(August 5, 2020 – Euless, TX) Normally folks are used to snowmen (8) around Christmas time. It’s become one of the themes of the 2020 season. Five hundred level baseball and an 8-run inning against Spirits squads that leaves them both disappointed and with another game in the loss column. The scenario unfortunately once again reared its ugly head on Wednesday night as the ghosts fell to the Rebirds by a score of 11 to 5 after leading 4 to 3 heading into the fifth inning in DFW ABA League action at Texas Star.
Kevin Fought led the Redbirds with a 4-for-4 performance, adding a pair of doubles, 3 runs scored and 3 runs batted in. Stacy Scott led the Spirits with a perfect 2-for-2 night and also drew a walk and scored a run and Travis Hitzeman was responsible for a pair of runs batted in alongside hitting a double on the night. The Spirits were outhit 12 to 9 and led the game with 3 errors to 0 by the birds.
Spirits starting pitcher, Kirk Sipila eyes up the sign against the Redbirds. The Spirits lost the game by a score of 11 to 5 after leading 4 to 3 most of the game.
“Not a lot to say obviously,” commented a dejected Shawn Lee following the game. “Kirk (Sipila) did a great job pitching tonight. A few of us kicked the ball around at the wrong time and then they added a bag of hits in the sixth and we ended up on the wrong side of a victory again. Good news is that we know we can play with anyone. Now sustaining that for a full game? That we have to prove.”
Sipila also finished the evening with a with an RBI single and a run scored and Aaron Wilson also finished the night with a single, walk, run scored and an RBI. The Redbirds picked up an early 2 to 0 lead in the first following a Spirits miscue on the field and after the ghosts rallied for 4 runs in the third inning, the Redbirds added another run in the bottom half of the inning after Lee watched a grounder roll through his legs at second. The Spirits held on until the bottom half of the fifth where all hell broke loose once again as the team could only watch as the Redbirds enjoyed batting around and crossing the plate. One of the only highlights defensively for the Spirits occurred after Jerry Gamez singled to center field and David Tipton came up throwing and was able to gun down Fought at the plate after he tried score from second.
The Spirits get a new shot at forgetting the previous game next Wednesday night when they visit the Rattlers at Texas Star on Legends Field. Game time is 8:45PM and you can click here for schedule details or to learn how to download the iScore Central app to listen to Spirits games live online.
Core Physical Medicine Players of the Game
Stacy Scott (2-2, R, BB)
Kirk Sipila (1-2, R, RBI, BB; 4 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 4 K)
Travis Hitzeman (1-3, 2 RBI)