Game two on Saturday was exciting, to say the least. We go head-on against a team that was undefeated in at least five tournaments. The Outlaws are the top team in Nevada.We lost the toss, but as I said before, we are playing mind games here- we actually won... right? Well, not this time. This kid on the mound was pretty solid. Nice fastball, solid change AND a curveball he threw for strikes. First inning and he strikes out two Canes and leaves Jordan stranded as Jordan reached on a walk...
Vince Leon took the hill for us and threw quite well. He walked the lead off batter, but never walked another. His pitching kept us in the game. After two innings, he gave up only one run on one hit and struck out two. We pick up one run in the 3rd, as CK Toribio reached on a walk, stole a couple of bags (actually got picked at first and beautifully beat the throw to second) With Jordan on first and Ck on third, we score on a balk. At the bottom of the inning, the Outlaws put together a couple of hits, steal a bag and then it happens. Vince pulled out the new move to first. Runner picked. Two outs. Vince then figured he would let the next guy get on base with a hit, then just pick him off with the new move. So he did. Runner picked. Third out. Vince gets out of a tough inning with minimal damage, but we are down 3-1 and we need some hits.
Top of the 4th and we get what we need. With one out, Daniel Gates hits a ground ball to the shortstop who overthrows first (Dan would have beat the throw anyway). Vince comes up and helps out his own cause by smashing a triple down the first base line to score Daniel. One pitch later and Roman Reed crushes a single to left that scores Vince. After a ground out, CK drives in Roman wi
th a single to left center. In another blink of an eye, we are up 4-3 with the Outlaws wondering what hit 'em... Vince proceeds to blow through the next inning 1-2-3 and take us to the top of the 5th with that 4-3 lead in tact. After a three and out by us as well, Daniel takes the hill in the fifth and although he strikes out three, we give up one run on a walk and a rare error. Tie ball game. Top of the sixth and we go down in order... The Outlaws only chance to get us was if we were to beat ourselves. After a sweet double play on a snatched line drive by Roman we had them where we wanted them. 2 out and Daniel throwing gas? Who wouldn't want that? Before we know it, a runner is on and he gets to third after swiping two bags... That chance of the Outlaws getting to us on our own mistakes? It happened. I'll just say that all of our boys saw what happened and I am sure they will use it as an expensive lesson.
We go down but have our heads up. Outlaws 5, Canes 4.
Pitching:
Vince Leon: 3 k's, 5 hits and a walk with 2 earned runs in 4 innings.
Daniel Gates: 3k's, 4 walks and 2 un-earned runs on zero hits in two innings.
Hitting:
Roman Reed 2 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Vince Leon 2 for 3 with a triple, a run and an RBI.
HR's: None
Triples: Vince Leon
Doubles: None
RBI's: CK Toribio, Vince Leon and Roman Reed.
Next: we face the same Outlaw team. 8am. Sunday.
