We’re at the point of the Cal Ripken League season where rain-outs have taken a toll, necessitating double-headers to keep the league on schedule. Such was the case in Washington on Saturday, as the DC Grays and Bethesda Big Train played two seven-inning games. The Grays came away with a split, dropping the first and winning the second – but the Grays were oh, so close to a potentially-season-changing sweep.
The Grays held a 2-1 lead in the opener, before Bethesda tied things up with a run in the fifth. The score remained 2-2 into extra innings, as both teams squandered scoring chances late in the game. In the bottom of the eighth (Bethesda was the home team in the opener) the Big Train scored the winning run on a wild pitch, after a double, walk and single loaded the bases. The heartbreaking loss spoiled some excellent performances by the Grays. Starting pitcher Kimani Davis (Xavier/LA) threw five effective innings, and Kai Cummings (Cabrini) was effective in relief until the fateful eighth inning. At the plate, Henry Zipay (Nebraska-Omaha) had three hits and both Grays RBIs, and Parker Goff (BYU) had two hits. The Big Train came out swinging in the night cap, looking to sweep the Grays. They scored two runs in the top of the first inning to quickly force the Grays to play catchup. This was an assignment DC took in stride, and after a quiet second inning, the Grays cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. To start off the fun, Wofford College’s Connor Larson and Delaware State’s Evan Bouldin strung together singles, setting the stage for a double by Goff to score Larson. With runners in scoring position Myles Sargeant (Maine) singled to score Bouldin, and a Big Train error scored Goff. The Grays’ fourth and final run came in the bottom of the fifth, when Lafayette's Mike Mallas crossed home on a bases-loaded walk from George Mason's Derek Wood. That would be the difference, with the Grays winning 4-2. The Grays pitching a defense were solid throughout. Gaston College’s Alex Jankowski started on the mound for the Grays, allowing only three hits over his five innings on the mound. The right-hander currently holds an ERA of 3.86 over his 13.3 innings pitched. George Mason’s Jake Roberti relieved Jankowski and allowed no hits and struck out three as he earned the save. The split moved the Grays to 10-17 on the season, with some work to do to ensure a playoff berth. Six teams make the playoffs in the eight-team Ripken League. The Grays will be back in action on the road Monday night against the Southern Maryland Senators. In another weather-related scheduling twist, the game will played at the Frank Mann Field in Alexandria since the Senators’ home field is unavailable. First pitch is at 6:30pm,
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Behind terrific pitching, the DC Grays ended their two game losing skid after defeating the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts 5-1 at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy on Friday. DC improved to 9-16 on the year.
As the playoffs begin to near, the Grays got a much needed win as they jump ahead of the Thunderbolts and Gaithersburg Giants in the league standings. The Grays started off hot, as they recorded three straight hits from the top of their order in the bottom of the first. Geroge Mason’s Derek Wood and Brown’s Miles Newsome both singled in the bottom of the first, allowing Wofford’s Connor Larson to bring home one run with a line-drive double. A hit-by-pitch and a walk would cost the Thunderbolts another run, making the score 2-0 after the 1st inning. Thunderbolts catcher Bowman Wingard (Macalester) was able to find some success, singling to get on base as well as advancing to second due to a pitching error, but they would end up going scoreless again to end the top of the second. Kyle Tyler (Valparaiso) showed off his speed in the 2nd inning by being able to score from 2nd base, after an errant throw. A Connor Larson walk and stolen base set up Maine’s Myles Sargeant to score another run with his single, increasing the score to 4-0 going into the third inning. Grays starter Diego Barrett (North Carolina A&T) had another terrific outing, allowing one run, striking out six batters, and walking none. Barrett pitched a shutout ball for five innings before giving up a lone run in the sixth. The DC lead grew bigger in the fifth as a Myles Sargeant single, Aaron Thomas (Wofford) single, and a Braeden Mondeau (BYU) walk would set up a bases-loaded balk from Thunderbolts pitcher Michael Heckman (Shippensburg) to bring in yet another run for the Grays, going up 5-0 entering the 6th inning. The Thunderbolts would be able to score their one and only run in the 6th inning, after an error by Gray’s catcher Michael Mallas (Lafayette) allowed Joseph Kaleck (West Chester) to score from second base. Delaware State’s Evan Bouldin, Wofford’s Sam Stratton, and Alvernia’s Ryan Wheeler would all contribute to the Gray’s pitching performance, each throwing a scoreless inning for DC. The Grays look to keep winning as they play a home double header on Saturday against the Bethesda Big Train at 4:30pm and 7:00pm By: William Franciscus
