Wednesday, May 20

An Angell Looks Over J-Vick  and He is A-OKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

Wilkinson –  Playing faster than dueling banjos, SBS shutout Northeast Turf for the second time this season with strong pitching, productive outs and smart base running from its entire order.  Seventeen of Jon “K-Vick” Vickers’ outs came by way of the strike out with Joseph Grant’s running catch of a shallow fly-ball the only other put-out.  Meanwhile, the bottom of SBS’ order was able to get on base four times in eight at-bats and score three runs, much like the Royals did to the Bankers on Sunday.

            With two outs in the third, rookie Jake Angell reached base via the walk.  After another walk to Hayden Owen, Vickers singled hard up the middle and Angell floated home, with what proved to be the winning run. Owen advanced to third.  As NET’s pitcher and catcher tried to sort out the situation, “Goin’” Owen sped home faster than a seventh grade boy chasing after the prettiest girl in school.  By the time the battery realized what was up, SBS had a 2-0 lead and no intention of looking back.

            With Vickers in the middle of rolling off nine straight strikeouts, frosh “MoJo” Grant alertly spoiled a two out hit attempt by making his nab in left, providing a little “mojo” for the Bankers as they picked up the hit sticks in the fifth.  Once Xavier Gagne was hit by a pitch, Angell came to the plate with two outs facing a new pitcher (pitch count limit reached).  Knowing that the top of the order was making like poison ivy - itching to get to the plate - Angell turned on an inside fastball and roped it down the left field line for his first Majors hit.  Owen walked again which brought J-Vick to the plate.  Facing two strikes, Vickers put a little giddy-up in his next swing and sent the ball to the wall in right, barely sparing the AAAers on the other field a surprise visit from the heavens, scoring Gagne and Angell.  SBS then went to work manufacturing some more runs.

            Andrew Roberts managed to put a two strike pitch in play back to the pitcher with two outs and runners on second and third.  The throw came to the plate but Owen’s VCR was in fast forward and he beat the throw on Roberts’ RBI fielder’s choice.  With runners at the corners, Roberts and Vickers executed a perfect double steal, leaving the ball at shortstop and runners safe at second and home.

            In the sixth, Thomas Hodgkins would get his name in the run column after a walk.  Hodgkins stole second and advanced to third on a ball that scooted into center field.  The center fielder alertly backed up the play and made a throw to third but “Dodg-kins” was able to avert the tag.  Eyeing home plate like your little sister staring down the ice cream truck, Hodgkins took off on a wild pitch and scooted under another tag.  When the umpire’s arms shot out from his sides, the score stood 7-0.  All that was left was for Vickers to finish off his “80” pitch effort, which he did with a exclamation point, striking out the side in order for his third win on the season (6 IP, 17 K, 1 H, 0 BB, less than 80 pitches).