Stratford JV Spartans vs. Jersey Village JV Falcons – Thursday, April 25

GAME 1

The JV Spartans closed out District play on Thursday night with two close games in a doubleheader versus a strong Jersey Village team. Unfortunately, despite outhitting them seven to six, the Spartans fell 7-5 in the first game. The Falcons got off to an early lead with several hits, but the Spartans stayed close behind scoring one run in the second with a single from William Coates to get on base, which later led to a run. Our Spartans then tied it up in the top of the fourth, thanks to a double from Levi Lease, a single by Jack Sullivan, and then a single from Matthew de Jager to drive in a run. Another run came in with a fielder’s choice by Brandon Phillips. Then after Jack McAfee walked, Will Tacker drove in two more runs with a single to tie it up 5-5. The Falcons unfortunately jumped back in the lead 7-5 in the bottom of the fourth despite a quick-thinking Spartans double play, and the game finished out with no more runs scored. Stratford was sure-handed in the field, committing no errors. Zach Christie also collected a hit in the game. Tacker led the Spartans with two RBIs, and de Jager led the Spartans with two hits.

GAME 2

The second game of the doubleheader against the JV Falcons was yet another nail-biter, with the Spartans coming out on top 4-2! Cole Youngblood started the game on the hill and gave up only two hits, no runs, and struck out three over three innings. Cody Hanlen came in for relief and finished the last three innings, striking out four. Despite a couple of good hits from Gavin Mundwiller and Pacer Daniel in the first few innings, it would be the top of the fourth before any runs were scored. That’s when Youngblood walked, Peter Vescovo doubled, and Jackson Golden hit a sac fly to score Stratford’s first run. Jersey Village then took the lead 2-1 with two runs scored in the bottom of the fifth. In the top of the sixth though, the Spartans rallied back. After Hanlen and Golden walked, Nick Gioco singled to load the bases, then Brandon Phillips doubled on a line drive to score two. Mundwiller kept it going with another single to drive in a run and put the Spartans up 4-2. Defense closed out the game with no more runs and the JV Spartans finished victorious in their final game of the season! Phillips led the team with two RBIs. Mundwiller led the Spartans with three hits in three at-bats, and Daniel collected two hits in four at-bats.

Overall it was an extremely successful season for our JV Spartans, who finished out the year with a 20-6-1 record. See you next year! Go Spartans!