(August 9, 2021 – Carrollton, TX) Everyone hit safely, most with 2 or more hits for the Spirits (45+) squad as both hits and runs were produced in wholesale numbers as the squad rolled past the Dallas Bulls by a score of 15 to 7 Monday night at McInnish Park in NTABL Masters League play.
Shawn Lee, Brian Hackney, and Chris Lewis each finished 3-for-4 on the night from the dish with Lewis adding a triple while both he and Lee also recorded doubles, a stolen base, 3 runs scored, and multiple RBIs. Lewis finished the night with 4 runs batted in and Lee finished with 2. Shawn Hunt also added a pair of runs scored and an RBI as he, Travis Hitzeman, Brant Finchum, John Hefner, and pitcher, John Holmquist each finished with 2 hits on the night.
Holmquist was dealing through 3 innings of work, allowing only one hit, walking none, and striking out 3 before the Spirits turned to Hitzeman and Finchum to mop up. Hitzeman struggled with his control and Finchum came in to close out the final two innings of work as the Bulls rallied for 7 runs off of 6 hits after drawing 2 walks and benefitting from 3 Spirits fielding errors to make the score look closer than the game actually was.
The Spirits scored 3 in the first inning after Kirk Sipila drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on an error by the Bulls. Sipila later moved to third and scored on a sacrifice fly RBI from Hitzeman and the ghosts had an early 1 to 0 lead. Lee singled and stole second and then scored on a single by Hackney and after moving to second on a wild pitch, he scored on an RBI single by Hefner.
Fast forward to the third and it was over before it started. Lee doubled to start the inning and moved to third after Hackney singled. Henfer walked to load the bases and Lee scored on a wild pitch. Lewis followed with a single to score the remaining runners and stole second a pitch later. The Bulls attempted a pick off play to snipe Lewis on the base paths and he ended up scoring after the errant throw made its way to the outfield. Hunt followed up with a double and then scored on an RBI single by Sipila. Hitzeman doubled to move Sipila to third and both runners scored on a single by Lee. Hackney followed with another single, and Hefner loaded them with the third single in a row by the Spirits. A double by Lewis scored both Lee and Hackney, and both Lewis and Hefner followed suit after a single by Hunt and the Spirits were up 14 to 0.
The Bulls benefitted from a few Spirits pitching experiments to make the score more interesting, but the Spirits added the exclamation point in the fifth after Lewis tripled and scored on a single by Holmquist as the team cruised to a shortened-game victory.
The team is scheduled to host the Royals next Monday night at Graham Field. Click here for schedule details as the game is slated for a 6:30PM start.
Waxahachie Autoplex Players of the Game
Chris Lewis (3-4, 3B, 2B, 3 R, 4 RBI, SB)
Shawn Lee (3-4, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, SB)
Brian Hackney (3-4, 3 R, RBI)