There were two heroic late game blasts last night at Frank Mann Field in Alexandria. Unfortunately for the visitng DC Grays, the final blow was struck by the league-leading Aces. - a walk off home run that sent the visitors home on the short end of a 10-9 score. The game got off to a brisk start, as Alexandria opened the scoring early. Dylan Grego (Ball St) stole home, and an RBI double from Alex Wade (Auburn) gave the Aces a 2-0 lead in the first. The Grays answered back in second as Myles Sargent (Maine) drove in Henry Zipay (Nebraska Omaha) with a ground out, putting the Grays on the board. DC’s offense exploded in the third inning as Evan Bouldin (Delaware St) singled in a run and then Zipay blasted a two run double giving the Grays a 4-2 lead. The Grays were able to add two more runs on a sac fly by Sargent and a single by Braden Mondeau (BYU) made it 6-2. A throwing error by added another as Parker Goff (BYU) scored and capped off the six-run inning. After the barrage, DC lead 7-2. The Aces began chipping away at DC’s lead. The Aces added one in the third as Gavin Miller (Auburn) stole home. Alexandria cut even deeper into the Grays lead in the fifth as they scored two runs on a throwing error. In the seventh, Nick Gregory (Ball St) tied the game at seven with a two run double. Matt Ossenfort (Vanderbilt) broke the tie as he hit a sac fly making it 8-7 and then a Gregory stole home, and the Aces took a 9-7 lead. The Grays went into the eighth trailing for the first time since the third inning and came out swinging. Goff reached on a hit by pitch and then Sargent hit a towering two run homer that tied the game again this time at 9-9. DC then loaded the bases, but couldn’t plate the run that would give them the lead. Caleb Causey (Miss Valley St) was on the bump for the Grays in the ninth as he tried to continue a solid relief outing. He retired the first batter of the inning, and then up came Ossenfort, who sent Causey’s second offering way over the right field fence as the Aces won 10-9. Micheal Gillen (Seton Hall) picked up the win for the Aces, while Causey was credited with the loss. The Grays fall to 8-15 while Alexandria won their tenth straight moving to 17-2. Myles Sargent led the Grays with four RBI’s and Henry Zipay had two RBI’s. After a day off for Independence Day, DC will be back in action Wednesday as they travel to Montgomery Blair High School as they take on the Silver Spring Takoma Thunderbolts at 7 o’clock. The Grays extended their win streak to two on Sunday. DC defeated the Gaithersburg Giants 10-5, rallying behind a pair of home runs from Myles Sargeant (Maine Orono) and Joe Marini (Catholic). The Grays have won three of their last four outings, getting a much-needed win at the Nationals Youth Academy. The Giants got on the board first in the top of the second, after a Brendan Klieman (Frederick CC) single brought in Jake Butler (George Mason). The Grays responded in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs thanks to a walk to Henry Zipay (Nebraska Omaha) and a Myles Sargeant home run. Alex Jankowski (Gaston) kept the Grays momentum going in the third by retiring the Giants in order. The Grays didn’t stop there, as Joe Marini was able to extend the lead with a three run homer, making it 5-1 at the end of the third. Gaithersburg cut the lead to 5-4 in the seventh, as Kyler Tyler (Valparaiso) struggled on the mound for the Grays, resulting in a couple of walks and wild pitches and giving the Giants life. But Evan Bouldin (Delaware State) would close out the top of the seventh for the Grays. A wild pitch from Gaitherburg’s Andrew Owens (Frederick CC) brought in Connor Larson (Wofford) to boost the Gray’s lead to 6-4 at the end of the seventh. DC would pull away in the eighth inning, obtaining five of their 11 hits and scoring four runs. Braeden Mondeau (BYU) and Connor Larson both singled, bringing in two runs each to give the Grays a comfortable 10-4 lead. Sam Stratton would finish up the game for the Grays on the mound, striking out three batters and allowing one hit. Brendan Klieman’s single would bring in Matthew Williams (Millersville) to score for the Giants, but it would be too little too late.
