CLICK HERE to view the team and individual statistics through Game #32.
The opening game of the Lockport Tournament was played on one of the remote fields...Oak Prairie. The Warriors arrived at the park at the usual 45 minutes prior to game time for pre-game warm ups. The Tournament Director, umpires and opposing team did not arrive at the park until a few minutes prior to game time!
The field was lacking in most respects. The infield was hard and mostly gravel. The park lacked restrooms of any kind. This was a far cry from the "well maintained fields with grass cut-out infields", "DJ and full concessions" promised in the tournament advertisements! Of course, the primary facility at Dellwood Park is a much nicer facility--which is the location for most of the teams playing in this tournament.
The Peru All-Stars arrived at the park at about 5:55 pm for the 6:00 pm game. With just a few sideline tosses, they were ready to go. Things started off much the same as the previous night with an opening walk of the opponent's lead off hitter--who later scored. The chances of a runner scoring after a lead off walk must exceed 90%. After a single and another walk, the Warriors were fortunate to end the inning with just one run allowed.
The Warriors went down quickly in the bottom of the first inning--three up and three down.
The Warriors committed two infield errors in the top of the second inning, but the inning ended with a line out to Trent Sichelski at second base as Peru left two runners stranded.
The Warriors sent only three hitters to the plate in the bottom of the second inning. Despite getting a two out hit, the inning ended when the runner was out trying to get an extra base from the single into leftfield.
Peru extended its lead to 2-0 in the top of the third inning when the opening batter once again walked. He later scored on a double into leftfield. Jason Enguita threw the runner out as he attempted to steal third base. The inning ended on another line drive to the second baseman.
The Warriors were patient at the plate in the bottom of the third inning and scored five runs on just one hit. Five Warriors walked in the inning. There was an infield error by Peru as well. Jason Enguita made Peru pay with a two out double to centerfield to score two runs. This was one of two doubles for Jason in the contest. The Warriors took a 5-2 lead into the fourth inning.
Cody Rutledge entered the game in relief for the Warriors in the fourth inning. He pitched the next two innings without allowing a run. Cody has now allowed only one earned run in 25 innings of work. His 0.76 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) ratio is by far the lowest in Warriors' history. His strikeout to walk ratio is 7:1--by far the lowest on the staff.
The Warriors put the game away with an 11 run fourth inning. The inning featured four extra base hits. Matt LeVigne hit a double and a triple in this inning. Matt continues his late season hitting surge. He is now second on the leaderboard in some key offensive statistics such as on-base percentage (.553), batting average (.471) and runs batted in (42). He is now tied with Tyler Dempsey for the most extra base hits in the season (18).
Matt LeVigne (2011 OYA Pony League Baserunning Champion)
Also in the fourth inning, Jason Enguita hit his 7th double of the season and Steve Sismelich hit his 4th double of the year. Steve reached base in all three plate appearances in this game. Zac Zavod singled in the inning and had three runs batted in during the game.
An interesting note is that all 13 Warriors players now have at least 10 runs batted in this season. Nine players have scored at least 25 runs for the year.
The game was called after five innings due to the ten run mercy rule. The Warriors will face the Pilsen Wolves for the fifth time this season on Friday night at the Oak Prairie field.
