Archive: Sports

The Lakers enter this game coming off of a 1-0 loss, last week to the Cayuga Storm.  Jared Strait pitch almost four innings of perfect ball, walked one batter and struck out eight over five innings of work.  The Storm threw seven different pitchers allowing the Lakers to knock at the door several times but they never let them in.  Finally in the bottom of the seventh inning the Storm had a runner on second with one out.  Smith drove the ball to left center scoring Wojo and winning the game in walk off fashion 1-0.

This game would be different. Strait started the ball rolling with a line drive single that was mishandled by the center fielder and allowed him to scoot to third.  Ben Kutler followed with a hard hit ball which the Tioga Short Stop couldn't handle.  Strait scored and Kutler arrived safe at first.  Tioga's Pitcher threw over to first a dozen times to keep Kutler close, afraid that he would steal.  It wasn't enough, Kutler stole second, then third.  After a base on balls by Pat Judd, a sacrifice bunt by Lansing Miller and a few more, hard hit balls by Jesse Richardson and Zack Kemp the Lakers took a 3-0 lead.  Kemp took the mound for the Lakers and was off to a great start, getting a ground out and a K with the first two batters.  The Dirtbags settled in, fought back and tied the game by scoring three runs off of an error, three singles and a solid triple.

Zack Sherwood started it of for the Lakers with a nice single up the middle.  Strait walked and was followed by Kutler who hit into a questionable fielder's choice that got Strait called out.  Kutler stole yet another base.  This allowed Sherwood to score on the pickoff attempt and gave the Lakers a 4-3 lead.  Kemp stepped in taking charge, getting two ground outs and a K to hold the Tioga batters scoreless.  The Dirtbags tied things up in the third inning.

In the fourth inning the Lakers answered back with a two out single by Kris Harwood and a two RBI home run by Strait.  The Lakers retook the lead, 6-4.  Bieber came in to pitch for the Lakers.  Refusing to give up the fight, Tioga tied it up yet again with a walk, a single and a triple.  Tioga tried to stretch the triple into a homerun.  This plan was ruined by Harwood who ran in from left field to back up the throw to third.  He fielded the ball off the fence and threw a strike to the awaiting Sherwood.  The catcher made the tag for the second out and stole any momentum that the Dirtbags had going.

The fifth inning brought Judd to the plate where he hit a line drive single and advance to third on an error by the center fielder.  Miller made good contact with the ball driving it right at the Short Stop who couldn't handle it.  Judd crossed the plate tacking on another run and retaking the lead.  Bieber shut down the Dirtbags with a ground out, a fly out and a line out.  The Lakers had a thin lead 7-6.

Hardwood lead off for the Lakers with a solid single.  He then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, putting him in position to score on any kind of hit.  Strait received another questionable call when he foul tipped the ball but was called out with strike three.  Kutler connected with another solid single into center field which plated Harwood.  Conner Siracusa moved Kutler to third on a nice single to center.  With a two run cushion Bieber took the bump and allowed a single then shut the Tioga offense down again.  Score 8-6.

The same Tioga pitcher returned to the mound showing signs of wear but not defeat.  He held the Lakers scoreless and gave his team a chance at a walk off win.  Bieber started the bottom of the seventh off giving up two, 0-2 singles to the top of the Tioga order.  Both runners advanced on a double steal.  With runners at second and third and no outs, the Lakers coaches called in their ace.  Strait took the bump focused and determined.  Four pitches later the Tioga Short Stop hit a high fly ball into right field.  Corbin Atkins charged in, setting himself up for the throw to home if the runner at third tagged up.  The ball was caught.  The third base coach sent his runner, testing the arm of Atkins.  The ball was leveled to home where the young but confident Sherwood made the tag.  Two outs, 8-6, runner on third.  Strait deals, the Tioga pitcher pops one up into shallow right field where Miller calls for the ball.  It was a tough play for the third out attempt and the ball was dropped. A run scores on the error. Eight to seven, runner on first.  Strait fires in two strikes then a ball.  With a 1-2 count the next pitch slips and hits the batter.  A passed ball allows the runners to advance to second and third with two outs.  With the winning run at second, Strait digs in.  Two strikes and a foul ball takes the count to 0 and 2.  Strait can't give the batter anything to hit.  Painting the edges, Strait throws three straight balls that just miss the plate.  Two outs, full count, first base open, Strait flames the pitch in for a called third strike to end the game and give the TC Lakers there second win in three games.

These two teams always seem to battle each other well.  This game was back-and-forth heading into the fifth, with seven lead changes and ultimately ended with the TC Lakers earning the well-deserved win.  Bieber got the win, Strait got the save.  All of the players improved.

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