​6/29/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

The DC Grays beat the Alexandria Aces 8-6 on Sunday in Alexandria, and they did it with something that has been short supply thus far in 2014 — clutch hitting with two outs. The win improves the Grays’ record to 9-13 for the season.

The scoring started for the Grays in the top of the second. With two outs, Austen Maggin (Emory) singled for the first hit of the game. Max Geller (Santa Fe) singled as well, and Drew Reid (Harvard) drew a walk to load the bases. Leadoff hitter Trae Sweeting (Georgia State) hit a single and drive in Maggin. Eric Urry (Brigham Young) came up next, and Geller scored on a passed ball before Urry singled to bring home Reid. Webb Bobo (Southeast Louisiana) then singled to bring home Sweeting for a 4-0 lead.

The Aces answered back in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs after the two-out mark. However, in the top of the fifth the Grays added to their lead. Jay Graham (Dartmouth) hit a double to score Bobo. Michael Breen (San Jose State) scored Graham on a single, increasing the lead to 6-4. The Aces scored in the bottom of the inning to once again bring the game within one run, but the Grays increased the lead once more in the top of the sixth. After Reid was walked again, Bobo drove him in with a double. Graham then drove in Bobo once again.

Winning pitcher Max Kaplow (George Washington) gave up four runs on eight hits over the course of five innings. Sherman Graves (Savannah State), who came out after Kaplow and pitched 1.2 innings, gave up two runs on two hits, and Ari Kaufman (Lafayette) was spotless in 1.1 innings of relief.  Closer James Lengal (Brigham Young) pitched a three up, three down ninth to get the save.

The Grays are on the road again Monday, and will play the Baltimore Dodgers at Joe Cannon Stadium.

​6/28/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

Yesterday was a long, hot afternoon of baseball that the DC Grays might want to forget. They dropped a double header to the Baltimore Dodgers, the last place team in the Ripken League.   The Grays and Dodgers battled for twelve innings in the first game before the 3-2 Dodgers victory, and the Dodgers went on to rout the Grays 5-0 in the second game.The Grays are now 8-13 for the season.

The Dodgers scored in the very first inning of the first game. They had a 2-0 lead by the top of the second. It took the Grays until the bottom of the sixth to get on base, and until the bottom of the seventh to get on the board. Webb Bobo (Southeast Louisiana) hit a double, and Brandon Chapman (George Washington) drove him home with a single. They tied the game up in the bottom of the eighth, when Trae Sweeting (Georgia State), who had advanced to first on a walk, scored on a wild pitch. It took four more innings and many close calls before the Dodgers scored on a wild pitch themselves to take the 3-2 lead. The Grays loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but were not able to score.

The double-header was supposed to be two nine-inning games, but after the first game went longer than expected,the second game was shortened to seven innings. This time, however, it was no contest. An unearned run, a two-run home run and a two run single put the Dodgers up 5-0 and the game out of the Grays’ reach.

Colin Kelly (Catholic) started the first game, and gave up two runs on six hits in six innings. Jay Graham (Dartmouth) pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth innings, and Sherman Graves (Savannah State) pitched a clean 1.1 innings after. Sam Delaplane (Eastern Michigan) pitched the final 2.2 innings. He gave up one run on two hits and was tagged with the loss.

Justin Drechsel (Johns Hopkins) was tagged with the second game loss, giving up the five runs on six hits. Andre Wilson pitched the scoreless and hitless final inning.

Today the Grays hope to pick up a win when they travel to Alexandria to play the Aces. Max Kaplow (George Washington) is the expected starting pitcher for the Grays.

​6/27/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

Last night’s game between the DC Grays and the Rockville Express ended on an awkward, or one might say, “walk-ward” moment, when the Grays scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch during an intentional walk. It was the third run of the game scored either because of a wild pitch or a passed ball. With the 3-2 win, the Grays are 8-11 on the season.

It was an error-filled affair from the beginning. The first Express run, in the top of the first inning, scored on an overthrow on a pickoff attempt by the Grays. The Grays, however, did not let the Express keep the early lead. In the bottom of the first, Eric Urry (Brigham Young) had a double for the first Grays’ hit of the game, and Webb Bobo (Southeast Louisiana) was walked. Urry ran to third on a passed ball during Lucas Martinez’s (New Mexico State) at bat, and both Urry and Bobo advanced on a wild pitch during the same at bat, with Urry scoring. Martinez singled up the right field line, scoring Bobo for a 2-1 Grays lead.

The Express tied the score in the fourth, again on a passed ball, and the game remained tied until the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, things got interesting. Trae Sweeting (Georgia State) was hit by a pitch with one out, and Bobo hit a double that moved Sweeting to third. The Express changed pitchers, and decided to intentionally walk Martinez to set up a force at any base. The plan backfired when the new Express pitcher threw a wild pitch over the catcher’s outstretched glove. Sweeting took off from third and sprinted home from third with the winning run.

Grays starter Tyler Shamas (Mitchell) pitched five innings and gave up two runs on two hits in his home debut. In the sixth inning, Ari Kaufman (Lafayette) relieved him and pitched four clean innings and picked up the win.

On Saturday, the Grays will play a double header at the Nationals Youth Academy against the Baltimore Dodgers. Colin Kelly (Catholic) is expected to start the first game, and Justin Drechsel (Johns Hopkins) is expected to start the second.

 

​6/25/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

If the weather had held for just a few more minutes, the DC Grays might have found their way into the win column last night. But torrential rain, thunder, and lightning forced the game against the Gaithersburg Giants to be called midway through the seventh inning, with the Giants up 3-2. The loss drops the Grays to 7-11 for the season.

The game started slowly for both teams, with few hits from either side. Grays starting pitcher Joe Kinee (West Chester) pitched 4.1 innings and was charged with three runs on three hits. New signee Sam Delaplane (Eastern Michigan) relieved Kinee in the fifth inning and pitched well.

The Grays began a rally in the top of the seventh inning, as it began to drizzle. Trae Sweeting (Georgia State) hit a single, then stole second.  Webb Bobo (Southeast Louisiana) singled as well, moving Sweeting to third. He then scored on Michael Breen’s (San Jose State) single. With Brandon Chapman (George Washington) at bat, a wild pickoff attempt allowed Bobo to score, making the score 3-2 and giving the Grays a chance to tie things up.

The game was almost called in the middle of Lucas Martinez’s (New Mexico State) at bat, after Breen and Chapman had stolen third and second respectively, putting them in scoring position. Martinez was allowed to finish, but unfortunately struck out in the pouring rain, effectively ending the game.

The Grays will have a day off today before returning to the Nationals Youth Academy on Friday to play the Rockville Express. Tyler Shamas (Mitchell) is the Grays’ expected starting pitcher.

​6/23/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

The DC Grays were involved in a train wreck last night. The Bethesda Big Train came roaring into the Nationals Youth Academy to demolish the home team 15-1. The Grays’ record for the season is now 7-10, while the league leading Big Train improved to 14-1.

At first, it seemed as though the night might end in the Grays’ favor. After starting pitcher Tommy Broyles (Drew) pitched a quick first inning, Eric Urry (Brigham Young) hithis second home run of the year. The drive over the centerfield fence was the first run of the game, but the last run for the Grays. The Big Train fired back with two runs of their own in the top of the second, and kept increasing the lead throughout the game.

The Big Train gave trouble to all four of the Grays pitchers.  Broyles, who also started against Big Train in the two teams’ last match up, gave up six runs on six hits, including one two-run homer, in five innings.

Ari Kaufman (Lafayette) relieved him in the sixth, and had soon walked two batters and hit another with a pitch to load the bases.The Big Train scored four runs in that inning. The top of the seventh brought an onslaught of defensive changes, including Andre Wilson (Grambling State) replacing Kaufman on the mound. Wilson also loaded the bases at the start of what would be another four run inning for the Big Train, and gave up another run in the eighth. Arnie Capute (Williams) a scoreless ninth, but by then the outcome was no longer in doubt.

