Jeff Whitehead delivers a pitch against the Angry Beavers
Angry Beavers 4
Hitchcocks 16
On a splendid opening day, the Hitchcocks relentless lineup and flawless defense overwhelmed the Beavers 16-4. The game was close through 6 (7-4), but a big 7-run 7th put the game out of reach. The Hitchcocks banged out 20 hits, including 3 doubles, walked 5 times and reached base on 4 errors. 12 of 13 batters got a hit, 9 scored and 8 had RBIs.
The Beavers came out swinging in the first against ‘Cocks starter, Jeff Whitehead, piecing together 3 hits and walk, and scoring 2 runs on Jim Fogarty’s single. They might have scored more had not RF Tom Sebastyn thrown the runner out at 2nd on what appeared to be a sure hit by Ken Sloat.
In the 2nd, the home team took the lead for good with a 3-spot off of starter Sloat, featuring 2-out RBI singles by the Stephens – Malachite and Higgins. Whitehead settled down, allowing only 1 more run in the 4th on an RBI hit by Jesse Higginbotham. Meanwhile, the Hitchcocks scored 1 in the 3rd on rookie Dave Dean’s double, and 2 in the 4th on a passed ball, and a balk by the Beavers’ 2nd pitcher, Higginbotham, who unfortunately had to exit the game after pulling a muscle on the pitch, and was relieved by Gary Webber, who K’d the final batter.
The Hitchcocks went up 7-3 in the 5th on Bill Evans’ sac fly, and the Beavers answered against reliever Morriss Partee on another RBI hit by Fogarty.
The bottom fell out for the Beavers in the 7th, as the Hitchcocks took advantage of a couple of errors to score 7, featuring RBI hits by rookies Marc Haber (a double!) and Bruce Hunsaker, and a bases-loaded ground-rule double by Whitehead.
Evans relieved in the 8th and retired 6 of the 7 batters he faced, allowing only a screaming double to rookie Adam Rodrigues.
Game photos courtesy of Stu Clark
Bobcats 8
Millers 18
The Bobcats and Millers opened the fall season with a thrilling, back-and-forth battle at Mitchell Field on Sunday.
The Bobcats struck first, scoring solo runs in both the first and second innings, setting the early tone of the game.
The Millers quickly responded in the bottom of the second inning, pushing across two runs to level the score at 2-2. They continued their offensive surge in the third inning with three more runs, gaining momentum and taking a 5-2 lead. The Millers extended their advantage in the fourth inning by adding two more runs, building a 7-2 cushion.
Despite falling behind, the Bobcats showed resilience in the sixth inning. A spirited five-run rally allowed them to claw back into the game, tying it up at 7-7. With renewed energy, the Bobcats added another run in the top of the seventh inning, seizing an 8-7 lead and putting them in a strong position heading into the late innings.
However, the Millers would not be denied. In a dramatic turn of events, they erupted for a massive nine-run outburst in the bottom of the seventh inning, swinging the game firmly in their favor. The Bobcats' bullpen struggled to contain the Millers' relentless offensive assault, which was spearheaded by clutch hitting, timely hits, and aggressive base running.
The Millers further solidified their lead by adding two insurance runs in the eighth inning, making the score 18-8, effectively sealing their season-opening victory. The Bobcats' early momentum and valiant comeback efforts ultimately fell short against the Millers' explosive offense, which proved too much to handle in the later innings.
Jack Wileden's patience at the plate, drawing three walks, and Mike Deitlin's contributions with a double and two runs scored, highlighted the Bobcats' offensive efforts. Matt Boulanger, Michael Arbour, Brian Krylowicz, and Mitch Gaslin fueled the Millers' attack, each collecting multiple hits and keeping the pressure on the Bobcats' pitching staff.
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