Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Game 7: Riverdogs 18, Bats 17

The Riverdogs ended a three game losing streak as they defeated the Bats 18-17 in a thriller Monday night at Nowell field. The win improves the Riverdogs record to 3-4 at the half way point of the season, and currently puts them in fifth place in the standings.

In a nice reversal from the previous two games, it was the Riverdogs who attacked first by plating four runs in the top of the first. The Bats responded with six runs of their own in the bottom of the first; however the Riverdog bats stayed hot as they tied their season high with 29 hits (a feat previously accomplished against the Scrappers) and scored 18 runs, one run off their season high of 19 (again against the Scrappers).

Bobby led the way for the Riverdogs with an impressive 4-4 hitting performance; becoming the first Riverdog this season to get four hits in a game. Bobby also added a RBI and scored two runs.

Several Riverdogs had three hit performances. Matthew N. was 3-4 with a double, 2 singles, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored; Carter was 3-4 with 3 singles, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored; Caden was 3-3 with 3 singles, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored: Blake was 3-4 with 3 singles and 3 runs scored; Weston was 3-4 with 3 singles, an RBI and 2 runs scored; and William was 3-3 with 3 singles, 2 RBI and a run scored.

Caleb and Matthew D. both had two hits; with Caleb going 2-4 with 2 singles, 2 RBI and 1 run scored; and Matthew D. going 2-2 with 2 singles, a RBI and a run scored. Nolan, Nicky D., and Nicholas A. each added a hit each. Nolan and Nicholas A. tacked on a run each, while Nicky D. added 2 RBI’s and Nicholas A. added a RBI.

As much as the Riverdog defense has been an issue this season (and at times was during this game) it was actually the defense that had a major impact on this game in several ways:

- There were a season high four fly ball catches in the outfield; as Weston and Nicholas A. received their first candy bars of the season; Matthew his second, and Caleb his fourth.

- In the fifth inning when the Bats were trying to close the gap, Caleb fielded a blooper hit just short of first base, tagged the runner and fired to second where Matthew N. applied the tag on the runner headed for second base.

- On a ball hit sharply to the fence, Weston was there to back up the left fielder, then fielded the ball and instinctively fired to second base, preventing the runner from going to third.

- Carter fielded two ground balls at second where he bobbled them, but quickly recovered and FIRED to first base to get the out both times.

- A unique play where the ball was thrown home in an attempt to get a runner out but the runner was safe. Bobby quickly noticed that the runner on first was almost at second base, while another runner was standing on second base. Bobby threw the ball to Caleb at first who applied the tag on the caught runner.

- Nicholas A. and Caleb both displayed great effort in diving attempts to catch fly balls in the outfield.

The next Riverdog practice is Friday at 6:00 at Nowell field.

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