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The Warriors lost the coin flip for the third consecutive tournament game, so Channahon was the home team. Channahon's starting pitcher made quick work of the first inning--allowing just one baserunner when Matt Carroll successfully bunted for a hit.
Five of the first six Channahon hitters reached base in the first inning as Channahon jumped out to an early two run lead. Cody Rutledge entered the game in relief with the bases loaded and just one out. Cody retired the next two hitters as Channahon left three runners standed.
Cody Rutledge led off the top of the second inning with a homerun over the leftfield wall. The Warriors trailed 2-1.
Cody Rutledge continued to pitch through the fourth inning. He held Channahon scoreless and allowed just one hit in 3 2/3rds innings of work. Cody has been outstanding all season. He has allowed only one earned run in 20 innings this season! He averages one walk for each five innings pitched. Channahon's manager recognized Cody as the Warriors' MVP after this tournament game.
The Warriors did not score in the top of the third inning despite drawing two walks. In the fourth inning, Channahon's defense began to break down. The Warriors scored four runs on three hits. With the bases still loaded and no outs, the Warriors had a chance to put the game away. Instead, the next three hitters failed to advance the runners and the Warriors left three runners stranded.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Warriors once again left the bases loaded. The Warriors left 8 runners stranded in three innings of play. These lost opportunities generally come back to haunt a team.
Tyler Dempsey entered the game in relief in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tyler walked the bases loaded, but Channahon did not score as the inning ended on a deep fly ball to Matt Carroll in centerfield.
The Warriors finally came up with a timely hit in the top of the sixth inning when Steve Sismelich lined a double into leftfield to score Trent Sichelski with two outs. Matt Carroll then singled to score Steve as the Warriors extended its lead to 7-2.
Steve Sismelich (39 runs scored for the season)
Tyler Dempsey struck out two in the bottom of the sixth inning. Then, the Warriors scored five insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning--of which most of the runs scored with two outs. Matt Olinksi narrowly missed a homerun as the ball lined off the rightfield wall. Matt LeVigne and Trent Sichelski also contributed with timely base hits.
The insurance runs came in handy as Channahon's bats came alive in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jake Price hit a three run homerun in the inning before the game ended on a fly ball to Trent Sichelski in rightfield.
