Grays Swept by Aces

The D.C. Grays (14-16) dropped both games of their home double header against interdivisional rival Alexandria Aces (18-11) at Woodbridge HS. The Grays came into the doubleheader 2.5 games back of Alexandria for the Ripken League South division lead. They now sit beneath .500 and 4.5 games back of first place.

Game one was a continuation of a game originally started in June that was called due to inclement weather. As such, the game started in the top of the second inning with the Aces already sporting a one run lead over the Grays. Drew Norton (Dickinson) started for the Grays when the game originally started and was responsible for the one run the Aces had already scored. Chris Fortunato (Stevenson) started in the continuation and posted a superb 5.0 innings of work, striking out three and walking four.

Despite starting with a deficit, the Grays manufactured offense against the Aces's pitching staff. Aidan Von Zeuben was on the bump for the Aces and Joey Chitla (Wofford) greeted him with a double down the third base line in the Gray's first at bat of the day. Joe Marini (Seton Hall) would later score him with an RBI single to tie the game in the second. Grays worked with baserunners consistently throughout the game but some unfortunate breaks would cause them to strand 11 men on base.

The Grays defense was cooking through both games of the doubleheader. TJ Addonizio (Richmond) flashed the leather on the hot corner and showed off his arm throwing across the diamond. Tyler Wiltsey (Rutgers) covered every inch of center field and stole hits from the Aces. But Jack McMullan (Liberty) in particular stood out handling back stop duties and throwing out three runners with his arm behind the plate. Unfortunately Cooper Hums hit a two-run home run over the right field wall to give the Aces a 3-1 lead in the fifth. The homerun posted just a 93 mph exit velocity but did carry well enough to score two go ahead runs.
The Grays loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth and after an RBI infield single by Marc Quarrie (Wofford) the Grays cut the lead in half with the tying run ninety feet from the plate and nobody out. Some defensive heroics by the Aces and utilization of the force out at every bag caused the Grays to strand the bases loaded and the score stayed 3-2. AJ Thomas (Marist) came on in relief for the Grays in the top of the seventh and stranded a runner at third with nobody out after impressive back-to-back strikeouts.

The Grays moved the tying run into scoring position in the final frame but a grounder to third ended game one with the Aces picking up a 3-2 victory. Fortunato was awarded the hard luck loss.

The Grays hit a tough roadblock in game two. Colin Casey (Randolph-Macon) started for the Grays and posted an impressive 4.0 innings of baseball allowing just two earned runs and striking out two. The Grays solid defense continued in the effort. Ayden Ellis (Rutgers, New Brunswick) picked up right where Jack McMullan left off and threw out an Ace baserunner at third. The Grays turned a very clean 6-4-3 double play, as well as a truly unconventional 7-6-4 double play that stopped a run from crossing the plate after the Aces sent both runners from the corners on a sacrifice fly ball.

The Grays reached an offensive landmark when Ryan Soong (Washinton) stole second in the bottom of the first. Soong's 30th stolen bag was the Gray's 100th team stolen base on the year. Marini hit an RBI single later to score Soong and Noel Rivera (Marist) scored two more runs with a line drive double up center. After the first inning the Grays led 3-2. Aces later tied the game in the third, and regained the lead in the fifth scoring two.

The game was then broken open by the Aces's offense and bullpen. The Grays surrendered nine runs after relieving Casey on a bevy of walks. Nate Lake relieved his starter and mowed down the Grays he saw. The final score was 14-3. The Grays look to bounce back in a crucial game against the Metro South County Braves this evening.