CROSBY SOPHOMORE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

vs. Sterling JV Rangers, Thursday, March 6th

The Sophomore Spartans opened the Crosby Sophomore Tournament against a tough Sterling squad. Pitching was very solid for both squads early. Westy Bennett started at pitcher for the Spartans and threw 4 solid innings with 2 strikeouts, zero walks, 5 hits, and 4 unearned runs. Sterling was able to capitalize on a few untimely errors. Scoring for the Spartans began in the third inning when a single by Carlos Perez drove in Joel Torres. The Spartans didn’t score again until the top of the 6th when a single to left field by Clay Emery scored Perez, and then immediately after, Noah Kerr singled to left field and scored Gus Green. At this point in the contest, the score was a close 3-4 with Sterling leading. Unfortunately, Sterling’s bats came alive scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the 6th leading to a final score of 3-9. Andrew Williams came on in relief for 1 inning, as did Jackson Seel. Batting leaders for Stratford were Kerr and Perez, who each recorded 2 hits. Gus Green and Clay Emery also recorded one hit each.

vs. Crosby Freshman Cougars, Friday, March 7th

The Stratford Sophomores bounced back big-time the next day with a game that was nearly flawless in every facet, despite the early start time of 8:30 am (to the bus by 6:20 am). Pitching was terrific with Hudson Good pitching 4 solid innings, giving up no runs, only allowing 2 hits, and striking out 2. Peter Banks came on in relief in the 5th for 3 innings, allowing only 1 hit, 2 runs and 1 strikeout. As any pitcher can appreciate, it also certainly helped that the defense was lights-out, committing zero errors and successfully executing two double plays.

The first came at the perfect time with runners on base in the third inning when a Crosby player popped up a bunt that catcher Nate Sandidge hustled to catch and then instinctively hurled the ball over to Jack Lasseigne at first base catching the runner advancing to second. It ended the inning in exciting fashion. The second double play came in the bottom of the 7th inning when second baseman Andrew Williams fielded the ball and got it quickly to shortstop Jackson Seel, who immediately got the ball over to first baseman Lasseigne for a bang-bang double play.

The offense was also firing on all cylinders. Often patient Stratford players walked and then their teammates provided clutch hits driving them home. We had 5 walks and 6 hits. Good led the team with two hits, and both Seel and Sandidge hit deep fly doubles. Connor Roe and Lasseigne each recorded a hit as well. With all 5 tools working for the Spartans, the final score was 7-2, Stratford.

vs. Hardin-Jefferson JV Hawks, Saturday, March 8th

The Stratford Sophomores kept it close but couldn’t hold on to a win against a strong Hawks team. Gus Green started at pitcher,  commanding the game for 3 innings and allowing only 2 hits and 1 run with 3 strikeouts. Jack Lasseigne came on in relief in the 4th inning and managed to pitch really well until he left the game due to dehydration. Clayton Croley stepped up in relief and pitched well, giving up no hits, 1 strikeout, 2 walks, and 2 runs scored. Clay Emery was the final pitcher for the Spartans in the 6th inning with 1 hit, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 2 runs scored. The defense was again very clean with the Spartans committing only one error.

Unfortunately, the offense, while able to manage 6 hits and 4 walks, faced very strong pitching and couldn’t quite seem to knock multiple hits together to drive in enough runs to keep up with Hardin-Jefferson’s potent offense. Jackson Seel’s big bat led to another deep fly double that helped Stratford tie the game at one a piece in the bottom of the third. Jack Lasseigne, George Fletcher, Nate Sandidge, Andrew Williams, and Jackson Fleming also each had one hit on the day. The final score was Hardin-Jefferson 7, Stratford 4.

vs. Dayton Sophomore Broncos, Saturday, March 8th

Impressive pitching and awesome offense sealed a win in the final game of the Crosby Tournament on Saturday. Luke Carl earned the win for the Stratford Spartans, allowing only one hit and 2 runs over 3 and 1/3 innings while striking out an impressive 7 batters! Not to be outdone, Nate Sandidge closed out the game facing 5 batters and striking them all out! Between Carl and Sandidge, that’s a total of 12 strikeouts. Wow! And despite the Dayton Sophomores having a very solid pitching staff themselves, the Stratford Sophomores were able to get 8 hits and drive in 9 runs! And this was not small ball either. The Spartans hit two triples on the day. The first came in the bottom of the 1st when Lance Picott tripled on a line drive, scoring one run. The second came in the bottom of the second when Westy Bennett hit a bomb to right centerfield with two runners on base. The triple ended up scoring all 3 runs, as Bennett was able to reach home on a throwing error. Bennett led the team with a total of 4 RBIs! Joel Torres went 2-3 at the plate, and Clayton Croley, Clay Emery, Hudson Good, and Peter Banks all recorded hits as well. All in all, between the stellar pitching and powerful offense, Dayton couldn’t keep up, allowing the Spartans to come out on top with a final score of Stratford 9, Dayton 2.

The Stratford Sophomores continue their season by beginning District play at home against Cy Creek on Monday, March 10th.