The Blue Jays found themselves in another tight contest Sunday, September 21, at North Chevy Chase Park. This time, the Phillies (Grey) provided the opposition.
Great pitching and a few timely hits were enough to overcome some defensive miscues.
The final score was Blue Jays 7, Phillies 5.
September 21 Game Report
Gavin Ferguson delivered two huge hits at key moments. First, he whacked a double to center field that drove in a run and gave the Blue Jays an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Then, he pounded a single and drove in a big insurance run in the top of the sixth. Defensively, Gavin played solid baseball at 2nd base and in left field.
Jake Lang was the table setter. He crushed a ground ball through the 5.5 hole and into left field in the top of the second. In the sixth, Jake roped a line drive into right field for a solid base hit. In both instances, Jake would round the bases and score. Defensively, he notched assisted put-outs at 1st base in the third and fourth innings. He ranks second on the team with three assisted outs in three games.
Xander Yu started the game on the mound and fought through adversity that was not of his making. According to our scoring method, Xander allowed four runs on four hits. However, three of those "hits" would be counted as errors in standard baseball scoring. The more telling stat is Xander's excellent 5:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Defensively, he alertly fielded a grounder in right field and threw to 1st base in time to get the out. Offensively, Xander drew a walk in the fifth inning.
Sam Berman either scored or drove in more than half of his team's runs. His double to the wall in left center sparked a three-run rally in the top of the third. His 3-for-3 day also included singles in the first and fifth, three runs scored and an RBI. Defensively, Sam collected an infield assist at shortstop in the second and added a rare outfield assist on a huge 8-1-5 put-out that stifled a rally in the bottom of the fifth. For good measure, Sam pitched two innings and allowed just one run on one hit and three walks. He struck out four batters, raising his team leading total for the season to 14.
Cole Hughes treated onlookers to the return of the one-man rally in the top of the third. When his line drive got by the right fielder, the result was predictable - an inside the park home run. Defensively, Cole logged an infield assist at 2nd base in the third and perfectly executed the cut-off man role on an 8-1-5 put-out in the fifth. On the mound, he closed the game with two scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and one walk and striking out four.
Jack Raymond continued to find ways to get on base in the game with the Phillies, drawing a walk in the fourth and getting hit by a pitch in the second. Jack's .750 on-base percentage for the season ranks second on the team. Defensively, he corralled balls in the outfield and returned them to the infield, limiting the damage.
Derek Sappenfield was the final cog in the splendid 8-1-5 put-out that ended the fifth inning. Playing at 3rd base, Derek thought ahead and positioned himself at the bag when the throw from the outfield was cut off. He made the catch and tagged the runner with room to spare. Offensively, Derek continued to take aggressive hacks in three trips to the plate.
Andre Schnider has been quietly productive in each game this season. In Sunday's contest, he came up with base hits in the third and fifth innings and scored a run. Andre ranks third on the team in batting average (.625) and slugging percentage (.750). Defensively, he played well at shortstop, 3rd base, and in the outfield.
Will Dash improves at the catcher position every time he gets in the crouch. Sunday, he completed two excellent throws, one to second base and one to third, on stolen base attempts. Will also played well at 2nd base and in the outfield. At the plate, he just missed a big hit in the top of the first, getting under the ball just bit and flying out to the shortstop.
George Roggie drilled an RBI double to the wall in left center in the top of the first, knocked an RBI single beyond 2nd base in the fifth, and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the third. George leads the team with six RBIs in three games. He contributed two assisted put-outs at 1st base.
Able Assistants
Brian Ferguson helped with warm-ups, carried gear, assisted on the bench and did it all while missing Max's 11U Select game. Next week, Brian takes over managerial duties!
Derrick Raymond assisted with warm-ups and coached at 1st base.
The late start time allowed Steve Berman to keep score without missing the Ravens' game, a rare treat at this time of year.
Three to Go!
The fall season has reached the midway point. Three high quality opponents await.
Let's have fun, play our to our capabilities, and see what happens!
Steve
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