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 News: ANSLL 9-10 Americans advance over Fairfax Nationals _______Oi Oi Oi !!!! |
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Saturday, July 1
ANSLL 9-10 Americans advance over Fairfax Nationals _______Oi Oi Oi !!!!
The ANSLL 9-10 Americans coming off a win the previous night that eliminated their friends from the ANSLL National league traveled to Fairfax to face the Fairfax Nationals.
Nolan Gilbert took the mound in the bottom of the first after the ANSLL Americans went down 1-2-3. The game was a pitchers duel from the outset. Fairfax was able to get the first two batters to second and third in the bottom of the first. A diving catch in the hole at short by Joe Darcy held the runners and then Joe followed it up by a great catch in shallow left and then threw a strike to Luke Lundy at the plate who put the tag on and held on while getting knocked down by the runner to record the third out.
Nolan was able to keep Fairfax in check with three ground ball outs. Tyler Pacak and Steven Schwartz were able to get singles in the second inning but the Americans were unable to produce a run.
The third inning ANSLL was able to generate a run on a bunt single by Jack Owens, a stolen base and then another bunt by Nolan Gilbert advanced Jack to third and a passed ball allowed Jack to score when he got under the tag to produce the first run of the game. Fairfax was able to generate a run of their own in their half of the inning to tie it up at 1-1. It could have been worse for ANSLL if not for a heads up play, Fairfax had a clean single to right center that was cut off in the gap by Shawn Courtney who hit Evan at second and Evan turned to find the runner at third returning to third but another runner coming to third. Evan kept calm and figured it out and the runnner broke for home but was gunned down by Evan and Luke once again stood his ground and recorded an out at the plate.
The fourth, ANSLL went without a run and Fairfax was able to get a runner to third with one out. A shallow fly ball to left looked like it would put Fairfax ahead but a shoestring catch by Evan Eschenburg got the second out and then Evan was able to easily double up the runner at third who had thought for sure it was a hit.
The fifth started still locked at 1-1 when birthday boy Doug Gressly led off the inning and was able to beat a throw to first when the shortstop bobbled it. Shawn Courtney then "took one for the team" in the middle of the back . Chris Calbi followed with a textbook sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Jack Owens came through with a double to center that scored one to make it 2-1. Fairfax battled back and loaded the bases but Nolan dug deep and kept Fairfax off the board by recording a strikeout on Fairfax's cleanup batter to end the inning with the bases loaded.
ANSLL's Americans saved their best for the last inning when Luke also "took one for the team" to start the inning. Evan followed with a single, then a walk to Tyler Pacak loaded the bases. Birthday boy (Doug) came up for a key at bat. Doug took a 3-2 pitch to deep center for a key 2 run double. Jack Owens came up with 2 on and 2 out and produced another 2 run double. Nolan Gilbert then followed that with a RBI single.
ANSLL had broke it open at 7-1 and Jack Owens came in to close it out. Jack kept Fairfax guessing and K'd two to shut the door. ANSLL improved to 3-1 and will take on Lower Loudoun Nationals on Monday.
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