going 3 for 3 at the dish with three runs scored and a RBI.

After a single and stolen base by Alden (7) put two otters on the pond, Zac (2) hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Alden to advance to third and Teddy to come home to roost. A Stars error would allow Alden to come homeward.

Following a one out single and a pair of stolen bases, Qingyuan (14) would bolt home from third on wild pitch.

In a workmanlike effort on the hill, Stars starter Wahid (2) would chalk up a groundout and a strikeout in the first frame.

In the bottom of the first, the Stars would reply with three to trim the deficit to one. After a leadoff walk by Nick (6), Mark (9) would single to put two mallards on the lake. As Nick stole third, the catcher’s throw to nab him sailed high and trickled down the line. The error allowed Mark to move up to second and Nick to score. A subsequent series of wild pitches would open the portal for Mark to come home to crow.

After a one out walk, Max (14) would subsequently come around to score on a passed ball and a pair of wild pitches.

Monarchs starter Zac (2) would strike out two in the first to quell the Stars uprising.

The Monarchs would counterpunch with four in the top of the second to widen their advantage to 8-3. Following a two out single by Leandro and a walk by Teddy that put two ferrets on the credenza, Alden (7) stroked a RBI single to plate Leandro.

In three at bats, Zac (2) scored once and drove in four runs (via a 2 RBI double and another 2 RBI’s on a pair of fielder choices) to power the Monarchs attack.

With two aboard, Zac would follow with a two RBI double to bring Teddy and Alden homeward. On the next play, as Quinyuan reached first on a Stars throwing error, Zac would hustle home on the faux pas.

In a spirited foray on the mound, Stars starter Wahid would ring up a strikeout and a groundout in the second.

However, the Stars would answer back with four in the bottom of the second to trim the margin to 8-7. Following a leadoff walk to Alejandro (7), Elliot (11) would deliver a one out single and Willem (5) would garner a walk to load the bases. A wild pitch by the Stars would allow Elliot and Willem to move up a base and Alejandro to score.

After Daniel (13) drew a walk to reload the bases, Spencer (4) stroked a RBI single to plate Elliot.

With the bases still juiced to the gills, Nick would draw a RBI walk to bring in Willem. A subsequent wild pitch would allow Daniel to blaze homeward and do the shimmy shimmy.

In a workmanlike effort, Monarchs reliever Teddy (9) struck out one Monarch in the second frame.

The Monarchs would tack on a run in the top of the third to widen their lead to 9-7. Following a leadoff single, Gabe (3) would steal a pair of bases and come home on a wild pitch.

With a little help from his friends, Stars reliever Daniel (13) would subdue the Monarchs insurgency in the third with a strikeout, a groundout and a pop up.

The Stars defence shone brightly in the third frame. With one out, second baseman Aidan (10) hooked up with first baseman Alejandro to turn a smooth 4-3 defensive putout for the second out.

Stars catcher Joseph (8) tags out a sliding Gabe (3) of the Monarchs in a chitty chitty bang bang solo putout in the fourth inning.

Then Stars catcher Joseph (8) battled the glaring sun to catch an eight mile high pop up behind home plate to ring up the third out.

Refusing to surrender, the pesky Stars rallied with a run in the bottom of the third to draw within one. After stroking a leadoff single, Mark would steal second. On the play, the Monarchs would commit two errors that allowed Mark to make it all the way home.

Monarchs southpaw reliever Qingyuan (14) would strikeout three in the third to extinguish the Stars rebellion.

In the top of the fourth, the Monarchs would put the pedal to the metal and strike for four runs to increase their lead to 13-8. Following a leadoff walk by Teddy, Alden would single to put two aboard. With runners at second and third, Zac would hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Alden to move to third and Teddy to score.

With one out and a runner at third, Qingyuan would reach base on a dropped third strike. On the play, Alden bolted from third and came home to crow.

After Qingyuan stole second, Gabe delivered a RBI single to plate Qingyuan.

Following a two out walk, Adrian (11) would advance to second on a Stars faux pas. Chryz (12) would drive Adrian home with a RBI single.

With two outs, the Monarchs would turn a solo defensive gem to chalk up the second out. As the pitch to Adrian bounced in the dirt and squirted pass Stars catcher Joseph, Gabe bolted homeward from third. However, Joseph quickly retrieved the ball and made it back to home plate to tag out a sliding Gabe in a chitty chitty bang bang play at the dish.

The Stars would gamely rally with a run in the bottom of the fourth to draw within four. After drawing a leadoff walk, Joseph would swipe a pair of bases and come homeward bound on a wild pitch.

Monarchs closer Alden (7) would strike out three in the fourth to seal the deal on a hard fought victory.