Saturday, May 9

Pitching Duel Ends with K-Vick and SBS over Turf, 3-0

Wilkinson Park –  In a game quicker than a kiss to your century old, cigarette smoking grandmother, it was a South Portland veteran and a newcomer who provided the spark that led SBS over NET, 3-0.  Both teams entered the game undefeated and it was easy to understand why as Jon Vickers and Lucas M. took the mound for their respective teams. 

With K-Vick throwing more bullets than a Gatling gun, Turf went down in order in the first on two strikeouts and help from Christian Guignard who made a nice play on a Joe G. grounder to start the game.  Lucas answered with two K’s of his own in the bottom half of the inning.  Other than a walk to Matt Gilboy in the second, both pitchers were again perfect.  While the catchers caught the accumulating K’s, players in the field ran the risk of catching some Zzzzz’s as they saw minimal action.  Rookie Jake Angell, seeing his first time at third, proved to be awake though as he ranged under a Sam D. pop-up for the second out of the inning.  Fellow frosh Joseph Grant sounded the alarm clock when he lined a 1-1 pitch up the middle for his first Majors hit but Lucas hit the “snooze button” and silenced the SBS’ bats.

As both pitchers cruised along, the fourth became the pivotal inning.  After two strike-outs by Vickers, Andrew Roberts knocked down a hard liner by Joe G. for a 3-U and SBS came to the plate with the top of its order making its second appearance.  J-Vick worked a one out walk and newbie Hayden Owen from Kentucky faked a bunt allowing Vickers to advance to second.  Owen then cooly legged out a slow grounder to second, giving SBS runners at the corners and Owen the opportunity to advance on catcher’s indifference.  After an out, Roberts used the ol’  fake bunt-by-trying to bunt play, but the result was as desired as the pitch squirted to the screen allowing both runners to advance.  1-0 SBS.  Owen then showed that he could easily be running at Churchill Downs instead of Wilkinson Field as he raced home on a ball to the screen and just beat the throw from the catcher to make it 2-0.

In the fifth, it appeared as if Turf might take back some momentum when Lucas M. hit an 0-2 curve ball to deep second for a base hit.  Guignard was able to keep him to a single by knocking the ball down however.  Vickers would strike-out the next two batters though and then make a nice jumping catch of a Jack Whaley come-backer which he threw to first for the final out of the inning.

SBS added some insurance in the fifth when Thomas Hodgkins doubled to right and then advanced home on a ball to the screen and subsequent overthrow to third.  Fortunately, however, that was money the bankers could keep in the vault as K-Vick struck out the side in the sixth, sending NET to its first loss in a well-played Little League game.  Vickers’ pitching line read as six innings pitched with a hit and fourteen strike-outs while the NET pitchers combined on a three hitter with ten K’s.  It should also be noted that Chris Mitchell was stellar behind the plate for SBS with only one passed ball.  Feel free to stop by his house and congratulate him.  He’s the one inside with his catching hand in a bucket of ice!

SPALL action continues next week!  SBS hosts Maietta on Tuesday while NET is at Pape on Wednesday.  All games are at Wilkinson.  Next week also sees the start of interleague play with South Portland National as Willows hosts the Royals on Monday.

Happy Mothers’ Day to mothers (and grandmothers!) everywhere and keep hoping for great weather and even better games.