Southridge Spartans Douse The Doral Firebirds

This barnburner came down to the very last play. Doral was down 4-0 for most of the game but brought it back in the last two innings to a 4-3 ballgame. Though it was a herculean effort, it would not be enough, as Southridge’s defense and pitching held off the Firebirds.

In the second inning Southridge pitcher Chris Sutton got himself into a bases loaded jam with only one out and the top of Doral’s lineup one batter away. After a meeting on the mound with coach Ed Doskow, Sutton promptly picked off the runner at second base and then struck out the batter at the plate, ending Doral’s threat.

“When we got out of that jam, you could just see how deflated they were and how energized we were. It seemed the game took a turn at that point,” said Southridge coach Ed Doskow.

Doral needed to even up the game too because Southridge came out swinging. Pavel “Stumpy” Chavez ripped a double in the third inning. He was moved over by Chris Kwham to third base and then took home on a Doral error. Danny Matos got himself on base and then John Chadwell brought him in on a rip single. Matos, Chavez, and Chadwell produced all of Southridge’s runs.

It was all about backing up the pitcher on Friday night. From the press box, the talented and loopy Southridge announcer, Paul Lobeck, urged the crowd to get behind Chris Sutton so he could get a complete game. But Sutton, even with fan assistance, would run out of steam on the last out of the seventh inning. Doral seized the opportunity to make a run.

“I always preached to them that they can never lose their spirit or give up. The run at the end was impressive but unfortunately we suffered through a series of base running mistakes,” said Doral coach Ernie Gonzalez about their run in the sixth and seventh innings.

Sutton left two on base for his closer, Nick Gensler. Javy Garcia spanked a ball to right field, bringing in Gerry Acosta and Ryan Gronlier. The game would continue as a 4-3 battle with Doral in position to either tie or win……it would have continued this way if Garcia didn’t try and take second base on the throw in from the outfield. The ball was artfully cut off by second baseman Matt Hernandez and he gunned Garcia down at second base. Just like that, ballgame for Southridge.

Doral showed fortitude but it was Southridge’s defense that would gun them down on the base paths throughout the course of the game.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!