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 News: National League Majors Work Extra to Subdue Chantilly |
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Sunday, July 1
National League Majors Work Extra to Subdue Chantilly
The ANSLL National League Majors team needed seven innings to win a tight game at the Ridge against Chantilly American.
In the top of the first, Jeremy Johnson led off with a solid single to left field, and came around to score on Joey Coogan's rope into the left field corner. Alex Lewis drew a walk, and with one out and runners on first and third, speedy David Paik laid down a perfect bunt, plating Joey and moving Alex to second. Connor Maloy followed with a sharp grounder to short, which Alex beat to third. The throw hit Alex in the back, and he scampered home with the third run. Pinch runner Henry Truelove was thrown out on a close play later in the inning to keep the score at 3-0. Jeremy Johnson took the mound in the bottom of the first, and struck out the side while allowing two walks and a single, leaving the bases full.
In the top of the second, Joey Coogan drew a walk, but was stranded at second base. Chantilly was able to load the bases again in the bottom of the second, but Jeremy induced a grounder to second, which was fielded cleanly by Michael Szabo for the out. Both sides were retired in order in the third, with Joe Carns recording the final out of the inning by diving to his right to spear the a hard hit ball, and sliding back to first just before the runner.
Henry Truelove drew a walk in the top of the fourth, but was unable to advance. Chantilly was able to get two base runners in the bottom of the fourth, but Jeremy froze their #2 hitter with a fastball on the corner to end the inning. In the top of the fifth, ANSLL threatened as Joey Coogan led off with a shot to deep left that was caught. Alex Lewis then doubled down the left field line and Joe Carns was retired on a sliding catch in right field on a fine play. David Paik drew a walk, but with two runners on, a strikeout ended the rally.
Moving to the bottom of the 5th, ANSLL still clung to a 3-0 lead. The first two runners for Chantilly reached base, and Joe Carns was brought in to pitch. Jeremy struck out 7 in his 4+ innings, keeping ANSLL in the game. A wild pitch scored a run, and then Joe Carns recorded two outs, before a bloop hit to right scored a runner to make it 3-2. The next batter then hit a two run homer to give Chantilly the lead for the first time.
As ANSLL came to bat in the last inning, they needed one run to continue the game, and they came through. Henry Truelove entered the game as a pinch runner after Paul Leonard drew a walk. He advanced to third on two wild pitches, setting the stage for two-out magic with Jeremy stepping to the plate. After falling behind in the count 0-2, Jeremy ripped a single to left to score Henry and tie the score, and the ballpark was jumping. In the bottom of the 6th, with one out, Alex allowed a single. The Chantilly runner was then thrown out at second on a heads up play by Alex and Joey.
Alex then struck out the next batter to send the game to extra innings.
Leading off in the seventh, Alex hit a low missile into the woods behind the left field fence to put ANSLL back ahead, and sending the crowd back into a frenzy. With two outs, Connor Maloy laid down a perfect bunt. Michael Szabo then stroked a single to right center, sending Connor to third. ANSLL then manufactured a run with smart base running to increase its lead to 6-4.
In the bottom of the seventh, Joey Coogan snatched a sharp grounder up the middle and got his man at first on a bang-bang play. Chantilly got two base runners in the seventh, with one scoring on a fielders choice. With two outs, and the tie-run on second, Chantilly's fifth inning home run hitter stepped to the plate. On the first pitch, he hit a deep fly into right field, but Connor Maloy was in position to make the play and record the final out, ending a very well played game between two evenly matched teams.
The ANSLL National team moves on to face Lower Loudoun American at the Ridge on Tuesday night, at 6:00 PM.
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