(July 15, 2024 – Coppell, TX) Things are bigger and better in Texas and when it comes to big, the Spirits (45+) squad went big from the get-go, putting up 5 runs in the first inning and then capping off the game with a 10-run fifth inning to roll past the Knights in NTABL Masters League play on Monday night. The Spirits followed a 2-run deficit in the first to respond with 5 runs and after the Knights took a 6 to 5 lead with a 4-run third inning, the Spirits eventually added a 10-spot in the fifth inning to pull away with a 15 to 6 victory.
Stacy Scott picked up the victory on the mound, allowing 6 earned runs off 11 hits while walking 3 and striking out one. Offensively, the middle of the Spirits lineup was in a giving mood, accounting for 11 of the teams 14 runs batted in. Kent Fischer finished the night 2-for-3 with a double, 3 runs scored, 2 runs batted in, and a walk. Brian Hackney added a 3-for-4 performance, adding 3 singles, 3 runs batted in, and 3 runs scored. Shawn Lee was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, scoring twice and knocking in 3 runs, while Mike Sopocy finished 2-for-4 with a double, and 3 runs batted in.
Every Spirits hitter recorded a minimum of one hit less one player, and each player reached safely at least once. Sean Smith’s one-out single proved helpful after Nick Bird sent on deep over the left field wall in the top half of the first inning to give the Knights a 2 to 0 lead. The Spirits then rallied for 5 runs after Eric McPherson drew a leadoff walk from Knights starter, Matthew Lawley. Ryan Marsland followed with a walk and Fischer made it 1 to 0 with an RBI double to score McPherson. Hackney then singled home Marsland and Fischer scored when Lee reached on an error. Sopocy followed by singling home Hackney, and Lee scored on a sacrifice fly by Shawn Hunt. Sopocy was caught at first base after the Knights relayed the throw back to the infield and despite a double by David Tipton, Lawley and company were able to escape without any further damage after McPherson flew out to record the third out.
The Knights took the lead in the top half of the third inning after Harlen McCaskey drew a leadoff walk from Scott. McCaskey stole second base before Javier Rodriguez bunted him to third. McCaskey eventually scored on a single by Sean Smith and after Bird reached on a ground-rule double, Lawley scored Rodriguez with an RBI single. Both Smith and Bird eventually scored to give the Knights a one run lead moving into the bottom half of the third.
The Spirits went in order and the Knights followed suit in the fourth, and despite adding a runner in the fourth after Scott drew a walk and stole second base, the score remained 6 to 5 after the end of the fifth inning.
From that point, the offensive flood gates opened as the ghosts added 10 runs following back-to-back singles by Fischer and Hackney to start the bottom half of the inning. Lee’s sacrifice fly scored Fischer after he moved to third on Hackney’s single. Hunt drew a walk and after Hackney swiped third base, he later scored on a throwing error by the Knight’s catcher. Scott singled and both runners moved on a double steal before David Tipton drew a walk, and McPherson followed with an RBI single to score Hunt. The Knights then turned to Smith to pitch and Marsland welcomed him to the game with an RBI single that scored Hackney. Fischer then walked with the bases loaded to pick up an easy RBI, and Hackney followed with an RBI single to score both McPherson and Marsland. Hackney took second base and Lee followed with an RBI single to score Fischer before Sopocy doubled home both Hackney and Lee to make it 15 to 6.
Michael Miller doubled to start the top half of the sixth but Scott was able to get Scott Bale, Michael Kubik, and Rodger Battani in order to end the game with the league’s two-hour time limit in play.
The Spirits will return to action next Monday night when they host the Hurricanes at 8:45PM. Fans can click here for schedule details.
Central Roofing and Restoration Players of the Game
Kent Fischer (2-3, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB)
Brian Hackney (3-4, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 SB)
Shawn Lee (1-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, SF)