The Grays will have a day off today before traveling to the Gaithersburg Giants on Wednesday.

​6/22/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

The DC Grays are back in the win column, beating the Vienna River Dogs 6-5 Sunday night in Vienna.  The win snaps a three game losing streak and brings the Grays’ record to 7-9 for the season.

The most important thing the Grays did last night was something they had been struggling to do for the past few games—they got on base. The Grays had more hits tonight than they had in any of their past five games.

The scoring started in the top of the first. Austin Sanders (University of Alabama-Huntsville), the Grays’ leadoff hitter, walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Webb Bobo (Southeast Louisiana University).

The River Dogs answered back in the bottom of the inningwith a run off Grays’ starting pitcher Harry Thomas (Delaware State).

The Grays were not deterred, loading the bases in the top of the second. Sanders then helped the Grays score again with a single that drove home Lucas Martinez (New Mexico State). Once again, the River Dogs answered with a run of their own in the second to keep the game tied.

After Thomas loaded the bases in the third, Max Kaplow (George Washington) replaced him on the mound. The River Dogs scored two runs before the Grays could find a way out of the inning. The score remained 4-2 until the top of the eighth, thanks to excellent relief work by Kaplow.

In the 8th, the Grays unleashed an offensive storm. Once again, batting with the bases loaded, Sanders drove in a run with a fielders choice —Aaron Tovsky (Davidson) was out at second, but Michael Breen (San Jose State) was able to score. Eric Urry (Brigham Young) came up to bat next, and after Sanders stole second, Urry hit a double to score both Sanders and pinch runner Des Stegall (Grambling State). The Grays took a slim 5-4 lead.

Kaplow left the game in the eighth with the bases loaded, and was relieved by Sherman Graves (Savannah State). A balk was called on Graves before he even threw his first pitch, and the game was tied 5-5.  Graves escaped further damage andin the top of the ninth, Trae Sweeting (Georgia State) gave the Grays something they could have used during their losing streak—a run without a single hit. After he was walked, he stole both second and third base before scoring on an error by the catcher. It all came down to Graves in the bottom of the ninth, and he pitched a spectacular inning, striking out the three final River Dogs batters to get the win.

Graves is now tied for first in the Ripken League in wins with three.  He did not give up any hits or runs in the 1.2 innings he pitched. Thomas gave up four runs on five hits, and Kaplow was charged with one run on just one hit.

The Grays return home to the Nationals Youth Academy Monday to face the Bethesda Big Train. Tommy Broyles (Drew) is the projected starting pitcher for the Grays.

​6/21/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

The DC Grays’ night started with an heroic outfield play, but in the end, fielding errors and weak hitting contributed to the Grays’ third straight loss. The FCA Herndon Braves defeated the Grays 6-2 in Herndon last night. The Grays are now 6-9 for the season.

In the second inning, Trae Sweeting (Georgia State) made what might end up being the play of the season. He chased a ball hit to deep center field and almost out of the park, jumping and hanging halfway over the outfield fence. The save attempt seemed in vain, until Sweeting dropped back to the field, the ball safely in his glove, to the astonishment of the crowd and both dugouts. Unfortunately, two batters later, another Braves player hit a drive to the same part of the outfield, but higher and deeper, for a home run.

The Braves homer gave them a 1-0 lead, and they tacked on three runs later. The Grays were never able to catch up. Lucas Martinez (New Mexico State), the team RBI leader, drove in Sweeting and Joe Tietjen (UNC Asheville) in the top of the seventh to make the score 4-2. The Braves, however, answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.

Justin Drechsel (Johns Hopkins) started his third game of the season, getting four strikeouts and giving up five hits over the course of five innings. Jay Graham (Dartmouth) relieved him in the sixth, when it seemed like the Braves had the bases loaded all inning long and scored three runs. Sherman Graves (Savannah State) struck out the one batter he faced in the seventh, and held off the Braves in a scoreless eighth.

Tonight, the Grays will play the last of four straight games on the road, facing the Vienna River Dogs.  Harry Thomas (Delaware State) is the expected starting pitcher for the Grays.

