(March 19, 2022 – Carrollton, TX) Saturday morning baseball was alive and well in Carrollton this past weekend and the sunny day provided smiles and a victory for players taking part in the Spirits (50+) inaugural season in DFW-ABA 50+ League action. The opponent this week came in the form of the Phillies, and Spirits used a fast start to get into the W column for the first time in the early season, evening out their record to 1-1.
The Phillies were the first to get on the board after David Martin reached on a one-out error to give his team a base runner. Bill Lee followed with a single and a free pass to first allowed Frank Philips to load the bags. Each of the runners moved over on a wild pitch delivered from Spirits starter, Earl German, but the damage remained low as German was able to get Stan Seraphine to ground out, and Ron Van Iderstine to strike out.
The Spirits rebounded quickly, adding 3 runs in the bottom half of the inning after Kirk Sipila reached on a one-out double. Shawn Lee went down on swings, but another double, this time by newcomer, Mike Sopocy scored Sipila to make it, 1 to 1. Will Nash followed with one of his 3 hits on the day, adding an RBI single to score Sopocy. An RBI single by Brian Hackney scored Nash, and it was 3 to 1, Spirits. John Hefner drew a walk to keep the inning going, but Stacy Scott flew out to end the inning.
The Spirits added run number 4 in the second after German drew a leadoff walk and swiped second. John Holmquist went down swinging, but Eric McPherson was able to reach on an error that allowed German to cross the dish.
German struggled with his first two hitters in the third, walking Philips for a second time and then beaning Seraphine, but he rebounded by striking out the next three hitters to shut the Phillies down.
Fast forward all the way to the fifth inning in a game that was likely putting fans to sleep. McPherson led things off with a single and stole second. Sipila followed with an RBI single to score McPherson and then went on to steal second. Lee and Sopocy both flew out, but a double by Nash scored Sipila to tack onto the lead before Hackney flew out to end the inning.
Holmquist came in to replace German in the top half of the fifth and held the Phillies quiet until the game’s final inning. After German doubled and scored on an RBI single by Holmquist to end the sixth, the Phillies continued to show signs of life in the top half of the seventh. Martin reached on a Spirits error and Lee was hit by a pitch. Martin was able to move to third after Philips grounded into a 6-4-3 double-play by the Spirits defense, and a follow up single by Seraphine scored Martin to give the game its final score of 7 to 2. Van Iderstine kept the Phillies on life support with a single, but Holmquist was able to strike out Bill Holland to end the game.
The Spirits return to action next Saturday when they host the Rangers on McInnish Park, Field #11. First pitch is slated for 11:45am and you can learn more about the game by clicking here. Don’t forget to download the iScore Central app to watch games live online!
Core Physical Medicine Players of the Game
Kirk Sipila (2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB)
Will Nash (3-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI)
Earl German (2-2, 2 R, BB, 2 SB; 4 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)