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District Play Week 6
Stratford Spartans vs. Cy Ridge Rams, Tuesday April 15th
The next to last District series of the year began with the Spartans traveling to the land of the Rams to open week 6 in District 17-6A. Stratford would jump out to an early lead in the top half of the 2nd inning with Junior Matthew De Jager doubling to right. That was followed by a couple of walks to load the bases for Senior Peter Vescovo. Peter delivered an RBI ground out to make the score 1-0 Green. Quickly it was 3-0 when Junior Will Tacker singled to left, driving in Senior Pacer Daniel and Junior Zach Christie, who both reached on free passes. When Sophomore Ryan Lamon walked behind Tacker, Junior Will McCarroll delivered a sac fly to right field, scoring “Tack” to make it 4-0. Lamon would eventually score on a wild pitch to conclude the scoring in the 2nd at 5. The Spartans would add 5 more runs over the next 5 innings to make the score 9-0 and prove to be too powerful for the Rams. Senior Ford Givens, Senior Ranes Denman, and Junior Jack Henry Carl combined for 7 innings of shutout baseball, only allowing 2 hits and striking out 8.
Highlights
Stratford Spartans vs. Cy Ridge Rams, Thursday April 17th
Game 2 was Senior night at The Backyard vs. Cy Ridge. After a great Senior night ceremony of events, the team hit the field ready to go. After a scoreless first inning by both teams, the Spartans jumped out in the second inning to snag the early lead. This would prove to be a tight game all night. Senior Ranes Denman walked with 2 outs in the 2nd and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Senior Burke Malloy would plate Denman on a sharp single to center back up the middle, making it 1-0. Stratford once again added a single run in the 3rd inning after a leadoff walk to Senior Lucas Dominguez, quickly stealing second base to put himself in scoring position for Senior Chris Johnson. He delivered an RBI double to center, plating Lucas to make it 2-0 Green. In the 4th inning, Denman led off the inning with a single to left and was advanced over to second when Senior Gavin Mundwiller walked to put runners at first and second. Senior Peter Vescovo stepped up big time with a first pitch, line drive to center, plating Denman and making it 3-0 home team.
Ridge’s bat woke up in the 5th in a big way. The Rams posted a 5-spot in their half of the inning to jump out to a 5-3 lead and give reason to worry in the Spartan dugout. Sophomore Quinn Fitzpatrick came on in relief to silence the Ram bats, and no more damage would be inflicted. Quinn closed out the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing 0 runs while striking out 6. In the bottom of the 6th, Sparty put runners on base with a Will Tacker walk and a Burke Malloy hard-hit ball that couldn’t be corralled by the Ridge shortstop…all with 2 outs.
Coach Josh Hall called on Junior Luke Zilafro to make a statement in a big moment. Zilafro delivered on the first pitch he saw with a line drive to left to score Malloy and tighten the score to 5-4 with 3 more outs to go. The bottom of the 7th found the Spartans still down 5-4 and 3 outs remaining. With 1 out in the inning, Senior Owen Bennett produced a walk to put a runner on first. Senior Rylan Reichenau stepped up to the plate and hit a line drive to left that the defender couldn’t handle…runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. Junior Brandon Phillips delivered a fantastic 2-strike, 1-out single to left that brought home Bennett to tie the game at 5. Reichenau advanced to second and represented the winning run with Junior Zach Christie up to bat. Christie would take the first pitch for a ball. On the next pitch, Zach sent the pitch on a rope to left field…Reichenau raced around third to score the winning run and give the Spartans a come-back, walk-off 6-5 win over the Rams. What a finish!
After 6 weeks of District 17-6A play, the Spartans sit at 10-2, second place all alone with 2 games still to play against the arch-rival ponies. The District 17-6A Championship is up for grabs this week. Times and locations below.
Highlights
This week for the Spartans!