(September 15, 2025 – Dallas, TX) The Dallas Spirits (45+) fall squad was back in action last night as they visited the Knights in a fall ball matchup at Reverchon Park. After a long awaited return to the historical ballpark, the ghosts utilized hits from new faces and saw some consistency throughout the lineup as they traded 17 hits in for 11 runs to win by the score of 11 to 5.
Newcomer Matt Crowell finished with 3 hits on the night, scored twice, and swiped a bag while lead off hitter, Cliff Brade finished 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base as well. Eric McPherson added a pair of hits and 2 runs scored and 2 batted in, while Shawn Lee returned to the lineup still fighting through a foot injury and added 2 hits, a walk, 2 runs scored, 2 runs batted in, and a stolen bag as well. Dee Mauldin highlighted the box score with 3 hits on the night, adding 3 runs scored and a pair of runs batted in.
Mike Sopocy picked up the victory on the hill, tossing a shortened complete game with 5 innings of work, allowing 3 earned off 5 hits, while walking one, and striking out 3. Sopocy also finished the night with a single, 2 runs batted in, and a walk.
The ghosts took an early 2 to 0 lead in the top half of the first when Brade led off the game with a single. Brade swiped second base and held in place after McPherson popped out to the infield. Mauldin’s single scored Brade and Lee followed with a walk. Shawn Hunt singled home Mauldin and a walk to Sopocy filled the bags before Kevin Simmons flew out. Lee tagged on the play, however, McPherson, who had been running for Sopocy, took off for third thinking the ball was going to fall and consequently was forced out at second on the relay to end the inning.
The Spirits held a 2 to 0 lead until the bottom half of the second when the Knights tied things up. Scott McCain and Cuauhtemoc Zubillaga both singled and after Sopocy struck out Michael Kubick, Jesus Marquez singled to left to load the bags. Sopocy picked up another big strikeout after setting down Michael Miller, but a balk call on Sopocy gave McCain home. Lorenzo McEwen then hit to the right side and the Spirits attempted to turn two but weren’t able to get the Knights speedy centerfielder at first which allowed Zubillaga to score before Marquez was tagged out trying to reach third.
The Spirits rallied for a pair in the third after Mauldin and Lee both singled to lead off the inning. Hunt reached on a fielding error to load them and after Sopocy reached on a fielder’s choice that put out Hunt at second, Mauldin scored to break the tie. Simmons flew out but a single by Vinny Diciero scored Lee. Jonathan Duran drew a walk to load the bases again but Tim Trout, the Knights starting pitcher, was able to get Stacy Scott to ground out to escape any additional scoring.
The Knights added a run in the bottom frame but after that it was all Spirits. Crowell singled to start off the top of the fourth and after Brade flew out, Crowell swiped second and McPherson singled. Mauldin followed with an RBI single to send Crowell home and Lee’s single to left centerfield scored both McPherson and Mauldin. Lee stole second and later scored on an RBI single by Sopocy, and after Sopocy took second base, Simmons wa shit by a pitch. Trout was able to get Diciero to ground out to stave off any additional scoring but the Spirits held an 8 to 3 advantage heading into the fifth.
After getting the Knights to go 1-2-3, the Spirits offense picked up where it had left off despite a lead off ground out by Duran and a line out by Scott to Knights reliever, Matthew Lawley. Both Crowley and Brade singled and following a wild pitch, both runners were able to advance a base. That set the stage for a greatly timed single by McPherson to score both runners. McPherson stole second base and then later scored when Mauldin reached on an error. Lee flew out to left to end the inning with the Spirits up by a score of 11 to 3.
The Knights added a pair of runs late but the Spirits were able to hang onto the 11 to 5 victory prior to the league’s 2-hour time limit ending the game.
“Great job tonight despite being a little short handed on the offensive side of things,” Lee mentioned after the game. “(Matthew) Crowell played great in his first game with us and a few of the bats were looking good. I still have some work on my foot before I’ll be back to 100 percent, but with options for runners we’ll be just fine. Another great night to be at Reverchon.”
The team returns to action next Monday night when they return to Cowboy Field in Coppell to visit the Rough Riders. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00PM and fans can click here to see schedule details or to download the iScore Central app to listen to the game live online.
Ranger Fire Players of the Game
Dee Mauldin (3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI)
Eric McPherson (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB)
Shawn Lee (2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB)