May
8

Losses Piling Up for Struggling Spirits (50+)

(May 7, 2022 – Irving, TX) Maybe it’s playing games in Irving. Seems like a likely answer. Old. Desperate. Sometimes nice. It’s certainly in sync with Spirits (50+) baseball this season. The squad dropped to an even .500 , falling to 4-4 overall as they fell for the second consecutive week on Saturday, this time to their friendly foe, the Diabolos.

It’s no secret a number of players left the Diablos to rejoin the Spirits as they put together their first 50 plus team to debut in DFW-ABA 50 League for 2022. It was obvious that keeping the Spirits in the top league rather than having them play in the lower division was supposed to be the right choice. And for any little blood that may have shaken egos between the squads that should have shown up in competitive play was all dismissed as the ghosts once again blew an early lead and fell is slow and certain fashion. The ghosts held a 5 to 0 lead early and could just sit back and watch as it dismantled into ta 12 to 6 loss.

Spirits starter, John Holmquist was solid through 4 innings of work. After existing in the fourth with two outs, Holmquist had allowed just 4 earned on 6 hits, walking 3, and striking out 2 before succumbing to a bit of fatigue in the Saturday heat. His mix of pitches left Diablos hitters off balance and for whatever reason, after the ghosts turned to hard-throwing, Stacy Scott, the Diablos basts seemed to come alive as they rallied for another 7 runs to cruise to a win.

Chris Allen, Eric McPherson, Vince Parello, and Scott all finished with 2 hits on the day with Parello adding a double. The 2-for-2 finish for Scott makes him 6 of his last 6 at the dish on Saturdays, but the offense wasn’t enough and again failed to take advantage of runners on base, leaving 11 stranded for the second straight game. Despite a quick 5 to 0 lead, the team only mustered up an additional run before watching the Diablos score 12 straight.

In the first, McPherson singled with one out and moved to second after Kirk Sipila was hit by pitch. Mike Sopocy flew out but Jack Nash singled to load the bags. Brian Hackney was able to then reach on an error that allowed both McPherson and Sipila to score before John Hefner flew out to end the inning.

The Spirits picked up where they left off in the second, adding 3 more runs after Parello doubled and Scott singled to move him to third.  Back-to-back singles by Holmquist and Allen scored Parello and then loaded the bases for McPherson, who was able to reach on a fielder’s choice that squeezed Allen and allowed Scott to score. An RBI single by Sipila scored Holmquist to give the Spirits a 5 to 0 lead, before Sopocy flew out and Nash grounded out to close the inning.

The Spirits added a sixth run in the third and it seemed the team was rolling despite giving up an unearned run in the third, and headed to the fourth inning with a 6 to 1 lead. The Diablos cut the lead down to, 6 to 2 in the fourth and as the game headed into the fifth, it appeared the team was still in control before heat and fatigue started to settle in on Holmquist. The Diablos scratched back to cut the lead to 6 to 5 before Sipila turned to Scott to slow down the Diabolos bats.

That stoppage didn’t last long. After the Spirits loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, the failed to score a run and aided in the fast-growing momentum showing up in the Diablos. The devils then exploded for 7 runs to cruise to a 12 to 6 victory as the Spirits went in order in the seventh.

The Spirits now settle in with a 4-4 record, tied for last in the AA division of DFW-ABA 50 League baseball. The squad will once again be tested as they return to face the White Sox next Saturday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 9:00AM at McInnish Park #10 in Carrollton. Click here for schedule details and be sure to download the iScore Central app to listen in online.

Game Box Score

MacArthur 121 Tire & Service Players of the Game

Vince Parello (2-4, 2B, R)

Eric McPherson (2-4, R, RBI, SB)

Kirk Sipila (1-2, R, RBI, BB)