Manor Ridge Blue 5, Rohrerstown Gold 1

The Gold wound down the 2009 campaign Thursday night with a second loss to Manor Ridge Blue, this time by a count of 5-1.

Things looked good for the Gold early on, as the team scored in the first frame after Zac Bicevski's double and Max Aukamp's RBI single. It was Zac's first of three hits on the afternoon, the first of two for Max. Unfortunately, they were the only Gold batters to collect any hits.

On the mound Hank Lease and Alex Smart pitched two innings, Max one. In the field, players got a chance to play some different positions.

And Zac was the hero of the game not so much for his 3-for-3 peformance - but because his final hit allowed the team to go get some Rita's, courtesy of Coach Jeff.

The Gold wrap up the season with a record of 5-5-2.

Manor Ridge Gold 2, Rohrerstown Gold 0

The Rohrerstown Gold let a winnable contest against Manor Ridge slip through its fingers Monday night, falling 2-0.

Rohrerstown looked to be getting off to a quick start as Dean Chasser and Keegan Smith both singled in the first inning, but both runners were stranded. Austin Bole went 2-for-3 on the night with two singles, but those four hits marked the entirety of the Gold's offensive output.

The squad looked sharp in the field, with Alex Smart making two great catches at shortstop and adding another key putout to keep Manor Ridge off the board early. Hank Lease displayed inspiring toughness after getting hit by a fastball on the elbow, which might have knocked a lesser player out of the game.

The Gold is now 5-4-2, with its final game of the season scheduled Wednesday night against Manor Ridge Blue at Hambright Elementary School.

Rohrerstown Gold 3, St. Leo Panthers 2

The Gold scored an inspiring come-from-behind victory June 12 against the St. Leo Panthers, winning 3-2. Down 2-0, the squad came roaring back with RBIs by Max Aukamp, Keegan Smith and Harrison Andrus. Tyler Kniffin, Max and Dean Chasser all contributed two hits, with Austin Bole recording 4 putouts in the field and pitching a full three innings in his best outing of the season.

The Gold are now 5-3-2, with a contest Monday against the Manor Ridge Gold.

Manor Ridge Blue 3, Rohrerstown Gold 1

The Rohrerstown Gold dropped another tough contest Wednesday night, falling to the Manor Ridge Blue, 3-1. Once again the Gold left several runners on base, including Dean Chasser, who led off the bottom of the first inning with a hard smash down the left-field line for a double.

Austin Bole saw his first sustained action of the season on the mound and pitched extremely well, striking out two in the third and ending the inning with a great grab of a Manor Ridge pop fly. Austin would notch another strikeout in the fourth.

The Gold scored their only run of the contest in the bottom of the fourth, when Harrison Andrus led off with a single. Two batters later Max Aukamp beat out an infield single, and then Keegan Smith contributed yet another key hit, a double which scored Harrison. Hank Lease bounced back after being hit by a pitch in the back of the head, but the Gold was unable to push another run across the plate.

Alex Smart led off the fifth inning with a single, but also wound up stranded. Alex blanked Manor Ridge bats in the fifth and sixth innings, but while Tyler Kniffin and Dean were able to get their bats on the ball in the final frame, both were thrown out at first, ending the contest.

The Gold are now 4-3-2, with the next game scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, again versus the Manor Ridge Blue, at Hambright Elementary School.

Rohrerstown Blue 2, Rohrerstown Gold 2

It was an exciting game and heartbreaker as well Monday night as the Rohrerstown Gold let a 2-0 lead slip away in the sixth inning and wound up tying the Rohrerstown Blue, 2-2.

Pitching dominated early on, with Alex Smart striking out five of the seven hitters he faced, and shortstop Austin Bole and first baseman Max Aukamp hooking up on a nice infield ground-out of Blue slugger Brady Ross in the first.

Max took the mound in the third and kept the Blue's bats in check, but Blue pitchers also stymied Gold bats until Josh Kauffman notched the Gold's first hit, a single. In the bottom of the third, Keegan Smith made a great play in the field, grabbing a high pop fly at third base.

In the top of the fourth Austin smashed a double, and scored on a single by Keegan for the game's first run. Alex singled in the fifth but wound up stranded on base. But in the top of the sixth Tyler Kniffin banged a single, and advanced to second on Dean Chasser's ground-out; Austin Bole then cracked another double, driving Tyler home.

Hank Lease came on for a gritty pitching performance in the final two frames, pitching out of a jam in the fifth, but the Blue were not to be denied and managed to tie it in the sixth.

The Gold are now 4-2-2, and host the Manor Ridge Blue at Roherstown Field #1 on Wednesday.

St. Leo Lions 4, Rohrerstown Gold 1

The Rohrerstown Gold dropped their second game of the season Thursday night despite a furious rally in the sixth inning and some excellent play in the field, falling to the St. Leo Lions 4-1.

The Gold stranded seven runners in the contest, including three in the first frame when Austin Bole, Max Aukamp and Alex Smart all singled the load the bases, but couldn't make it across the plate.

Rohrerstown also missed a chance in the fourth after Keegan Smith smashed a line-drive triple down the right field line with one out but wound up stranded at third.

But in the top of the sixth inning, here came the Gold, roaring back. With one out, Dean Chasser got the rally started with a single; Austin and Max also singled to jam the bases. Alex then beat out an infield hit to drive in Dean for the team's only run of the contest. The game ended as darkness and a light rain fell, with three Gold runners on base.

In the field, Austin and Max executed a double-play after Austin caught a fly ball at shortshop and threw to Max at first to get the runner. On the mound Alex struck out two in the third inning, and Hank Lease looked extremely sharp before leaving the game after being injured by a batted ball. Austin came on in relief and struck out the only hitter he faced to end the inning.

Rob Williams also exhibited admirable toughness after getting hit in the chest by a pitch in the sixth inning, but stepping right back into the batters box to get his bat on the ball.

With the loss the Gold fell to 4-2-1, with a highly anticipated contest against the Rohrerstown Blue on Monday.

SALSA 5, Rohrerstown Gold 1

It was a tough night for the Gold Wednesday as they dropped their first contest of the season, falling to SALSA 5-1 at Davey Arnold Field.

Hank Lease broke up a no-hitter in the fourth inning with a long single, and the Gold scored their lone run of the game in the next frame, as Austin Bole led off with a hard double and Max Aukamp singled him in.

On the mound, Max brought some heat and befuddled SALSA bats, while Austin saw his first sustained action of the season, pitching a scoreless fifth inning.

No longer undefeated, the Gold face another tough test Tuesday at home against Manor Ridge Gold. Don't forget - it's picture day, so have the kids there by 5:15 p.m.

RYBA would like to thank Rick Kauffman for recruiting Dave Layton of ASNAUTO.COM to sponsor the 8U Gold team. Dave not only sponsored the 8u Gold team but went out on his own and found 2 additional sponsors for other teams. We are grateful for their efforts and look forward to a great partnership in the future. Thanks guys!

Monday, May 11:

Rohrerstown Gold 1, St. Joe 0

Rohrerstown Gold got its bats in order Monday night, with Dean Chasser banging out two hits, Zach Bicevskis hitting the long ball and Harrison Andrus knocking in Austin Bole for the game's only run. More solid pitching from starter Max Aukamp, with Alex Smart coming on in the 3rd inning and striking out the side.

The Gold is now 3-0-1, with its biggest test of the season coming Wednesday at St. Leo.

Rohrerstown Gold 4, St. Leo Tigers 2

The Gold broke out the bats against the St. Leo Tigers Wednesday night, scoring four runs in five innings, the team's best offensive ouput of the year.

The lineup came out swinging in the first inning, with Dean Chasser and Austin Bole singling, followed by Max Aukamp's double to score Dean. Alex Smart then singled to drive in Austin; Zac Bicevskis singled to score Max, and Keegan Smith singled before the side was finally retired.

In the third inning Austin and Max both got hits, but the Gold stranded the runners at the corners. In the fourth inning, however, a monster double by Keegan Smith knocked in the Gold's fourth and final run.

The Tigers were probably the best hitting team the Gold have faced, and scored the first two runs recorded against the Gold this season. Nonetheless, Alex Smart and Max Aukamp both pitched well, with Hank Lease coming on in the fifth inning to earn the save. Alex also made an inning-ending catch of an infield pop fly to help preserve the win.

For the game, Austin and Max both recorded three hits, Alex and Keegan notched two apiece, and Dean, Zac and Josh Kauffman all recording one. Dean left the game in the fourth inning with a hand injury, and the team hopes for his speedy recovery.

The Gold remains undefeated with a record of 4-0-1, with the team's next game scheduled May 20 vs. SALSA at Davey Arnold Field.