(June 13, 2025 – Carrollton, TX) The Spirits (50+) squad got itself back into the winning column Saturday morning after a 19-hit onslaught of the Yankees that led to a 16 to 3 mercy-ruled victory at McInnish Park.
Mike Sopocy picked up the victory with 4 innings of work, allowing just 2 earned off 4 hits, while walking one and striking out 3. Earl German picked up and inning of work before the shortened game was completed, looking sharp as he allowed just a single hit and struck out one batter.
James Hardt finished a perfect 3-for-3 on the day while adding a run scored and both Kevin Simmons and Dee Mauldin finished with triples on the day. Simmons finished 2-for-2 and added walk, 2 runs scored, and 2 runs batted in while Mauldin added a run scored and 2 runs batted in. Vince Parello added a double, 2 runs scored, and 2 runs batted in, while Shawn Hunt added a 2-for-2 day that included a walk and a pair of runs batted in as well. Every Spirits hitter finished by hitting safely at least once.
The offense took off quickly despite a 2 to 0 deficit heading into the bottom half of the first inning. The ghosts put up 5 runs in the first and second innings, and then added 4 more in the third and 2 in the second.
Shawn Lee singled with two out in the first and the team’s offense kicked in for a 5-run rally with two outs. Lee swiped second base and then scored after Simmons tripled to the left centerfield gap to cut the lead to 2 to 1. Kent Fischer singled home Simmons and Mauldin’s triple scored Fischer before Sopocy was able to reach following an error by the Yankees shortstop that allowed Simmons to score. Hardt singled Sopocy to second base and the Yankees turned to their skipper, Tony Sanchez to pitch. Hunt welcomed Sanchez to the game with an RBI single to make it 5 to 2, Spirits before German grounded out to close out the first inning.
Sopocy set the Yankees in order in the third and the Spirits capitalized with another 5 runs after Parello reached on an error to lead things off. Parello swiped second base before Stacy Scott flew out. Eric Reifschneider walked before Chris Allen lost a battle of strikes and like the inning before, the Spirits went on to score 5 runs with two outs at Kirk Sipila hit an RBI single to score Parello to begin the scoring. Sipila stole second base and Lee was able to reach on an error that allowed both Reifschneider and Sipila to score. Lee again stole second base and then scored after Simmons hit a single to pick up his second hit on the day. Fischer followed with another single and Mauldin made it three straight with an RBI single that scored Simmons before Sopocy was called out on a strike outside the zone.
The Yankees picked up a run in the third but the Spirits offense answered with 4 more runs after Hardt led off the third with a single and moved to second when Hunt drew a walk. German squeezed Hunt at second and moved Hardt to third after reaching on a fielder’s choice and Parello’s double was good to plate both runners. Scott followed with a single to push Parello to third and after Scott swiped second base, a balk call on Sanchez allowed Parello home. Scott later scored on an RBI single by Reifschneider to make it 14 to 3, Spirits before Sipila lost a battle of strikes and Lee forced out Reifschneider at third with a ground ball to tend the inning.
The ghosts added two more in the fourth when Simmons led off with a walk and was replaced with Fischer after he reached on an error just after Simmons was caught stealing. Sopocy singled home Fischer and swiped second base before Hardt added his third hit on the day with a single to put runners on the corners. Hunt then singled home Sopocy before German earned a single but Parello grounded out to end the inning.
Gonzalo Morales singled to lead off the Yankees fifth but the Spirits were able to turn two on Manuel Salas before German struck out Sanchez to end the game due to the league’s 10-run mercy rule.
“Great job today by the offense,” Lee mentioned after the game. “They were shorthanded today, so it could have been a different outcome but we needed that after our last two games. Offense wasn’t clicking and when we do click, we are a hard team to beat. Much better than last Saturday. I’ll take 19 hits in 4 innings any day.”
The SPirits return to action next Saturday when they visit the Strangers starting at 9:00AM McInnish Park, Field #11. Fans can click here for schedule details or to download the iScore Central app to listen to the game live online.
Five Star Ford Players of the Game
Kevin Simmons (2-2, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB)
James Hardt, (3-3, R)
Dee Mauldin (2-3, 3B, R, 2 RBI)