(June 12, 2024 – Euless, TX) The Spirits (40+) squad used a 5-run first inning and followed with a 4-run sixth inning to pull away from a 5 to 4 lead over the Tigers and eventually with a 9 to 4 win. Jonathan Duran picked up the victory, working 5 innings from the mound while allowing 3 earned runs off of 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 6. Duran also finished 2-for-3 on the night, scoring once, and knocking in a pair of runs.
Stacy Scott finished 3-for-3 with a run scored and Shawn Lee added a double, run scored, 2 runs batted in, a walk, and a stolen base. David Tipton finished 2-for-3 in the night and scored once to top off the Spirits box score.
Eric McPherson drew a one-out walk in the first and later stole second base. McPherson then stole third base and waiting as both Mike Sopocy and Shawn Hunt drew walks to load the bases. Lee followed with a deep fly ball that appeared to possibly clear the left field wall, but fell for a double to score both McPherson and Sopocy to give the Spirits an early 2 to 0 lead. Todd Murrah followed with an RBI single to score Hunt, and after Tigers starting pitcher, Kevin Simmons tried to pick off Murrah at first, Lee broke for and stole home to make it 3 to 0. Scott followed with a single and a ground out by Earl German allowed Murrah to cross the plate before Tipton grounded out.
David Bass reached on a Spirits fielding error in the bottom of the first and the error proved to cost the Spirits after Randall Dick and Kevin McKenna both flew out and Nick Bird was hit by a pitch. Gary Jackson doubled down the right field line to score Bass before Duran was able to strike out Jim Johan to close the first with a 5 to 1 lead.
The game remained quiet with a handful of strikeouts occurring on both sides of the dish before the Tigers rallied for 3 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning after Bird and Jackson singled to start the frame. Johann made it three straight but the Spirits were able to cut off a run after Dee Mauldin grounded to Lee at first and Lee relayed to Hunt at home to cut down Bird at the plate. Greg Potter was able to reach on a fielder’s choice to cut down Mauldin at second, but Jackson was able to score on the play. Potter swiped second base and after Simmons drew a walk to load the bases, Bass singled to score both Johann and Potter to cut the Spirits lead to a run. Duran was able to strike out McKenna to get out of any additional scoring.
The momentum remained on the Tigers side after they set the Spirits in order to start the sixth. After Jackson reached on a one-out error, Duran was able to get Johann to fly out before Mauldin singled to right. With Jackson at second base looking for the potential tie, Duran was able to get Potter to fly out to keep the one run lead in place.
The Spirits then added 4 insurance runs in the sixth that appeared to take the life out of the Tigers team. Scott singled with one out and both German and Tipton followed with singles to load the bases. Duran then added 2 runs with a hard single to center field and a follow up RBI single by Cliff Brade made it 8 to 4, Spirits after Tipton crossed the dish. McPherson flew out and after Brade stole second base, Sopocy reached on an error that allowed Duran to score before Hunt lost a battle of strikes to close out the Spirits half of the inning.
The Spirits then turned to Sopocy to shut the game down and despite walking Simmons to start the inning, he was able to get Bass to ground into a fielder’s choice before getting Dick and McKenna to ground and fly out to end the game.
“(Jonathan) Duran had another great game tonight,” Lee commented afterwards. “He’s been hitting well and he’s usually reliable from the hill, so it was nice to see him playing well on both sides of the diamond. I feel like anyone on our team can bat anywhere in the lineup, but tonight the bottom half of the lineup carried our team. Got to give a shout out to Stacy (Scott), Earl (German), Tip (David Tipton), and Johnny (Duran) for their efforts.”
The team closes out its regular season with an 8-7-1 record and waits for the last week of play to see if there will be a possibility of postseason play. Stay tuned to the Spirits by visiting www.spiritsbaseball.com for more information.
Central Roofing and Restoration Players of the Game
Jonathan Duran (2-3, R, 2 RBI; 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K)
Shawn Lee (1-2, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, SB)
Stacy Scott (3-3, R)