Lundy Bancroft steps in against the Hitchcocks
Hitchcocks 6
Bobcats 1
The Hitchcocks improved to 2-0, riding stellar pitching, stout defense and timely hitting to a 6-1 over the winless Bobcats.
Morriss Partee set the tone by firing 4 scoreless innings of 1-hit ball while the offense took advantage of several Bobcats miscues to plate a run in the 2nd and 2 in the 3rd off of Bobcats’ starter, Ricky Fleurent. Miguel Ringler reached 2B on a 2-out error in the 2nd, and Scott Dunaisky followed with a towering RBI double to deep LF. In the 3rd, Stephen Higgins reached on an error, and with 2 outs, Micah Winston singled him in and then Bill Evans blasted an RBI triple to deep RF.
Rookie TJ Hillard made his debut on the mound and was rudely greeted by consecutive 1-out singles by JR Ross, John Sullivan and rookie Matt Witek – the latter scoring a run when the relay throw home went awry. However, the Hitchcocks were able to get an out on the play, tagging out Sullivan in a savvy rundown to escape further damage. Hillard settled down and pitched 2 more scoreless innings, fanning 3 in the process.
Meanwhile, Lundy Bancroft relieved Fleurent in the 6th and promptly loaded the bases with no outs on a single by Higgins, an error and a walk. However, he escaped with only allowing 1 run, and that on an errant throw home after a flyout to CF on which Higgins hadn’t planned to run.
Bill Evans came on for the save in the 8th and got a 1-2-3 inning, and then was provided with a significant pad when his offense pushed across 2 more in the 9th on RBI singles by John Malikowski and Ringler after the bases were loaded on walks. Evans took care of the Bobcats all by himself in the 9th, with 2 assists and a putout to shut the door.
Game photos courtesy of Jeff Whitehead
Holyoke Millers 6
Angry Beavers 13
In a highly anticipated Sunday morning matchup at Mitchell Field, the Angry Beavers faced off against the Holyoke Millers in what turned out to be a thrilling, high-scoring affair. Both teams entered the game eager to make a statement, but it was the Beavers who struck first, capitalizing on early opportunities in the 2nd inning. With some timely hitting, they pushed across a single run, drawing first blood and putting the Millers on the defensive.
However, the Millers didn’t take long to answer. In the 3rd inning, they managed to manufacture a run of their own, bringing the score to 1-1 and setting the tone for a competitive game. The momentum swung back and forth as the Beavers reclaimed the lead in the 4th with another run, but once again, the resilient Millers responded. In the 5th inning, they tied the score at 2-2, thanks to sharp hitting and disciplined base running.
The game seemed balanced on a knife’s edge until the 6th inning, when the Beavers’ offense exploded. In a powerful display of hitting, they broke the game open with a five-run outburst, overwhelming the Millers’ pitching staff. Just an inning later, the Beavers weren't done yet, as they tacked on six more runs in the 7th inning, effectively seizing control of the game and extending their lead to a commanding 13-2.
The Millers, however, refused to go quietly. They managed to push a run across in the bottom of the 7th, attempting to chip away at the large deficit. Then, in the 9th inning, they staged a late rally. With their backs against the wall, the Millers pieced together a three-run inning, cutting into the Beavers’ lead. Despite their valiant effort, it proved too little, too late, and the game concluded with the Beavers securing a 13-6 victory.
Key to the Beavers' dominant performance were Diego Ortiz and Pat Olearcek, who spearheaded the offensive attack. Each player tallied four hits, driving in runs and consistently finding gaps in the Millers' defense. Their contributions set the tone for the Beavers' offense throughout the game.
For the Millers, Dave Poppie and Tom Neilson both provided sparks, each scoring two runs.
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