(July 14, 2025 – Coppell, TX) Newcomer, Vincent Diciero is finding his groove as a pitcher. After 20 plus years away from the game, he’s getting more comfortable and opposing teams are finding out. Matthew Lawley picked up the only single off the hard-throwing right-hander on Monday night and that came in the top half of the fourth inning to break up Diciero’s no-hit bid as the Spirits (45+) squad picked up an 11 to 1 shortened game victory over the Knights at Cowboy Field.
Jonathan Duran picked up the final inning of work, allowing just a single and the Knights only run. Duran finished with on inning of closeout work, allowing one unearned run off of just one hit, while walking one and striking out another. Duran, typically the Spirits starter, applied his ability on the offensive side of the dish, adding a 3-run triple on a pair of hits while also scoring once. Diciero finished with 4 innings of work, allowing in single while walking and striking out 4. Diciero also walked and scored once.
Dee Mauldin added a pair of hits while Daile Baird added 2 of his own including 3 runs scored, a stolen base, and an RBI. Cliff Brade finished with a double, run scored, and 3 runs batted in, while Mike Sopocy also added a single, walk, pair of runs scored, and an RBI. Shawn Hunt also finished with 2 hits, a run scored, and an RBI.
Both teams went in order in the first despite a single by Mauldin. Mauldin was later caught stealing before Kevin Simmons lost a battle of strikes to Knights pitcher, Tim Trout. In the second inning, the Spirits unloaded for a 6-pack of runs after Kent Fischer started the inning with a single. Baird reached on a fielder’s choice that squeezed Fischer at second base and after swiping second a few pitches later, Baird then scored on a single by Sopocy.
Sopocy took second base and the he was able to score on an RBI single by Hunt. David Tipton drew a walk and Diciero followed him with another walk and Duran’s triple cleared the bags to make it 5 to 0, Spirits. Duran later scored on a wild pitch after Eric McPherson drew a walk. Mauldin followed with a single and Simmons was able to reach on an error but the Knights were able to put out Fischer via a ground ball to leave the inning down six.
Scott McCain was able to reach for the Knights in the third after Diciero struck out Michael Miller and a pair of walks gave the Knights some hope, however, the Spirits defense was able to turn two to close the inning and to keep the shutout intact.
Baird was able to score in the bottom half of the inning to make it 7 to 0, Spirits before the team broke out with 4 more runs in the bottom half of the fifth. Mauldin reached on an error and was replaced by Simmons following a fielder’s choice. Fischer repeated the task to replace Simmons and with two outs, the offense stayed alive and well with Baird adding an RBI single to score Fischer after he advanced to second on a passed ball. Sopocy drew a walk and a follow up double by Brade scored both runners to keep the inning rolling. With the league’s two-hour time limit coming into effect, the Knights tried to get off the field, however, Hunt kept things moving with a single to put runners on the corners. Tipton drew another base-on-balls to load the bags and Brade later scored on a passed ball to make it 11 to 0, Spirits, and the game was called due to time.
The victory secures the number one seed for the Spirits as they head into the double-elimination tournament starting next Monday night when they play host to the fourth-seeded Reds. Game time is scheduled for 8:45PM at Cowboy Field and fans can click here for schedule details.
Five Star Ford Players of the Game
Dale Baird (2-3, 3 R, RBI, SB)
Jonathan Duran (2-2, 3B, R, 3 RBI; 1 IP, BB, K)
Cliff Brade (1-3, 2B, R, 3 RBI)