The Grays improved to 8-14 and got their second straight home win against the Giants. The Grays look to make it three in a row on Monday against the Alexandria Aces at Frank Mann Field, at 6:30 pm. In a rainy Friday evening game, the DC Grays (7-14) rode a dominant pitching performance by Diego Barrett (North Carolina A &T) and a revived offense to defeat the Southern Maryland Senators (7-12) at Regency Furniture Stadium.
The Grays scored early, with an RBI double from Derrick Mayes (UMD Eastern Shore) to score Miles Newsome (Brown) in the first inning. The hit was one of eight for the Grays on Friday night, double their total against Big Train the night prior. In the top of the third inning, Mayes, Parker Goff (BYU) scored on wild pitches and Evan Bouldin (Delaware State) was driven in on a single by Henry Zipay (Nebraska Omaha), giving the Grays a 4-0 lead. But the scoring did not end there. In the top of the fifth, Michael Mallas (Lafayette) stole both second and third, and came home on an RBI single from Aaron Thomas (Wofford). Mallas went two-for-three and had three walks. The Lafayette catcher crossed home for a second time in the top of the eighth, batted in by Zipay. Diego Barrett started DC, and allowed only one hit.. Barrett struck out four batters over his six innings on the mound. The outing was Barrett's first win of the season, bringing his record to 1-1. Ryan Wheeler (Alvernia) relieved Barrett, allowing no hits over his three innings. “As a pitcher, it’s easier to pitch with a lead than when you’re down,” Wheeler stated postgame. “This morning I told Diego we were going to get him his first win, that really drove me to pitch well. I trust my fielders to make plays, I just focused on hitting the zone.” DC plays again Saturday night and will host the Olney Cropdusters at Nationals Baseball Youth Academy at 7 p.m. By: Duncan Weigand
The Grays (6-13) got back into the win column on Wednesday evening defeating the South County Braves (6-11) 13-6 in a lopsided affair. The two-day break for the Grays seemed to work wonders for the offense as the bats came alive culminating in the team's first double-digit run total of the season. The Grays went with an unconventional pick to start -- Jake Roberti (Louisburg JC). The righty, who normally works out of the pen, looked calm and poised when he took the mound for the first inning. Roberti started out strong, getting the first two batters, but then gave up a single and a double. A single by the Braves’ Quinn Madden (James Madison University) brought home two runs for an early Braves’ lead. Roberti got the third out he needed on a Matt Wright (Virginia Military Institute) ground out, but that’s how things stood for three innings. In the top half of the fourth, the Grays got to work on the Braves’ Kaden Hilburger (Bryant University). The first three batters for D.C. got on base. A Joe Marini (Catholic) double quickly tied the game and ended Hilburger’s night. After Hilburger was yanked, the Grays never looked back, getting five more runs in the inning to take a commanding 7-2 lead. But the fun didn’t stop there as Myles Sargeant (Maine) got into the action in the top of the fifth with an RBI double. Sargeant also came around to score later in the inning giving the Grays a 9-2 lead. Roberti worked five innings and only allowed the two first inning runs. The Braves showed some life in the bottom of the seventh when they put up two runs. But in the eighth, D.C made sure the game wouldn’t get interesting by putting up three more runs to increase their lead to nine. Caleb Causey (Mississippi Valley State) came in to pitch the ninth for D.C. Two runs came across for the Braves, but it was no cause for concern as Causey calmly secured the much-needed victory for the Grays. The Grays will play a 7-inning doubleheader on Thursday, June 29th, against the Bethesda Big Train and look to keep the good times rolling. By Dominic Varela
The D.C. Grays fell behind early against the Silver Spring - Takoma Thunderbolts on Sunday at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy and never recovered, losing 8-4. Southpaw Kimani Davis (Xavier) got the start for Grays, while the T-Bolts turned to lefty Evan Rishel (Millersville). Davis struggled with his command across just 1.1 innings of work, yielding two runs in the first before conceding two more in the second and being pulled in favor of right-hander Kai Cummings (Cabrini). SS-T added two more runs before the end of the second and tacked on another in the fourth, bringing the score to 7-0. Grays' first baseman Evan Bouldin (Delaware State) scored in the bottom of the frame to end the shutout, but another T-Bolt run in the sixth brought the Grays back to a seven-run deficit. D.C. exhibited some late-game fire, adding two runs in the eighth on a single by Aaron Thomas (Wofford). Later in the inning, a triple to right-center by third baseman Braeden Mondeau (BYU) scored Thomas and cut the lead to four. The Grays' bullpen was strong. Kyle Tyler (Valparaiso) and Stevie Thomas (Catholic) combined to shut out the T-Bolts across the final three frames. However, the eighth-inning offense was to no avail, as the Grays failed to score in the ninth. Despite a team-total 10 hits, D.C. only managed to plate four runs, falling 8-4. Davis was saddled with the loss, dropping his record to 1-3. Patrick Vandenbergh (Georgetown) made his D.C. Gray debut, going hitless in two at-bats. With the loss, D.C. moves to 5-13 and 9.5 games back in the South division. The Grays look to snap their five-game losing streak on Tuesday against the Metro South County Braves at 7 p.m. at South County High School. The DC Grays and Gaithersburg Giants played a nailbiter at Nationals Baseball Youth Academy on Saturday night. Despite a strong outing by Diego Barrett (North Carolina A&T), the Giants edged the Grays, 4-2.
