(May 27, 2025 – Flower Mound, TX) The Spirits (45+) squad used some consistent offense and scored in nearly every inning of the game to cruise to a 14 to 2 win over the Hurricanes this past Tuesday night in a make up game following last Monday’s rainout.
Shawn Lee finished the night with a 4-for-4 performance that included 4 singles, a run scored and a run batted in, and a pair of stolen bags. Kirk Sipila finished with a pair of hits and 3 runs scored while walking once, and Eric McPherson also added a pair of hits and 2 runs scored. Cliff Brade returned to the Spirits lineup, walking 3 times and adding a single, run scored, and a run batted in while also swiping a pair of bags on the night.
Jonathan Duran went the distance, picking up the one-hit complete game victory, allowing 0 earned runs while walking and striking out one. Duran also added a double and an RBI to aid his own cause in the victory.
The Spirits picked up a run in the first on a sacrifice fly from Dale Baird after McPherson drew a leadoff walk, stoke second, and then moved to third on a wild pitch. The Hurricanes countered with a pair of runs in the second to go up 2 to 1 before the Spirits rallied for 3 runs in the third to go up 4 to 2. McPherson singled and Baird was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a double-steal before Sipila singled home McPherson to put runners on the corners. Lee followed with an RBI single to score Baird, and Sipila later scored on a balk by pitcher, Alstofo Parra.
The Spirits went up 5 to 2 after Duran doubled home Shawn Hunt, who had walked in the fourth and then tacked on 7 in the fifth inning after Baird, Sipila, Lee, and Brade each singled. Mike Sopocy drew a walk to score Sipila and Lee later scored on a ground out by Dee Mauldin. Eric Goetz walked and Brade later scored on a passed ball. Sopocy was able to score on a throwing error and Goetz later scored on a wild pitch. Stacy Scott‘s single scored Hunt to make it 12 to 2, Spirits before Duran grounded into a merciful double-play to stop the bleeding.
The Spirits tacked on 2 more in the sixth after McPherson walked, and then Baird replaced in with a fielder’s choice. Sipila walked and Lee singled to load the bags before another walk to Brade scored Baird. Mauldin was later hit by a pitch to score Sipila before the game was called due to the league’s 2-hour time limit.
The Spirits return to action next Monday night when they visit the Knights at the Coppell ISD Baseball Complex. Fans can click here for schedule details.
Five Star Ford Players of the Game
Kirk Sipila (2-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB)
Shawn Lee, (4-4, R, RBI, 2 SB)
Cliff Brade (1-1, R, RBI, 3 BB, 2 SB)