(April 24, 2024 – Euless, TX) After a quick first inning between both teams, the Spirits (40+) offense awoke and stayed hot for the remainder of the game against Los Viejos in DFW-ABA 40 League action Wednesday night at Texas Star.
The Spirits used a 2-run second, 4-run third, and a 3-run fourth to cruise to an eventual 11 to 3 win. Pitcher, Jonathan Duran once again handled duties from the hill, putting in 4 innings of work while allowing just one earned run off of 4 hits while walking one, and striking out 2. Earl German closed out the final two innings, allowing a pair of earned runs on 2 hits while walking and striking out 3.
Kent Fischer remained hot from the dish, adding a pair of hits and a pair of runs scored, while Cliff Brade added two hits as well, walking once, knocking in a pair of runs and swiping a pair of bags. Mike Sopocy walked and scored twice, and German hit safely once, walked, scored 3 times, and knocked in a run.
In the top half of the second, Sopocy led off the inning with a walk and later moved to second followed by third when both German and David Tipton also walked. Los Viejos pitcher, Chris Duty struggled to find the strike zone but his defense helped out after turning a double-play against Stacy Scott, squeezing Tipton at second base. Sopocy scored on the play and German was able to move to third base before Duran singled him home to make it 2 to 0, Spirits. Duran swiped second base and Brade singled, and after later stealing second to put two runners in scoring position, Duty was able to get Eric McPherson to fly out to end the frame.
The Spirits made it 6 to 0 in the third inning after Shawn Lee led off the inning with a single and later stole second. Fischer singled to move Lee to third and after Fischer swiped second to put both runners in scoring position, Duty was able to win a battle of strikes against Sopocy. German was hit by a pitch to load the bases and after Tipton struck out, Scott made the walk hurt by drawing a walk of his own to pick up the easy RBI. Duran followed with an RBI single to score Fischer and a follow up single by Brade scored both German and Scott before McPherson flew out to end the Spirits half of the inning.
Duran and the Spirits defense continued to keep Los Viejos from scoring through the third and the ghosts picked up another 3 runs after Fischer singled with one out. Sopocy drew a walk and after a wild pitch allowed Fischer third, Sopocy stole second and a ground out by German scored Fischer to make it 7 to 0. Tipton drew a walk to put runners at the corners with two down, and an RBI single by Scott scored both Sopocy and Tipton before Druan went down on swings.
Los Viejos added a lone run in the bottom half of the fourth after Jose Morala singled and moved to second on an error by Brade in left field. After Daniel Washington and Gerald Johnson each flew out, Duty drew a walk and a single by Jeremiah Valentine scored Morala before Kyle Kelly grounded out to close the inning.
After the Spirits turned to German in the fifth, Los Viejos put together a small rally to cut the Spirits lead to, 9 to 3. Billy McDaniel, subbing in for Los Viejos picked up a single and moved to second after German walked Bret Baker. Chad McCune flew out after McDaniel stole third base, and German was able to strike out Morala to record the second out. Washington also drew a walk to load the bags and the walks proved to hurt after Johnson singled to score both McDaniel and Baker. German was able to strike out Duty to get out of the inning.
The ghosts followed with another pair of runs in the sixth after German singled with one out and moved to second after Duty tried to pick him and threw the ball away. Tipton drew a walk and Scott reached on an error to load the bases. Duran grounded out but German was able to score on the play and with the runners advancing, Tipton later scored on a passed ball before Brade drew a walk and McPherson flew out to end the Spirits frame.
German was then able to set the final three Los Viejos hitters after walking Valentine to closeout the victory for the Spirits. The team returns to action next Wednesday night when they visit the Mustangs on Legends Field at 8:45PM. Fans can click here for schedule details.
Central Roofing and Restoration Players of the Game
Kent Fischer (2-4, 2 R, SB)
Stacy Scott (1-3, BB, R, 3 RBI)
Jonathan Duran (2-4, 3 RBI, SB; 4 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K)