April 14, 2008

ML Game 10

Hagan’s Funeral Home    10

Baker Printing    8

Bat-A-Thon Arrives Early as Hagan’s Downs Baker

Hagan’s Funeral Homes evened their season record in a 10-8 slugfest with Baker Printing on a chilly Monday night.  The two teams combined for 18 runs on 20 hits.  Despite being out hit by a 14–10 margin, Hagan’s prevailed in the only place it counts:  on the scoreboard. 

Hagan’s roared out of the gate, tallying 4 runs in the top of the first inning, to take the early lead.  They kept their foot on the accelerator with 1 run in the second, 2 in the fourth, and 3 in the fifth.

After a slow start in the bottom of the first, Baker’s bat’s came out blazing in the second inning.  The home team banged out 4 singles, but Hagan’s starting pitcher, Russell Rhoads, masterfully pitched his way out of a bases-loaded jam, yield a single run in the inning.  Baker added another run in the third before a first-pitch swinging Bob Ieradi turned up the heat with a 3-run blast over the right-centerfield fence in the fourth.  Baker added a 4-hit, 2-run fifth to send the game to the final inning with Hagan’s holding a tenuous 10-7 lead. 

When Hagan’s failed to score in the top of the sixth, and with Hagan reliever Rob Brown facing the heart of the Baker order, the stage was set for another dramatic finish.  After Ieradi (3 for 3, D, HR) led off with a double, the Hagan defense said “Not this time.”  They gobbled up 3 consecutive ground ball outs to seal the deal.  The second one came on a gutsy play—literally—by Brown who took a shot to the stomach on a ferocious line-drive off the bat of Nolan Dirienzi.  In spite of the obvious pain, Brown gathered himself just long enough to fire the ball to first base for the out.

Offensive leaders for Hagan’s were Brian Gross (3 for 3, D, BB), Neil Geosits (2 for 3, D, HBP), Connor Martin (1 for 2, 2B, 2BB), Michael Solomon (2 for 4), and Brown (1 for 1, BB).  Rhoads also stroked a double to support his own cause. 

In addition to Ieradi’s outstanding performance, Dirienzi (2 for 4), Jack Ribble (2 for 2, BB), and Steve Weyler (2 for 3) led the Baker offensive attack.

Ashton Raines got the start for Baker before giving way to Dirienzi who came on in relief to finish the game.

Pitch counts:

Hagan:

     Rhoads 85

     Brown 16

Baker:

     Raines 85

     Dirienzi 52