Mike Deitlin is ready to make a play
Hitchcocks 14
Holyoke Millers 9
In the final regular season game, the Hitchcocks finished with a 5-1 record by defeating the Millers 14-9. Bill Evans faced off on the mound for the Hitchcocks vs. Steve Ostrowski who pitched a complete game for the Millers. All 11 of the Millers runs were unearned, as the normally stellar Hitchcocks defense, which had only allowed 2 unearned runs through 5 games, made 5 costly errors.
After a scoreless first, the visiting Hitchcocks jumped out to a 4-0 lead. TJ Hillard & Jeff Whitehead singled, and then both scored on a long double by John Malikowski, who, amazingly, was 4-4 with 4 doubles on the day. Following an error, Evans zapped a 2-run double in the right-center gap for a lead that wouldn’t be relinquished.
The ‘Cocks tacked on a pair in the 3rd on Dave Dean’s 2-run homer, a line drive that rolled for eternity in the left-center gap. However, the Millers bounced back with 3 unearned runs. Following a walk and an error, Matt Boulanger lined a single to left that scored a run when the ball got by the left fielder, and Jeff Cabana followed with a 2-run double down the RF line.
TJ Hillard relieved in the 4th inning and traded scoreless innings with Ostrowski.
The Hitchcocks then tacked on 2 more in the 5th on Tom Sebastyn’s 2-run single. However, the Millers answered with a pair of their own – following a walk and an error, Andy Klepacki (5-5!) doubled in a run and then another scored on infield error.
In the top of the 6th, the Hitchcocks effectively put the game in their pocket, plating 5, for a 13-5 lead. Ostrowski tired and walked 3 of the first 5 batters, including Whitehead with the bases loaded. Stephen Higgins followed with a blast to the left-center gap for a 3-run double and then scored on Malikowski’s 3rd double of the game.
Whitehead relieved and pitched scoreless 7th and 8th innings, while the Hitchcocks added another run in the 8th when Hillard’s RBI fielder’s choice scored Miguel Ringler.
Manager Micah Winston came on to pitch the 9th for the Hitchcocks, clearly a bad decision. The first batter reached on an error, but after a couple of walks, and a run-scoring wild pitch, he appeared to be in the clear by turning a 1-3-2 double play. However, John Wills skied an RBI double to right-center, and after another walk, Cabana and Klepacki singled in runs before Winston finally whiffed the last batter.
Top hitters were John Malikowski (4-4, 4 doubles, 2R, 3RBI), Miguel Ringler (3-4, R), Tom Sebastyn (3-4 2RBI), TJ Hillard (3-4, 2R, RBI) for the Hitchcocks, and Andy Klepacki (5-5, R, 2RBI, 2 doubles) and Jeff Cabana (2-5, 2R, 3RBI, double) for the Millers.
Game photos courtesy of Jeff Whitehead
Angry Beavers 18
Bobcats 1
In the final game of the 2024 Fall season, the Beavers dominated the Bobcats in a one-sided affair, clinching an 18-1 victory. The Beavers wasted no time getting on the board, scoring two runs in the first inning on three hits and an error to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Bobcats managed to answer in the third inning when Jon “JR” Ross crushed a double to drive in Ryan Deitlin, cutting the Beavers' lead to 2-1. But that would be the last time the Bobcats threatened.
In the top of the fourth, the Beavers struck again, tacking on three more runs to push their lead to 5-1. They broke the game open in the fifth inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and exploding for eight runs, bringing the score to a commanding 12-1.
The Beavers' pitching trio of Ken Sloat, Pat Olearcek, and Gary Webber was masterful, holding the Bobcats to just one run on five hits throughout the game. Sloat set the tone early, and the bullpen didn’t miss a beat.
Offensively, Jim “Kruk” Fogarty and Ron “Tater” Totten led the charge for the Beavers, each collecting three hits.
Game photos courtesy of Stu Clark
Comments