Game Three: Crush topple Has-Beens, 10-4
Week Four: Orange Crush vs. Royal Has-Beens
(1-1)…….VS……..
(0-2)
The Orange Crush scored runs in only three innings, but that was enough to propel the team to a 10-4 rout of the Royal Has-Beens last Saturday at Pie Traynor.
The win puts the 2-1 Crush a half-game behind the first-place Red Tide on the season and tied for second place in the fall-campaign with the Columbia Blue Jackets.
GAME RE-CAP:
The Has-Beens opened scoring in the game, collecting on un-earned run on two Crush throwing errors in the first inning. The guilty fielder wished to remain anonymous but trusted sources disclosed that he wears the number one on his jersey.
The Crush response came in the bottom-of-the-second inning when the middle of the Crush line-up kicked off a six-run frame. Brian Strom led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch and stole second base before a single by Mark Guthrie plated the tying run. Number seven hitter Tim Maul began his amazing day at the plate in the following at-bat with a double to plate Guthrie. Two-straight walks to Scott Kramer and Brendan Hanley loaded the bases for Schuyler Sheaffer who picked up an RBI with a hit-by-pitch. Crush veteran Harry Yeakel followed with a two-run double. Strom plated the final run of the inning on a sac-fly to left.
The Has-Beens tallied three more runs over the next four innings while the Crush offense remained silenced.
Until the sixth anyways.
Sheaffer led off the four-run sixth-inning for the Crush with a walk before a single by Johnston, a fielder’s choice by Strom and a walk to Guthrie loaded the bases for Maul. Maul came through again, knocking in two more runs on the afternoon before an RBI single from Kramer notched the final run of the frame.
Sheaffer started a final Crush rally with a two-out walk in the seventh. Johnston knocked him in two hitters later to close the scoring for the afternoon.
GAME NOTES:
- Maul earned “Offensive Player of the Week” with his 3-for-3 effort at the plate. He finished with two doubles, three RBI’s and two runs scored.
- Yeakel had a strong showing at the plate as well with two RBI’s, a double, a stolen base and a walk in his 2-for-4 day with the bat.
- A new face to the Crush squad, Johnston didn’t disappoint. He finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk and an RBI. He also earns “Defensive Player of the Week” honors for his great plays in the field last week.
- Hanley looked very comfortable at the plate this week. The starting right fielder for the Crush finished hitless but did pound two very hard hit balls into play that took above average defensive plays to stop. He also finished with a run scored on the day.
- Guthrie must have had a bulls-eye on his back in this one. The Crush slinger ended up 1-for-1 with two HBP, a walk and a run scored.
- Sheaffer and Maul each worked two very encouraging innings of relief for the Crush. The pitching depth of this team will be much needed when the double-headers begin next week.
NEXT GAME:
The Crush will travel to Avonworth High School next week for a 9 am double-header against the Gold Nuggets. Directions can be found at www.pittsburghnaba.com.
Please contact me if you can’t make it this week.
