By Emma del Sol
The ‘Sters got yet another powerful start on the mound, this time from Morgan Cooper. Cooper went seven innings (complete game) and didn’t give up a run after the second inning. Due to the Mercy Run rule, the ‘Sters were able to complete the game in seven innings, after an hour and a half delay due to the previous game. The ‘Sters completed their second straight game without any errors.
The Mustangs struck first in the bottom of the first inning off back-to-back hits and were able to tack on one more run in the second, but after that, their bats were quiet. Cooper, who made his ‘Sters debut today, held the Mustangs to only five hits and one walk over seven strong innings of work. He was also able to strike out four batters.
The ‘Sters scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning and never looked back. After back-to-back singles by Jeremy Montalbano and Granger Studdard, Dave Graybill hit a double to the gap in center to score Montalbano and put the ‘Sters on the board. The next batter, Jake Vickerson then had a triple to left brining home Studdard and Graybill. Colt Atwood then singled home Vickerson, giving the ‘Sters the 4-1 lead. All runs were scored with two outs.
The ‘Sters were able to add on one more run in the fourth off of Mustangs starter Ryker Fox, who went five and two third innings, giving up nine runs, only one of them earned.
The Foresters bats blew the game wide open in the sixth inning, scoring five runs on two errors, a couple of walks, and two infield singles. The ‘Sters scored all their runs with two outs, proving Coach Pintard’s statement of “two out hits win championships” to be true. The ‘Sters scored their first run of the inning on another hit by Graybill, his second hit of the game. After Vickerson was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Atwood had a bases clearing single and reached second on a fielding error by the left fielder. Dillon Dobson then had a single over the shortstops head to bring home Atwood and giving the ‘Sters an eight run lead.
The ‘Sters tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh off yet another infield single, this time by pinch hitter AJ Balta.
The ‘Sters are back in action in their third game of the NBC World Series on Tuesday against the Hays Larks. The game time will either be at 6pm or 9pm, CST.
