Pony Division Mets 13, Red Sox 11 Pony Division baseball got
underway last weekend, after being stalled by rainy weather and
spring break. The Mets hosted the Red Sox in what became the season
opener for both teams. The Red Sox scored twice in the first when a
two-out double by Eric Sanchez scored Jared Poole, who had reached
on a walk.
Pony Division
Mets 13, Red Sox 11
Pony Division baseball got underway last weekend, after being stalled by rainy weather and spring break. The Mets hosted the Red Sox in what became the season opener for both teams. The Red Sox scored twice in the first when a two-out double by Eric Sanchez scored Jared Poole, who had reached on a walk. Sanchez stole third and later scored on an error. JJ Lam scored again in the second, followed by a three-run third. Solid pitching by ace Jared Poole shut down the Mets for the first three innings. The Mets came alive in the fourth when Nick Hagiperos drove in a run with a double and then stole third. Kenny Hall brought him in with an infield sacrifice. Danny La Corte and Nicky Slavich scored two more to end the fourth. Red Sox Shawn La Branche doubled and scored in the fourth and Nick Macadey and Jared Poole both scored in the fifth to extend the Sox lead.
The Mets mounted a comeback late in the fifth inning, scoring eight runs on five hits taking a three-run lead into the top of the seventh with a big RBI single by Dominick Valcarcel. The Red Sox battled back in the top of the seventh when Macadey hit a lead-off single. Poole followed with an RBI single and later scored. Jimeniz hit a clutch RBI single to tie the game at 12. The Mets’ Gabriel Bonilla led off the bottom of the seventh with a deep single and then stole second and third. Nick Hagiperos ran the count full before trying to reach on a dropped third strike. Bonilla scored the winning run on a throw down to get Hagiperos at first.
Indians 4, Mets 3
The Mets hosted the Indians on Sunday for an extra-inning, nail-biter. The Mets struck early in the first when lead-off hitter Gabriel Bonilla reached on a single and then scored on an RBI single by Jeff Stine to take a one-run lead. Mets pitcher Kenny Hall shut down the Indian offensive machine, allowing only one hit and one run in four innings, while striking out six. Indian pitcher Alika Bantilan countered by allowing five hits and one run in five innings, while striking out 14. The Indians had the bases loaded in the fourth but were held to only one run when Matt Nilmeyer drew a walk and then scored on an RBI single by Ryan Nelson to tie the game at 1-1. The Indians went ahead later in the sixth on a lead-off single by Dylan Palmer and an RBI drive by Robert Foo. The Mets answered in the in the bottom of sixth after a lead-off single by Nick Hagiperos. Hagiperos stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Kenny Hall got the RBI on a sacrifice to the right side to tie the game at 3-all. Mets pitcher Danny La Corte kept the Indians from scoring in the eighth and Indian closer Matt Nilmeyer shut down the top of the Mets order. The Indians led off the ninth with a single by Justin Everson. Everson, who stole second, but was thrown out by catcher Hagiperos at third. The Indians’ Anthony Dellamaggole and Matt Nilmeyer hit back-to-back singles and Dylan Palmer followed with the go-ahead RBI single. Alika Bantilan singled in Nilmeyer with a shot to center. The inning ended on a tag-out at home when Met shortstop Bonilla cut off the throw down to second and Hagiperos blocked out Palmer at the plate. The Mets came within one when Hall scored on an RBI single by Eddie Duran. With a runner in scoring position, the Mets came up short to end the game.
Angels 10, Braves 9
Braves pitchers: Brian Bradley, Chris Bradley, Nick Rameriz.
Angels pitchers: JP Howard, Connor Sutton, Justin Bernard, Ryan Williams
Key Hits: Josh Carter led the Angels with seven RBIs, including a grand slam in the first, and a game-winning two-RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning. Xavier Gonzalez had three hits, Ryan Williams had three hits and three runs scored, and Connor Sutton got on base four times and scored four runs.
For the Braves, Greg Hamik got on base four times and scored three runs, Chris Bradley, Nick Rameriz and Tim Andrade each had RBI singles in the bottom of the seventh to spark a five-run rally to send the game into extra innings.
Nice Plays: Angels pitchers got 16 strikeouts, and Xavier Gonzalez made a fine catch in centerfield to end the eighth with the go-ahead run on second. The Braves players used a unique 1-8-2 play with centerfielder Johnathon Wylie cutting down the winning run at the plate to preserve the tie for extra innings. The Braves also turned 1-6-3 double play, with shortstop Greg Hamik making the turn at second and Brian Bradley making the stretch at first in the bottom of the eighth.
The Angels overcame an early five-run deficit to win their first game of the season. After falling behind 8-3, Angels pitcher Jayson Smith held the Cardinals scoreless in the final three innings of the game. The Angels’ bats came alive as they scored the next six runs. Brent Bottomley went 2-for-2, including a timely double in the fourth inning. The winning run was scored by Sean Hoyle, who stole home on a passed ball. Michael Bergantz and Hoyle each scored two of the Angels’ nine runs. Other hitting stars for the Angels included Blake Latos, Parker Tamura and Nick Giordano. Highlights for the Cardinals included Christian Ukanwa’s two runs scored and Steven Baird’s long double. Wyatt Rydstrom and Jarrod Cerniglia also pitched well.
Pinto Division
Giants vs Indians
Troy Moorehead started the Indians off with some great pitching and hitting. Morgan Smith continued the great hitting with a double and three RBIs. There was also some outstanding fielding and hitting by Anthony Beltramo, Steven Navarra, Jasper Evans, Mathew Kastle, Michael Filice, Albert Lujan-Arias, Will Soares and Rajay Ramon. The Giants kept the excitement going with a double by Josh Carvalho, and some excellent hitting and fielding by Nat Aguayo, Kirk Hunter, Cassie Orth, Logan Weislak, Billy Bennett, Parker Andrews and Eddie Ray Ronco.
Cardinals vs. Angels
Home team pitchers: Michael Porras, Dan Dunham, and Justin Lyle.
Visiting pitchers: McGowen, Glinsky, and Reisenhauer.
Key hits: Double to centerfield by Michael Porras for two RBIs.
Red Sox vs. Cubs
The Classic Oak Designs Red Sox hosted the Quimby Painting Cubs in the season opener. The Red Sox team played great defensively with heads-up plays from Dante Spencer, Andrew Salinas, Eric Dunbar and Zachary Riveron. Patrick Muller and Riely Burg pitched well, and Wyatt Bunt was terrific as catcher. Ben Hagiperos slammed a bases-loaded ground-rule double and Ronnie Salinas went 3-for-4. For the Cubs, Kevin Patterson went 2-for-3 with a double, Mark Quinby went 3-for-3 with two doubles; Conner Barnett and Colby Laubach went 3-for-3. Defensively, Justin Bruno fielded two hard-hit ground balls at third base to end the fifth inning. Ryan Quadros started season with great pitching.
