DIAMONDS 11 RACERS 6
Majors Racers aces Lea Nordberg and Quinn Ericksen threw well, but could not hold off the resurgent Diamonds in the first round of the playoffs. The Racers’ Keri Dudley singled and scored a run while Maddie Sprague walked and scored and played a solid first base. Both Mikelle and Natalie Ackerley scored runs. Katie Gao singled twice and scored. For the Diamonds, Julie Feikes (no hits, two K’s) and Kayla Estes (six K’s) commanded the circle, and got their crew back on track. Catie Muir played spectacular first base, digging out two poor throws, and clubbing a bases loaded double, Erin Norton scored three runs and Andie Mitchell had two hard singles, while Rosalie Pisano singled and scored a run.
DIAMONDS 3 ICE 0
In what was the best played game in Majors this year, the Diamonds held off the Ice in a playoff game marked by strong pitching and sterling defense. The Ice trio of Caitlin McGuire, Deahnna King and Corey Wilson, notched six strikeouts while allowing only five hits. However, the Diamonds duo of Kayla Estes and Julie Feikes combined for a no hitter, striking out nine while allowing only three runners to reach third base. Abby Palmer made two difficult plays on foul pops and scored a run, while Alyssa Estes made a nice catch at second base.
DODGERS 14 RED SOX 8
Cameron Mikami pitched most of the game for the Dodgers and got on base each time at bat. Max Thomas, Carter Daniels, and Joaquin Gurza all had hits early allowing the Dodgers to take a seven run lead in the second inning. Red Sox pitchers John Caine, Lucas Weyand, and Ben Lewis kept the game close. Ben Lewis, Lucas Weyand, Eric White, and Mitch Hobbs all contributed to a tough Red Sox offense.
PIRATES 6 ATHLETICS 2
Rhain Zipeto reached base three times, Jack Kramer’s two-run run homer broke up a 1-1 tie and strong pitching by Sam Alpaugh and Sam Warkentin led the AAA Pirates to a victory over the A’s.
CUBS 10 CARDINALS 7
The Cardinals came out swinging and jumped to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning in a AAA playoff game. The Cubs, down but not out, turned to Myron Butler who pitched a gem of a game, allowing just two hits and no runs over the next four innings. Butler’s fine pitching performance and several key hits for the Cubs, including a home run by Thomas Crowley, allowed the Cubs to claw their way back and eventually win the game 10-7.
YANKEES 14 CUBS 7
A howling windstorm at Upper Rotary greeted the AAA Cubs vs. Yankees in a playoff, semi-final showdown. Searing fastballs from the Cubs Brock Jennings and Thomas Crowley, as well as Cameron Daniels behind the plate for the entire six innings, held the Yankees in check until late in the game.
The Yankees threw Cole Smith until ace Warren King shut the door on the Cubs season, allowing only three hits in the final four innings. Yankee bats produced seven runs in the last three innings.
DODGERS 11 PIRATES 7
On a blustery night at Hidden Cove, Max Thomas of the AAA Dodgers went three innings keeping the Pirates at just three hits. Nathaniel Opalski closed and also tripled for the Dodgers. Strong pitching by Sam Alpaugh, Sam Warkentin, and Grayson Woolever of the Pirates; and fearless base steeling by Jack Kramer kept the game close for a full six innings of play. Parker Isenman doubled for the Dodgers, and Reilly Thomas stole home; starting a rally of four runs in the fourth inning.
BAINBRIDGE 3 CHAFFEY 2
The Bainbridge 13U’s of the Sandy Koufax League hosted the Chaffey Baseball Club of Seattle Sunday. In a pitcher’s duel, the game was knotted at one in the bottom of the sixh when Jake Shimmin delivered a single to right, scoring the go-ahead run. Chaffey responded with a solo home run to center to tie it. With two out in the bottom half of the frame, Michael Crowley doubled down the left field line. Nick Bierly then stepped to the plate and delivered the game winner; a sharp single up the middle, easily scoring Crowley from 2nd.
Bainbridge pitcher Sam Kallas went the distance, going 7 innings while allowing 3 hits, issuing no walks, and striking out 8.
