As the supplemental high school players begin rolling in Saturday, Elk Grove Babe Ruth's celebratory 50th season promises to up its excitement quotient even more. Thus, as the second half rolls in and playoff chases start to take form, it is only fitting that the fifth installment of the Game of the Week feature two squads jostling for playoff position as the surging Hot Rods take on the upstart River Bandits under the lights at Bartholomew Park.
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| Eising (front) and Pattison have being stalwarts on the mound. |
Coming into Saturday in first place with a 7-3 record, the Hot Rods, sponsored by Pattison & Associates, Inc., look poised to sustain the early success late into the year. Managed by Todd Eising and coach Mike Pattison, the Hot Rods have made their mark early on with superb pitching and clutch hitting that have made every match-up a winnable one. Through the first for weeks, the team was carried by the three-headed mound monster of 14-year-olds Ryan Eising and Scott Lawrence, and 15-year-old Matthew Pattison, all right-handers capable of shutting down an opponent. In their first ten games, Lawrence and Pattison have started five games apiece, while Eising has been superb as the ace reliever out of the bullpen. Although their hurlers have done the job all season long, the staff has taken their dominance to another level in the past few games. In fact, last Saturday, the staff shut down the prolific offense of the previously-undefeated Rockhounds 7-0 as Pattison, 13-year-old Devin Ashley, and Lawrence combined on a no-hitter.
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| Lawrence has starred as a pitcher, hitter, and catcher this season. |
In addition to that run-prevention success, the Hot Rods also have demonstrated a knack for hitting in the clutch. A perfect example would be he team's April 26th battle with the Thunder. Faced with a gutsy effort the Thunder, the Hot Rods entered the bottom of the seventh inning trailing 5-4. With one on, though, Hot Rods' shortstop Kelechi Ononiwu came to the plate a promptly crushed a mammoth 2-run shot to walk-off with a 6-5 win. But, despite Ononiwu's exploits all season, it hasn't just been the sweet-swinging lefty coming through when it matters most.
"We have had key hits and plays from every one of our players," said Coach Eising. We have the bases loaded with our 7, 8 and 9 hitters up, and they get great hits to drive in...runs."
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| Greenwood's clutch performance has driven the River Bandits. |
Holding down the opposite dugout will be the River Bandits, managed by long-time Franklin High School baseball and football coach Kurt Thornton. Led by a band of 13-year-old rookies and a 15-year-old leader, the River Bandits have played a fun, no holds barred style of baseball.
Leading the charge are 15-year-old Babe Ruth veterans Connor Greenwood, a pitcher/catcher, and Chance Landin, an outfielder and relief pitcher. Greenwood in particular has opened the season on a tear. On the mound, Greenwood has been dominant as a starter, putting up four scoreless frames in an 8-1 win over the Sand Gnats and chipping in four innings of one-run ball with 6 strikeouts in an eventual loss to the Owlz. At the plate, though, Greenwood has been even better. As one would expect of this year’s Len Willeford Home Run Derby, Greenwood has shown power in games, coming up with multiple big hits this year including a pivotal grand slam against the Beavers and a two-run shot against the Owlz while cementing himself as a clutch hitter.
“I live in pressure. Once I hear the ding of the sweet spot, I run,” noted Greenwood of his blasts this year. “And, if I do make it [home], then…I get attacked by my team, and that is the most pleasant beating you can ask for.”
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| Adams struck out 6 in 3 perfect innings 5/13. |
Beyond their elder statesmen, the River Bandits sport a young core that has risen to the occasion of staying in the thick of the playoff race. Tanner Adams, the young lefty that was picked first in the league’s draft this year, has been a horse for the team, drawing the start on opening day and pitching pivotal innings all year long. Most recently, Adams spun three perfect innings with 6 strikeouts in a big win against a hot Raptors squad. In addition, Tucker Elliott has performed as a catcher and relief pitcher for the squad, chipping in a three inning save in the win over the Raptors, Greg Nadolna has stepped up on the hill since the spring break, and Anthony Alves, Jeff Bowers, and Eric Inouye have also all shown their stuff in the early going. When combined with the efforts of the veterans and all-around player Andre Scott, it’s not hard to see why the River Bandits are playing well.
Saturday night, each team will also be showcasing their supplemental players for the first time and, uniquely enough, all three are lefties with ability. The Hot Rods’ lineup will include two rising freshmen: Pleasant Grove JV lefty Jared Spohr, a two-time Babe Ruth all-star who shut down East Sacramento in the District Tournament last year and had a 1.91 ERA in limited innings this spring, and Nate McKinnis, a Franklin JV left-hander who went 1-0 with a save in 6 2/3 innings this high school season. The River Bandits will counter with Franklin JV outfielder Taylor Johnson, who hit .286 in his sophomore season and, in the final game of his season, scored the tying run as a pinch-runner in the JV championship game. All three should bolster their teams as they move forward into the season and, of course, Saturday night.
“We are looking forward to playing,” said Eising. “It will be fun to celebrate the 50th year anniversary of Elk Grove Babe Ruth baseball with a…game under the lights.”
The National Anthem on Saturday night will be sung by Franklin High School student Samantha Basas, a two-year member of Vocal Ensemble and Franklin Theatre Company, most recently performing in the dramatic epic Les Miserable this past spring.
