(June 21, 2025 – Carrollton, TX) If the Spirits (50+) were playing poker on Saturday, they went all in with three-of-a-kind — and not just any hand, but a triple-threat flush featuring Shawn Lee, Dee Mauldin, and Kevin Simmons. The “3B Amigos” wreaked havoc atop the lineup, each lacing a triple and combining for 8 hits and 5 RBIs as the Spirits stormed past the Strangers in a convincing 14 to 2 victory.
(Dee Mauldin, Shawn Lee, Kevin Simmons)
After being taught not to talk to strangers as kids, which appeared to lead to a quiet first inning, the bats came to life and the squad decided to finally make some noise starting in the third when Vince Parello sparked a two-out offensive rally with a single. He swiped second base and then advanced to third after a ground out by Stacy Scott. Parello later scored on a clutch two-out base hit from Chris Allen. Lee followed with a single and Allen was able to score on an error by the Strangers shortstop to give the Spirits a 2 to 1 lead. Lee swiped second base and then scored after Mauldin continued the rally with a booming triple to the right centerfield wall. By the time the inning was over, the first of the 3B Amigos had set the table for a day of big swings.
Pitcher, Mike Sopocy was steady on the hill, tossing four innings and allowing just one unearned run on four hits while striking out two. He helped himself at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance, scoring twice and knocking in a run.
The fourth inning was when the Spirits started putting separation between themselves and the Strangers. Sopocy singled to start the frame, stole second, and was then joined by James Hardt, who singled, and Shawn Hunt, who drew a walk. Each of the runners scored following a rocket double to the right centerfield gap by Earl German and the Spirits never looked back.
In the fifth, the 3B Amigos were at it again after Lee led off the inning with a triple to the left centerfield gap. Mauldin followed with an RBI single to score him and after Simmons lost a battle of strikes, Kent Fischer walked to keep the base paths alive and well. Sopocy’s single scored Mauldin, and Fischer later scored on an RBI single from Hunt. Sopocy later scored on an RBI single by Parello to make it 10 to 1, good guys.
German, who entered in relief of Sopocy, kept the Strangers quiet over the final two innings despite a brief threat in the sixth. He struck out two, walked one, and allowed just one earned run to close out the game.
The sixth inning served as the cherry on top after Lee doubled and scored on Mauldin’s third hit of the day. Simmons followed by ripped a triple to drive in Mauldin, and Fischer followed with a base hit to plate Simmons. Sopocy added his third single, and after a series of defensive miscues from the Strangers, the Spirits tacked on the final runs to make it 14 to 2.
German, Parello, and Hunt each added 2-hits to the stat sheet, with German and Mauldin each contributing 3 runs batted in. Scott saw 15 pitches in his final two at-bats, grinding out tough at-bats that helped wear down the opposition.
“It’s hard not to love days like this,” Lee said in his postgame chat. “When you’ve got guys roping balls into the corners and flying around the bases, it just feeds the energy. We were running hard, swinging confident, and the dugout stayed loud all game. That makes for fun baseball.”
He paused with a grin: “And hey — three triples from the three of us fools? The 3B Amigos might just be a thing.”
The team returns to action next Saturday when they play host to the Cubs at McInnish Park, Field #10. First pitch is scheduled for 11:45AM and fans can click here to see schedule details or to download the iScore Central app to listen live online.
Five Star Ford Players of the Game
Dee Mauldin (3-4, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI)
Shawn Lee (3-4, 3B, 2B, 3 R, SB)
Kevin Simmons (2-3, 3B, R, RBI, BB)
Mike Sopocy (3-4, 2 R, RBI; 4 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K)