Simmons and Scott Shut Down Laguneros

(September 27, 2025 – Carrollton, TX) Solid pitching by Kevin Simmons and Stacy Scott shut down the Laguneros on Saturday, allowing the Spirits (50+) fall squad to finish the job. The team utilized a 3-run first and a 6-run third to cruise to a 12 to 2 mercy-ruled victory at McInnish Park on Field #10.

Kent Fischer doubled and knocked in 3 runs while Dee Mauldin added a triple and 2 hits alongside 2 runs scored. Shawn Lee, Kirk Sipila, and Brian Kellner each finished with a pair of hits, a pair of runs scored, and an RBI, while both Mike Sopocy and David Tipton also finished with a pair of hits. Sopocy also scored once and Tipton added a pair of runs batted in while Vince Parello added a hit, run scored, and a pair of runs knocked in to cap off the Spirits box score.

Mauldin singled with one down in the first and later stole second before Sipila walked. Lee singled home Mauldin for the early 1 to 0 lead and after Kellner reached on a fielder’s choice, Fischer followed with a double that allowed both Sipila and Lee to score. Sopocy then reached on a fielder’s choice that saw Kellner tagged out at home before Ben Northcutt lost a battle of strikes to end the frame with the Spirits up, 3 to 0.

The ghosts added a run in the second to go up 4 to 0 after Parello drew a one-out walk and then went on to steal second base. Tipton followed with a single to score him before the Laguneros eventually got out of the inning.

A 6-run third saw the life slowly disappearing from the Laguneros as the Spirits offense kicked into full gear. Sipila and Lee started with singles and an RBI single by Kellner scored Sipila. Fischer flew out to left which allowed Lee home on the sacrifice fly and Sopocy kept things moving with a single. Northcutt followed with another single to load the bags and a walk to Simmons gave him the easy RBI when Kellner crossed the plate. Parello’s single was good to score both Sopocy and Northcutt before Tipton followed with another RBI single to score Simmons to make it 10 to 0, Spirits.

The Laguneros finally scored in arun in the bottom half of the third when Andres Contreras singled with one out. Cecilio Acosta reached on a fielder’s choice after seeing Contreras squeezed at second base but Sergio Olvera kept the inning alive with a single. Carlos Pena eventually singled home Acosta before Luis Ruiz flew out to end the inning.

Simmons finished off the first three innings allowing just one earned on 4 hits while walking 4, and striking out 2. The ghosts added a pair of runs in the top half of the fourth after Mauldin led things off with a triple and then scored on an RBI single by Sipila. Lee flew out to center but Kellern followed with another single. Sipila was squeezed at third when Fischer reached on a fielder’s choice but Sopocy reloaded the bags with a single. Northcutt was then hit by a pitch for the painful RBI before Simmons flew out to end the frame with the Spirits up by a score of 12 to 1.

The Laguners added another run in the bottom half of the fourth after Scott replaced Simmons on the hill. The Spirits didn’t go quietly in the fifth after loading the bases but the Laguneros were able to spin a double-play to stave off any additional scoring before Scott set them down in order to end the game due to the league’s 10-run mercy rule.

“Great outing today in all aspects,” Lee mentioned after the game. “Stacy (Scott) caught for (Kevin) Simmons and then the two traded places to close out the game, so great job by our battery to take care of us defensively today. Offense was fluid throughout the order and everyone reached safely at least once with only one player not getting a hit. That’s pretty good stuff. They beat us once during the Spring season, so it was nice to express a little dominance after sending them home in the playoffs and then revisiting them for some fall baseball.”

The team returns to action next Saturday when they visit the Cubs at McInnish Park, Field #11 starting at 9:00AM. Fans can click here for schedule details.

Game Box Score