Owlz Pitching Too Much in 9-1 Victory

( Preview / Box Score )

As the lineup cards for the Routt Roofing Owlz and Sports Shop Beavers came in Saturday night at Bartholomew Park, none could deny the appeal of an exciting match-up of pitching staffs. But, although the first four innings were as exciting as the fans could have hoped for, it was the Owlz who controlled the latter half of the game, offensively and on the mound, as the visiting team took home a decisive 9-1 win in the third game of the week.

The Bull, Sal Martinez, was sharp but let down by his D.

Anticipating as much, all in attendance got to see two of Elk Grove Babe Ruth's most acclaimed hurlers shutting down talented opponent. For the Beavers, it was The Bull, Salvador Martinez, keeping hitters off balance with a hard fastball and wicked breaking ball that matched his intimidating mound presence. Although Martinez did not have a 1-2-3 inning in his 4 innings of work, he never lost control and, were it not for some untimely miscues, he might have seen a different end result.

"The Bull deserved far better," said Coach Venegas. "He really threw the ball well."

After a scoreless first, Martinez plunked Owlz' shortstop Michael Chapelle on the arm, and Ryan Ames' bunt single then put runners on first and second with none out. Chapelle was not there long, though, as a pick-off attempt at first got away into the expansive foul territory of Bartholomew Park and allowed Chapelle to score to make it 1-0. Then, after another scoreless inning in the third, the fourth inning looked like another gem thanks to two Martinez strikeouts, but a two-out Christian Lemmond double to deep left paved the way for a throwing error that allowed the Owlz to push their lead to 2-0.

Taylor earned the win with 4 strong innings.

The Bull's counterpart on the mound, Jacob Taylor, also looked sharp in the early going. Taylor struck out the first two batters of the game, but the Bull's high infield chopper that went for single--the Beavers' only hit of the game--a walk to clean-up hitter Brandon Smith, and a wild pitch put runners on second and third. Fortunately for the Owlz, catcher Ames was able to catch Martinez off the bag at third and keep the Beavers scoreless. Taylor then breezed through the second and third innings, recording three strikeouts around a single walk, but trouble brewed in the fourth as the Beavers clawed their way into the game.

Leading off the inning for the Beavers was the "Wascally Wabbit," Osayi Onaghinor, who got down 0-2 but managed to work his way back and earn a free pass. Onaghinor promptly stole second, moved to third on nice situational hitting by lead-off batter Greg Teague, and, after a walk to Ryan Sutherland and another stolen bag, the Beavers were themselves threatening again as the dangerous Martinez stepped up with a chance to tie the game. Taylor, though, focused in and found the zone, inducing a 1-0 soaring pop up high in the air that was eventually gloved by Chapelle at short on the edge of the infield. At third, though, Onaghinor alertly tagged up and scampered toward the plate, scoring ahead of a bobbled throw home on an infield sacrifice fly that cut the deficit to 2-1. But, faced with the tying run on third, Taylor buckled down and ended his night with a backwards K, ringing up Smith after a seven-pitch battle to finish the night. On the evening, Taylor allowed only the one infield single, walking 4 and striking out 6, and would eventually earn the win.

P.J. Berner, who was 2 for 3, slides in safely at 3rd.

The Owlz would not keep the game in jeopardy for long, though, as the fifth and sixth innings saw their offense come alive and break the game open. P.J. Berner, already 1 for 1 on the day with a sharp single in the hole in the third, got things rolling in the fifth with a line shot up the middle. From that moment forward, it was as if the Owlz bats woke up and the Beavers gloves fell asleep, as reliever Rocket Sutherland was snake-bit by the timely hitting and a pair of miscues. After Berner's single, leadoff hitter Sam Aragon drag-bunted for a single and Jack Roselli doubled in Berner, pushing the deficit to 3-1. Sutherland found his grove, though, striking out one and inducing a groundout, but a dropped fly ball allowed Roselli to score to make it 6-1. Sutherland got out the mess with a second strikeout, but the damage was done.

The sixth inning had the same flavor, as the Owlz tallied five hits and the Beavers a couple mistakes. Ethan Moreno got his second hit of the day following a walk to Lemmond, but reliever Walker Brown got two outs to settle things down. But, alas, the Owlz bats had caught fire, as Aragon and Roselli singled, Austin Archuleta doubled, and Taylor singled to put the game out of reach at 9-1.

Roselli was perfect, K'ing 8 of 9 batters.

All of the late Owlz offense was mere gravy, though, as southpaw reliever Roselli made the 2-1 margin hold up with an amazing relief appearance. Coming in after Taylor exited, Roselli promptly struck out the first five batters he faced before inducing a Anthony Rivett groundout to end the sixth. Then, for good measure, Roselli struck out the side in the seventh to seal the victory. All in all, Roselli tossed 3 perfect innings with 8 strikeouts to earn a save the long way, needing only an economical 36 pitches to complete the tandem one-hitter.

For the Beavers, "Sparky" Rivett was a definite spark plug, drawing a walk and making the only fair contact against Roselli, and Sean O'Sullivan pitched a scoreless, hitless top of the seventh inning that was aided by a sweet 6-4-3 double play turned by the middle infield to end an uneven defensive contest on a high note.

The National Anthem was performed by Karen Cornfield, a long-time Elk Grove Babe Ruth mom. Karen will be singing at a Sacramento River Cats game in August, so keep on the look out for more details.

Next week, Bartholomew Park will host the fourth installment of the Game of the Week as the plucky Redwings will square off with the powerful lineup of the Volcanoes. Hope to see you there!