Big Inning Propels Grays Past Cropdusters

​By: William Franciscus
 
A big fifth inning was the difference for the DC Grays on Thursday night.  DC scored five runs in the fifth, spurring the team to a 9-7 win against the Olney Cropdusters at First Responder Field.  The road win moves the Grays’ record to 3-6 in the Cal Ripken League.
 
DC trailed 1-0 after the third, and then struck back in the top of the fourth.  The Grays took the lead after two wild pitches by Olney that scored Parker Goff (BYU) and Evan Bouldin (Delaware State) making it 2-1.
 
The Grays soon found themselves in a jam in the fourth as the bases were loaded with no outs.  DC starter Adam Fischer (William & Mary) was replaced by reliever Ryan Wheeler (Alvernia). Wheeler allowed two unearned runs and got the Grays through the inning, but the Cropdusters had a 4-2 lead. When talking about coming in with bases loaded Wheeler said, “I just tried to get the strikes rolling and they will get themselves out.”
 
Trailing 4-2 the Grays turned the tide in the fifth. DC got the ball rolling when Henry Zipay (Nebraska-Omaha) grounded to the pitcher but reached on a throwing error, Mike Mallas (Lafayette) scored, and then Zipay was able to score on a wild pitch tying the game at four. Then Justin Grech (Lafayette) stole home and Goff doubled adding two more runs for the Grays. DC was able to add one more run in the inning as Goff scored on a wild pitch.  It was 7-4 after the top of the fifth. 
 
The Grays tacked on another run in the sixth on a Zipay sacrifice fly. The Grays received a huge outing from Wheeler as he was the winning pitcher for the Grays. He pitched four innings and allowed no runs on two hits. Wheeler went back out in the fifth with the lead and said, “Pitching with a lead is always better, especially when you have great guys out in the field to make plays.”
 
DC added one more run in the ninth on a sac fly by Stevie Thomas (Catholic) that scored Bouldin. The Cropdusters put a little scare in the Grays as they scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Sam Stratton (Wofford) came in for the final out and got the save as the Grays won 9-7.
 
The Grays had strong performances all around tonight as Larson, Goff, Bouldin, and Joe Marini (Catholic) all had two hits tonight for DC, and Aaron Thomas (Wofford) added a double in the offensive surge for the Grays.
 
The Grays hope to start a winning streak now that they have four consecutive home games. Wheeler said, “We got a momentum shift and hopefully we can win tomorrow and then take a couple of wins this weekend.” 
 
The Grays will start their homestand tomorrow at the Nationals Youth Academy against the Gaithersburg Giants at 7 o'clock. The team will be wearing special Pride hats for the weekend.  The hats will also be on sale at the Grays merchandise tent.