(September 8, 2025 – Dallas, TX) A 4 to 0 lead heading into the bottom half of the fourth inning quickly turned into an avalanche of offense as the Spirits (45+) squad rolled past the Hurricanes with a 15-run scoring frenzy and cruised to a 20 to 3 victory.
Several Spirits hitters finished the night with multiple hits including Shawn Hunt and Jonathan Duran. Both doubled on the night with Duran adding a pair of runs scored and 3 runs batted in while Hunt added a run scored and a pair of runs knocked in as well. Eric McPherson, Travis Hitzeman, Vinny Diciero, and Dee Mauldin each added a pair of hits on the night alongside 2 runs batted in as every Spirits hitter reached safely at least once with only 3 players in the lineup failing to get a hit.
Duran aided his own cause by picking up the win, tossing 3 innings and allowing no runs or walks while allowing 3 scattered hits and 3 strikeouts. Diciero closed the affair, pitching the final innings while allowing 3 runs off 2 hits while walking 4 and striking out 3.
Up 4 to 0 in the bottom half of the fourth, Diciero led off the inning with a walk. Stacy Scott lost a battle of strikes but Duran singled and McPherson walked to load the bags. Mauldin was hit by a pitch to earn the painful RBI and a walk to Cliff Brade scored Duran. The Hurricanes turned to Eric Reifschneider to replace starter, Jim Crombie, and Hitzeman followed by reaching on an error good enough to score McPherson. Another Hurricanes fielding blunder allowed Mike Sopocy to reach safely while Mauldin crossed the dish, and back-to-back singles by Kevin Simmons and Hunt allowed both Brade and Hitzeman across the plate. Earl German reached on another Hurricanes error that scored Sopocy and a single by Diciero in his second trip to the plate during the frame allowed both Simmons and Hunt to score. Scott followed with a single and Duran’s double scored both German and Diciero. McPherson followed with another single to score Scott and Mauldin reflected the play with another single to score Duran. Brade reached on an error that saw Mauldin get squeezed at second and another single by Hitzeman scored McPherson. Sopocy reached again on another Hurricanes error good to score Brade before Simmons flew out to end the painful inning for the Hurricanes defense.
Reifschneider singled in the top half of the fifth before Diciero walked the bases loaded and Joel Galloway scored Reifschneider with a sacrifice fly ball. Dicero then walked in the next two runs before striking out Craig Holmes and Adam Althouse to end the game due to the league’s 10-run mercy rule.
The Spirits return to action next Monday night when they visit the Knights at Reverchon Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00PM and fans can click here for schedule details.
Ranger Fire Players of the Game
Jonathan Duran (2-3, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB; 3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 3 K)
Vinny Diciero (2-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB; 2 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 3 K)
Eric McPherson (2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB)