Hooks Edge Crown

Will’s Sandy Plains Hooks edged the Crown Knights 5-4 Tuesday night, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the last inning. The game was witnessed by a large crowd of adoring fans, most whom came to keep Jordan Shetler company.

...After Charlie W walked the Brady Walsh to lead off the bottom of the 7^th, Crown’s ace Michael Maiocco was brought in to pitch. Michael Lattizori singled through the hole into left field, then Ryan Tamucci’s perfect bunt down the third base line loaded the bases, with no out.

...With the infield in, Kyle Korzonowski stepped in and grounded right to the second baseman. The ball went right in his glove, but immediately popped out…right into his throwing hand. He fired home to catcher Patrick Donovan. The throw arrived just as Brady slid in. It was going to be a close play.

...Earlier, the game began with a scoreless top of the first. Will led off the bottom of the first with a walk. He stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on Parker’s single.

...The Hooks’ starting pitcher, Michael Fowke, struck out five batters in two innings. Crown took the lead in the second, on three walks and a grounder through the hole into right field.

...Tamucci tripled in the bottom of the second, and scored the tying run on Kyle’s single to right.

...The crowd grew as the game went on. The entire Shetler family held court at the picnic table. Jordan talked Holt into coming, so Maryalice tagged along. All the Vollenveiders came to see Charlie make several nice scoops at first base. Lucy and Lynn Bailey saw my 7:30 Facebook post. Even Ceil came.

...Patrick Donovan pitched the first three innings for Crown, leaving with the game tied. He caught the last four innings. Nathan Shetler cheered from the dugout, still out with a hurt ankle.

...Will came on to pitch the third. He was pumped, pitching against his former team. He hadn’t pitched in two months, and he was exhausted from a busy Monday:

1. Running a 10K in 40 minutes.

2. Cutting, weeding, and blowing a neighbor’s large yard.

3. Playing two-on-two basketball.

4. Playing two sets of tennis.

...He struck out five in three innings, but two fourth-inning grounders found holes, and a walk and fielder’s choice later, Crown had scored two runs.

...The Hooks got one back in the bottom of the fourth. Nick Jordan doubled to right. Centerfielder Maiocco dove, but couldn’t catch it in the air. Nick advanced to third on Lattizori’s single loaded the bases. Tamucci’s line drive was speared by the Crown shortstop, who then fired to second to double off Brady. But the throw was high, allowing Nick to score.

...Will tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Leading off, he smashed a one-hopper that knocked the shortstop down. Parker sacrificed him to second, and Mitch’s fly ball was deep enough for Will to tag and take third. Wes Smith’s double to left drove him in.

...Mitch pitched two scoreless innings for the Hooks. Like Fowke and Will, he struck out five.

...This brings us back to the climatic seventh. The throw arrived just as Brady slid. Patrick went to catch the ball, then lower his mitt to apply the tag. But he couldn’t hold on to the ball, and Brady was safe (I’m pretty sure his foot hit the plate before the tag could’ve been applied, though it was a close, exciting play). Hooks win!