(July 12, 2024 – Carrollton, TX) Make it two close games in a row, folks. After holding off the Killer Bees in game one of the best-of-three series to advance to the DFW-ABA 40 League Pool B Championship series, the Spirits (40+) squad needed a come-from-behind inning to win and advance to next week’s series against the Brewers.
Trailing 4 to 1 late in the game, the Spirits used a 4-run fifth inning to gain and then hold onto a 5 to 4 victory over the Bees. Todd Murrah finished the game 3-for-3 and accounted for half of the Spirits 6 hits in the game, and proved to be a vital part in the team’s victory knocking in the game-winning run. Eric Goetz doubled, scored, walked, knocked in a run, and swiped a bag to also play a vital role in the team’s comeback. Starting pitcher, Ryan Marsland allowed only 2 of the 4 runs for the Bees, giving up 6 scattered hits while striking out 6 but walking 5. Mike Sopocy closed out the game to pick up the save adding a strikeout and a pair of flyouts to stave off any rally ideas but the stinging bunch.
In a game that was as slow as molasses for the team’s offense, the team fell behind in the bottom half of the second after the Bees picked up a pair of runs following David Diaz reaching on a Spirits fielding error to start the frame. Diaz swiped second base before Charles Carr struck out, and he later took third before Tim Adams drew a walk off of Marsland. Diaz was then able to score and Adams followed him home following a throwing error on a pick-off attempt by Marsland that took off down the right field line. He subsequently struck out Brad Raaum and was able to get Nazario Armenta to fly out to settle the rally.
The Spirits then cut the score to 2 to 1 after Cliff Brade was hit by a pitch and then took third on a failed pickoff attempt by Bees pitcher, Marcus Lewis. Marsland’s RBI single score Brade to cut the lead before Goetz reached on a Bees fielding error. The Spirits were unable to plate the speedy Goetz after both he and Marsland advanced on a flyout from Shawn Hunt. With both runners in scoring position, Shawn Lee lost a battle of strikes swinging to close out the top half of the third.
The Bees tacked on their third run after Lewis drew a leadoff walk and then later stole second base after Steve Trocchio went down swinging. Michael Scott grounded out but an RBI single by Samuel Vives scored Lewis to make it 3 to 1. The inning wasn’t short of drama as the next two Bees hitters both drew walks before Marsland refocused and was able to strike out Adams.
The Bees made it 4 to 1 following another quiet Spirits offensive fourth when Raaum reached on a one-out double. Armenta followed with a double to plate Raaum and later advanced to third on a single by Lewis, but Marsland was able to get Trocchio to fly out and forced Scott to ground out to close out the fourth.
The Spirits then found their rally point in the top half of the fifth which was more like a light switch considering the team essentially appearing to be all but dead. Brade starting off things by reaching on an error and then advanced to second on the same play. Brade later stole third base band then scored on a wild pitch after Eric McPherson patiently drew a walk. Marsland flew out and after McPherson stole second base and later moved to third on a wild pitch, he later scored on Goetz’s RBI double to the outfield gap. The Bees turned to Diaz to replace Lewis in hopes of slowing the rally with the score now 4 to 3, but Hunt welcomed him to the game by drawing a walk. Goetz went on to steal third and then scored to tie the game on an error by Diaz before Lee struck out again, and after Hunt went on to steal third after moving over on the previous error, Murrah played hero with the RBI single to score him to give the Spirits a one run lead. Sopocy was able to draw a walk to keep the inning alive but Diaz was able to get Stacy Scott to ground out to stave off any additional scoring.
In the bottom half of the fifth with no time remaining on the league’s two-hour game time limit, Sopocy came in and was able to strike out Vives before getting Diaz and Carr to fly out to end the game and seal the Spirits victory.
“Tough one tonight,” Lee mentioned afterwards. “Our offense was quiet tonight and some of us, namely myself, failed to even show up. Hats off to (Tood) Murrah for a big hit there late in the game. We didn’t show much on the offensive side of things tonight and our energy levels were low, but we found a way to take advantage of opportunities and sometimes you need that and just walk away with a W. Credit to the Bees for a great series and we look forward to getting it done against the Brewers next week in the Pool B Championship.
The team will host the Brewers next Tuesday night in a double-header at McInnish Park, Field #10 with an if necessary game scheduled on Wednesday. Winner of that series takes home the Pool B Championship. Fans can click here for game one details and click here for game two details.
Central Roofing and Restoration Players of the Game
Todd Murrah (3-3, RBI, SB)