​6/20/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

The DC Grays traveled to Glen Burnie to play a double header on Friday against Youse’s Orioles — but unfortunately the Grays’ bats stayed home.  The Grays were shut out twice — dropping the first game 4-0 and the second game 1-0. Their record now stands at 6-8 for the season.

Grays starting pitcher Colin Kelly (Catholic) gave up only three hits in five innings, but unfortunately, one of them was a three-run homer, and that was all the Orioles needed in the opener. The Orioles scored another run on a Grays’ error in the second inning.

The second game of the evening was closer, as the Grays wasted another good pitching performance.  Tyler Shamas (Mitchell) gave up three hits in six innings in his first start with the Grays. The Grays bats were virtually silent yet again, though — the team collected only seven hits in the twinbill.

The Grays continue their stretch of road games on Saturday when they travel to Herndon to face the FCA Herndon Braves. Harry Thomas (Delaware State) is the expected starting pitcher for the Grays.

​6/19/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

They say good things come to those who wait. And the DC Grays certainly waited a long time to score in last night’s home game against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. But a pitcher’s duel gave way to a burst of offense in the late innings, and the result was a 3-2 win for the Grays. The win brought the Grays (6-6) back to .500 for the season.

The first T-Bolts batter of the game hit a single up the middle that zipped just past diving second baseman David Kimbrough (Delaware State). That batter came around to score later in the inning, giving the T-Bolts a 1-0 lead before the Grays had even come to bat. That was the only run on the scoreboard for seven innings.

Grays’ starter Joe Kinee (West Chester) kept the T-Bolts at bay for six innings.  Sherman Graves (Savannah State) pitched scoreless relief in the seventh and eighth.

But the Grays weren’t scoring, either, and going into the bottom of the eighth, their fate seemed decided. Then, after Michael Breen (San Jose State) singled, Joe Tietjen (UNC-Asheville) hit a two-run homer over the left field fence and into the Grays’ bullpen. Later on the inning, Brandon Chapman (George Washington) scored Austin Sanders (University of Alabama-Huntsville) on a double.

That insurance run came in handy when the T-Bolts answered with a home run in the top of the ninth.  However, Grays closer James Lengal (Brigham Young) struck out the final batter of the game for his league-leading fourth save. Graves was credited with the win.

Tonight, the Grays begin a three-day stretch of away games, starting with a double header in Glen Burnie with Youse’s Orioles. Colin Kelly (Catholic University) is the projected as starting pitcher for the Grays in the opener.

​6/18/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

The DC Grays scored four runs in the final two innings of last night’s game against the Baltimore Redbirds. Unfortunately, it was way too little, and way too late. The Redbirds trounced the Grays 15-5 for a home win at Baltimore’s Calvert Hall High School.

The Redbirds jumped out to an early lead and never let up.  Max Kaplow (George Washington), starting for the second time this season, pitched 4.1 innings giving up 7 runs on 10 hits. Andre Wilson (Grambling State) relieved Kaplow in the middle of a bases loaded jam, and gave up three runs while facing his first batter of the game thanks to two passed balls and a wild pitch. Wilson had a three-up-three-down sixth inning, but Arnold Capute (Williams) came out in the bottom of the seventh and was undone by some poor defense, as an error in left field was the catalyst for the Redbirds’ five unearned runs that inning. Des Stegall (Grambling State) had his first outing as pitcher in the eighth inning, and gave up one run on two hits.

The Grays didn’t begin scoring until the seventh inning,and even then their runs came courtesy of the Redbirds.The Grays’ scored their first three runs on bases loaded walks, and their last two with the help of passed balls. Trae Sweeting (Georgia State) scored on a passed ball to round out a three run eighth inning. Jay Graham (Dartmouth) doubled in the ninth inning and scored on a Joe Tietjen (UNC-Asheville) single.

Tonight, the Grays return to the Nationals Youth Academy to face the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts for the second time this season. Joe Kinee (West Chester) is expected to start for the Grays.