14U Elite World Series – Day 5 Coverage

Whereas walks are a coach’s nightmare, double plays are a pitcher’s best friend. That was the theme for both teams throughout the game. In the first two innings D-Bats pitcher and TBS Players to Watch List, Dallas Alderton, and the Mustang Coaching Staff experienced both the walks and the double plays.  In the first inning Dallas got himself out of trouble with a ending inning double play after walking two. But in the second, two more walks and timely hitting by Orlando’s Vinny Rosace gave the local boys the early lead, 1-0.

But turn about is fair play and what happens to one team can happen to the other as was evident in the bottom of the second inning. Team Orlando’s starting pitcher, Blum, walked one and hit two more before getting out of the bases loaded jam with a double play ball which was started nicely by shortstop Edwin Bonilla. But prior to the double play the D-Bats had collected three hits (Eric Williams, Anthony Escobar, and Dallas) and three runs to take the lead.

This seem to be the momentum changing play as Team Orlando kept the mojo going into the top of the next inning. Orlando got yet another lead off walk and followed that with two hits to start the inning and eventually plate two more runs to knot the score at three. This theme – lead off walks and timely hitting – continued into the fourth which enabled the visitors to tack on two more and take the lead, 5-3.

Whereas walks were hurting the Mustangs, double plays were cutting any chance of rallying short as Team Orlando added two more double plays. One was a more traditional 5-4-3 with a nice twist by second baseman Anthony Escobar and the other was a fly ball catch and throw’em out as a runner was trying to advance to third.

Team Orlando continued to swing the bat well and took advantage of three hits; another walk and another hit batsman to add two more runs and widens the lead by four, 7-3.

It was at this point the coach for the Mustangs – Blue had seen enough and felt like his team was being “homered” by the umpires in favor of the local Orlando team. As a result, he was ejected from the game and the park. The D-bats – Blue tried to use this to motivate them but could only get two more runs in the last few innings.

For Team Orlando, the MVP was shortstop Edwin Bonilla who made several nice plays in the field and reached base all four times, including three hits. Stalwart Team Orlando player Alexis Rivera reached all four times he came to bat. The Mustangs pitched him carefully as he walked three times and reached the other on a single.  TBS Player to Watch List Billy McKinney and Dallas Alderton had strong showings for the Mustangs – Blue as each reached base three times and had two hits apiece. Another TBS Player to Watch, Camden Cooper, was 1 – 2 and walked two other times.

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