The Giants took the lead early on a single to center field in the first inning to score Bryce Demory (Lynchburg College). The Grays took the lead back in the second inning, with a double from Connor Larson to score Derrick Mayes (Maryland Eastern Shore) and Braeden Mondeau (BYU). Larson accounted for one of the Grays five hits in the contest and was responsible for the Grays' only RBIs. Both teams put up zeros for four consecutive innings. In the bottom of the seventh, the Giants tied the game on a wild pitch by the Grays' Elliot Eaton (Princeton) who had relieved Barrett. The Giants kept the ball rolling, scoring one more in the seventh on an error by Wofford’s Connor Larson. Gaithersburg put up one more run in the bottom of the eighth on a home run by Will Wikner (Shenandoah). The Grays had a chance to respond, loading the bases in the ninth inning. But Mason Levin (Harford) struck out to end the game Diego Barrett pitched six innings and logged nine strikeouts for the Grays. He allowed just one earned run and walked two batters. Eaton made his first appearance for DC and gave up three hits and two runs. Caleb Causey closed the game for the Grays, allowing two hits and one run. Gaithersburg had 10 hits; the Grays had just five. Eaton took the loss. Tyler Russo (Towson) got the win. The Grays (5-12) have a chance to break their four game losing skid in a Sunday afternoon game against the Tacoma Thunderbolts at 5 p.m. at Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. By: William Franciscus
The DC Grays dropped their third straight game on Friday night, losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Southern Maryland Senators 6-5 at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy Eddie Kaftan (Mitchell) started for the Grays and was less than his best. He gave up a run in the fourth on a double by Matt Illgenfritz (Gardner-Webb). The Senators added to their lead in the fifth with a Mikey Guysingle (Frostburg St) and then then DC walked in Cadyn Karl (Kansas St) and Brett Vondohlen (Middle Tennessee) giving Southern Maryland a 4-0 lead. Kaftan did not finish out the fifth inning - his shortest outing f of the season. The Grays were able to answer back in the sixth inning on an Evan Bouldin (Delaware St) double cutting the Senators lead to 4-2. In the seventh inning DC showed great discipline at the plate as they were able to score three runs as Southern Maryland walked in Kyle Tyler (Valparaiso), Justin Grech (Lafayette) and Joe Marini (Catholic). This gave DC at 5-4 lead heading into the eighth inning. The lead could have been greater - as the Grays still had bases loaded with no one out when they took the lead. They failed to tack on any insurance runs - a missed opportunity that would define the game. That the Grays weee even in the game at all is credit to the terrific relief work of Sam Stratton (Wofford). He gave up zero runs on zero hits and he had four strikeouts for DC in three plus innings. The Grays went into the ninth inning with the lead and DC sent out reliever Ryan Wheeler (Alvernia) to close out the game. The Senators lead off the inning with a walk by Joshua Braxton (Mt St Marys) and then one batter later Vondohlen hit a two-run homer giving Southern Maryland the lead 6-5 which would be the final score. John Gray (Wofford) picked up the win for the Senators, as Wheeler was credited with the loss. DC drops to 5-11 on the season, while the Southern Maryland Senators moved to 6-8. The Grays will look to get back in the win column Saturday against the Gaithersburg Giants. The game will be at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy at 7 o’clock due to unplayable conditions in Gaithersburg. DC will be the visiting team. |
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