Apr
18

Stockpiles of Offense Help Spirits (42+) to Easy Win

(April 17, 2023 – Coppell, TX) The trend of offense continued for the Spirits (42+) squad on Monday night as they used a 4-run first inning and put up an additional 7 runs over the next two innings to sprint to a 12 to 1 victory over the Rattling Dodgers in NTABL Masters (42+) League action at Cowboy Field.

Four Spirits hitters finished with a pair of hits on the evening, including Don Massoud, Ryan Marsland, Sean House, and Will Nash. Massoud and Marsland each doubled, while Nash added a run scored, a pair of RBIs, and was also hit by a pitch. Massound also finished with a run scored and a pair of runs batted in, and David Tipton hit is his first homerun as a Spirit, crushing a solo shot over the left field wall to finish 1-for-2 on the night with a walk, run scored, and an RBI.

In the top half of the first inning, Eric McPherson doubled and Kirk Sipila reached on an error. Massoud singled to load the bases, and Marsland reached on a fielder’s choice that retired Massound at second but allowed McPherson to score. Marsland stole second base and a few pitches later, Sipila crossed the dish following a wild pitch by Dodgers starter, Steve Matthews. Brian Hackney drew a walk and a follow up RBI single by House scored Marsland after the runners had moved following another Matthews wild pitch. Nash kept the inning alive with a single to score Hackney, but Shawn Hunt lost the battle on strikes and Mike Sopocy flew out to stop the early inning onslaught that gave the Spirit a 4 to 0 lead.

David Tipton pays respect to his solo homerun ball in the second inning.

Tipton’s solo homerun in the second made it 5 to 0, Spirits before the squad rallied for another 6 runs in the third inning after Sipila led things off with a walk. Massoud doubled home Sipila and later scored on an RBI single by Marsland. Marsland was picked off the bag on a poor call by the field umpire, but Hackney was able to reach base on a fielder’s choice. House flew out but Nash followed with an RBI single to score Hackney, who had advanced on yet another wild pitch. Hunt kept the inning rolling with a single and Sopocy drew a walk to load the bases. Nash crossed the dish following another wild pitch, and a single by Brant Finchum scored Hunt to make it 10 to 0, Spirits. Tipton and Lester Bedford walked back-to-back, giving Bedford the easy run batted in before McPherson flew out to end the inning with the Spirits up, 11 to nil.

Massound passed the baton to Sipila for the Spirits on defense after pitching the first 3 innings and allowing no runs on 3 hits, while walking none and striking out 3. Siplia fired for the last 3 innings, allowing an unearned run off of 4 hits, while walking none and striking out 5 to help the ghosts seal the deal.

The Rattling Dodgers rallied for a run in the fourth after Nick Bird reached on a one-out error by the Spirits. A single by Joey Galloway pushed Bird to second before Patrick Osage went down on swings. A single by Nathan Reject scored Bird before Sipila shut it down by striking out Kevin Simmons.

The Spirits picked up their final run to give the game its final score after Sipila singled home Bedford, who had walked earlier in the frame. The win moves the Spirits record to 4-1 on the young season, good for second place in the Masters League standings.

The team returns to action when they visit the Knights at Cowboy Field in Coppell next Monday night at 6:30PM. Fans can click here for schedule details or to download the iScore Central app to listen to the game live online.

Game Box Score

Five Star Ford Players of the Game

Don Massoud (2-4, 2B, R, RBI; 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)

Ryan Marsland (2-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, SB)

Kirk Sipila (1-3, 2 R, RBI, BB; 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K)