May 24, 2017
AL Game 45

Coldwell Banker Preferred    12
Murtagh Brothers    2

Coldwell Banker improved to 12-3 on the season with a 12-2 victory over Murtaugh Brothers. Murtaugh built a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Connor Martin walked to lead off the game and stole second base. When he tried to steal third on a passed ball, the throw to third sailed into left field and Martin coasted home. Sean Gorman struck out the next three batters he faced. In the bottom half, Mike Phillips walked and stole second. Jack Gill grounded back to the pitcher and was retired but Phillips advanced to third. Gorman took the first pitch from Bianca Penn right in the back and meandered down to first and then stole second. Avi Patel stepped to the dish and doubled over the left fielder's head allowing Phillips and Gorman to score. Jason DiRita also doubled to left driving in Patel. DiRita stole third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI single up the middle by Matt Halpin. It was 4-1 Coldwell after one.

In the second, Gorman struck out Michael DiMonte. Brock Reid drew a walk and stole second and reached third on an overthrow. But when he tried to score on another errant throw, Ryan Gauffreau quickly recovered and threw to Gill at the plate who applied the tag for the out. Gorman struck out Gabe Taimanglo for the third out. CB wasn't able to score in the second either. Gauffreau and Phillips worked walks but were stranded.

Murtaugh didn't have any more luck in the third. Bianca Penn walked and stole second and third. But when she tried to score on an overthrow back to the pitcher, Phillips recovered at shortstop and threw a strike to Anders Kristiansen at the plate who tagged Penn for the out. Gorman also walked John Coccodrilli but struck out the other two batters he faced. Big Blue added three more in their half. Gorman singled to start things off. Patel earned a free pass. DiRita singled to drive in Gorman and move Patel to third. Patel stole home and DiRita stole all three bases and it was 7-1 after three.

Gorman hadn't allowed a hit through three innings and Patel was just as effective on the hill in the fourth. He struck out two and got Connor Martin to pop out to second and retired the side in order. Anthony Rossi took the bump for Murtaugh in the fourth and struck out the side and it was onto the 5th.

Rossi walked for the Navy and Gold to lead off the inning. Zach Cohen notched the first hit of the day for Murtaugh as Rossi advanced to second. Rossi then stole third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice grounder by DiMonte. Reid smoked a liner to shortstop but it was right at Gorman who calmly stabbed it. Patel struck out the final batter of the inning stranding Cohen and it was 7-2 Coldwell heading to the bottom of the fifth. There would be no 6th. Phillips singled and stole second. Gill reached on an infield single. Gorman, who actually didn't have a target painted on his lower back, took another fastball exactly there and was awarded first. Patel then took an 0-1 pitch from Rossi and drove it deep to the left-centerfield gap clearing the bases. DiRita hit a hard grounder to third that was stabbed by Averill but there was no throw as DiRita recorded his third hit of the day. Joe Arizin stepped to the plate and sent everyone home a little early when he hit a line-drive game-winning double to right that scored Patel and DiRita. With that it was 12-2 Coldwell as the 10-run rule came into effect. Coldwell has one game left on the schedule against Quotations on Tuesday after the Memorial Day break.

For those who will be Delco-bound this Memorial Day weekend, MLL will host its second annual movie night. The movie will begin at dusk and the snack bar will be open for the duration of the event.


Pitch counts:
Coldwell:
    Gorman – 58
    Patel – 34

Murtagh:
    Penn – 81
    Rossi – 29