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The Warriors lost its first game of the season by a score of 12-8 at Hickory Hills on Mother's Day. This was a game in which the Warriors set a team record (16) for runners left on base!
The first inning was an indicator of things to come. The Warriors loaded the bases, but failed to score a run. Then, Hickory Hills scored five runs in the bottom of the inning on three hits and two infield errors. This Warriors' team is built on control pitching and defense--and when the defense collapses the opposing runs mount quickly.
The Warriors scored a run in the top of the second inning when Tim Carroll lined a double into leftfield to score Ryan Novak. But, the inning ended again with three runners left on base. Hickory Hills extended its lead to 9-1 in the bottom of the frame on four solid hits--including two doubles.
The Warriors loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third inning. But, once again the inning came to a close with the bases loaded--this time without any runs scoring. But, the Warriors regained its exposure after trailing by 8 runs on the road.
Lance Cardinal pitched two solid innings. He pitched a scoreless third inning and allowed two unearned runs in the fourth inning as a result of an error by the centerfielder. Ryan Knightly homered over the leftfield wall to lead off the fourth inning--the team's first homer of the 2009 campaign. The Warriors scratched across another run before this inning ended with just two runners left on base this time.
The Warriors scored two more runs in the top of the fifth inning to make the score 11-5 in favor of Hickory Hills. However, the inning again ended with three runners left on base. The team left 14 runners on base through 5 innings--one runner short of the maximum.
C.J. Brucki entered the game in relief for the Warriors in the bottom of the fifth inning. C.J. threw two impressive innings--allowing no runs and just one hit in that span.
The Warriors attempted a dramatic comeback in the top of the sixth inning, but ran itself out of a big inning. The first seven hitters reached base in this inning. But, only three runs scored as two runners were thrown out on the bases during the inning. The score was 12-8 in favor of Hickory Hills--and that score held to be the final score of the contest.
Game Notes:
Tim Carroll was hit by pitch for the third time this season. He has already tied the hit by pitch leader (Jayson Lenzen) for the entire 2008 season--which covered 31 games!
Jason Waner suffered some pain in his right shoulder after a relay throw from leftfield in the fourth inning. Jason was forced to sit out the remainder of the game. The Warriors wish for Jason to have a speedy recovery.
A lack of timely hitting hurt the Warriors in this game. The team had 9 hits and 14 walks. Including errors, the Warriors had 24 baserunners in 7 inning--but scored 8 runs.
HICKORY HILLS: 12 runs, 9 hits, 1 error, 6 left on base
WARRIORS: 8 runs, 9 hits, 4 errors, 16 left on base
2011 Chicagoland Tournament Champions & 2011 Lombard Tournament Champions!
