“Pitch by Pitch” the second place 19-5A Memorial Mustang baseball team took on the first place Stratford Spartans and won by one. Taking off in the their first at bat the Mustangs made it clear that this would be no push-over game.

With bats zinging and runners advancing, the Mustangs put up 5 runs in the top of the first. With Stratford pitcher, Matt Evers on the mound, Mark Hicks stepped up to the plate and sent the ball out of the park. Kevin Ahrens followed with a line drive to left field. Cliff Vaughn’s single went right up the middle for another single. It was M.P. Cokinos whose hard hit ball found a gap between third and the short stop to travel all the way to the fence and allow both Ahrens and Vaughn to cross home plate.

Fired up, the Mustangs continued to put men on the bases. A Gregg Laswell suicide squeeze between first and second  allowed two more runners in before the Mustang scoring streak ended in the top the first. 5-0.

It would be the bottom of the fourth before Stratford warmed up to Laswell’s pitching and put runs on the board. To the delight of the crowded stands of fans, spectators, and an overflowing ballpark, Stratford pulled back into the game.

It was a soaring home run hit by Evers that ended the drought for the Spartans and brought momentum to the inning. Two more runs would score and Stratford was right back in this game.

Ultimately it would be the top of the fifth that secured the win for Memorial with a run by Cokinos. Memorial’s defensive play in the bottom of the inning and Laswell pitching put the squeeze on the Spartans for no score. 6-3.

A.J. Daggett took the mound for the Spartans and held the Mustangs for the remainder of the game.

It was however, in the bottom of the sixth that Stratford fought back. Barrett Loux took advantage of the catcher’s bobble and took first base. Catcher Carson Brown sent a homerun sailing over left field to put two more runs on the board. 6-5, no outs, and the ball game was within one.

Laswell remained poised on the mound and threw nothing but heat to strike out the next three batters to shut down the Spartan attack.

Daggett was flawless on the mound. With last to bat, the Spartans were within striking range to take the game.

Ahrens stepped in to close. Walking his first batter, Stratford fans were cheering from all over. With Travis Smith up to bat, the runner was caught off base and thrown out. Undaunted, the Spartans battled for the comeback. Tonight was not to be the night. Memorial had played by their motto, “ Pitch by Pitch.”

These teams will see each other again late in the season for a re-match and with much more at stake as the district play will be winding down. Both teams play again Saturday night 7 p.m. Memorial will host the Spring Woods Tigers while Stratford travels to Lansford to battle against Nimitz.

Game footage and Reel action available for purchase. Contact the Athlete’s Connection for further details. lsinclair@athletesconnection.com. or by phone 713-339-4400.        

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