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Palos got off to a fast start in the morning game. The first two hitters reached base before the third hitter hammered a three run homer. Jim Robley entered the game in relief and struck out three batters--but Palos scored four runs in the inning. The Warriors went down in order in the bottom of the frame.
Jim Robley held Palos scoreless in the second inning with the assistance of an over-the-shoulder running grab by first baseman Connor Bartle on a ball that was hit down the rightfield line. Tyler Dempsey led off the second inning with a homer (his 8th of the season). The Warriors then loaded the bases, but left three stranded when the final batter of the inning hit a fly ball to the leftfielder.
Palos scored another four runs in the top of the third inning on four hits--including another homerun. The Warriors committed two errors in the inning and trailed Palos by a score of 8-1 as the game moved into the bottom of the third inning. Palos then struck out the side to end the Warriors' hopes in the bottom of the frame.
Matt Carroll entered the game in relief in the top of the fourth inning. Matt did not allow Palos to score a run for the remainder of the game as he pitched three flawless innings. After walking the first hitter that he faced, he retired the next nine batters in order while striking out five. The Palos manager would later recognize Matt with the MVP award for this ballgame.
The Warriors offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning. Cody Rutledge got things started with a three run homer (his 2nd of the tournament). The next two Warriors made out--but the Warriors would go on to score seven more runs after two outs! Some of the big hits included Trent Sichelski's line drive into leftfield, Patrick O'Connor's line drive at the shortstop and Rick Sisco's single into rightfield. Matt Carroll also drove in two runs with a single to centerfield before Jason Enguita doubled to drive in two more runs. The Warriors held a 11-8 lead.
The Warriors would tag on an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Matt LeVigne singled to leftfield to score Cody Rutledge--again with two outs! Matt had a big game--reaching base in all three plate appearances.
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The Warriors would not fare as well in the afternoon game against Pilsen. Matt Carroll singled down the leftfield line in the first inning, but the Warriors were unable to bring him home.
Pilsen left two runners stranded in the bottom of the first inning after Steve Sismelich recovered to hold Pilsen scoreless after an infield throwing error earlier in the inning.
The Warriors took the early lead after scoring three runs in the top of the second inning. The first two hitters made outs. But Matt LeVigne drew a walk before Trent Sichelski, Jim Robley and Patrick O'Connor singled in succession.
Trent Sichelski singled during both plate appearances in the Pilsen game and reached base in all five plate appearance for the doubleheader. Sam Flores, the Pilsen manager, recognized Trent with the MVP award after this game.
Pilen came right back with four runs to take the lead in the bottom of the second inning. The first five hitters reached base in the inning. Jim Robley limited the damage after entering the game in relief. Jason Enguita also contributed by throwing out a runner attempting to steal third base. Pilsen scored four, but left the bases loaded when Jim Robley struck out the lead-off hitter to end the inning.
The Warriors went down quickly in the top of the third inning when Pilsen converted a strike out-throw out double play on an attempted steal of second base. Pilsen then hit two homeruns in the bottom of the frame to extend its lead to 7-3.
The Warriors would not threaten again until the top of the fifth inning when the bases were loaded with no outs. But, the Warriors failed to score mostly as the result of a double play on a fly ball in which the rightfielder made the catch and threw accurately to home plate to retire the runner attempting to score from third base.
Pilsen continued to score runs in each of the remaining innings despite three pitching changes. A three run blast in the bottom of the fifth extended the lead to 12-5. Another homerun (Pilsen's fourth of the game) in the bottom of the sixth inning brought the "Runs Allowed" total to 14 for the game--which is anticipated to significantly damage the Warriors' seeding position coming out of pool play in this tournament.
