(September 16, 2016 – Dallas, TX) The Dallas Spirits (35+) saw it’s top seed status fall last Thursday night against the Dallas Orioles. DJ Carrasco was the difference allowing the Orioles to walk away with a win and to advance in the NTABL Veterans League Playoffs. The setback doesn’t end the Spirits season, however they must now compete in elimination games the rest of the way, starting with the Brewers next Tuesday night at Graham Field located at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Carrollton.
Carrasco was lights out from the mound but his bat proved to the difference in the score. Carrasco went the distance striking out 13 Spirits while allowing only 4 hits and 1 run to score as the Orioles walked away with a 3 to 1 victory. DJ was also big in the very first inning taking a hanging curveball over the right-center field wall for a 2-run homerun that proved to be the difference in the game offensively.
Spirits pitcher, Craig Molldrem was also solid but the one pitch mistake seemed to cost him as his team wasn’t able to provide the needed offense to carry him to a victory. Molldrem also went he distance striking out 7 Orioles, giving up just 4 hits. Only one of the three runs was earned due to errors by Spirits fielding.
“Craig did enough to get it done tonight,” mentioned team manager Shawn Lee following the playoff. “We let him down offensively, and defensively. I had a few plays I should have made at first base, but in a game like this one where you’re seeing two former MLB players go at it, you have to be perfect. Hat’s off to DJ. We’ve seen him before and were fortunate to win earlier this season, but his stuff was ridiculous tonight. He had complete control of his pitches.”
Lee as well as Molldrem provided two of the four hits off of Carrasco, but it was David Dillon who was solely responsible for the Spirits scoring. Dillon doubled off of DJ in the third and later scored on a dropped third strike throw to first base. Dillon was robbed of a second extra base hit later in the game on a great play by the Orioles center fielder. Eric McPherson provided the fourth and final hit of the evening.
“Well learn from this,” continued Lee. “That’s a great team we faced tonight. We’ve been successful against them earlier this season and we know now it’s going to take our best. We look forward to earning another opportunity against them. They’re a great ball club.”
The Spirits host the Brewers Tuesday night at 6:30PM.
Waxahachie Autoplex Players of the Game
#28 David Dillon (1-3, 2B, R)
#34 Craig Molldrem (7 IP, 7 K, 1 ER, 1-3)