LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - AUGUST 2, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has altered life as we know it, including Little League Baseball. However with carefully constructed safety protocols and rules, along with incredible support from the community, LeRoy’s 2020 Little League Season has officially begun! The crowds might be smaller. The weather is certainly hotter. There are no hot dogs or tacos in a bag. But one constant that has always been present at the legendary LeRoy Little League Field remains… an abundance of children smiling and laughing, while playing the great American game of baseball. Also, new this season… watch every game live broadcasted by Scott Ripley on Facebook’s “Live LeRoy Baseball.” Twins 5 Red Sox 0 The Twins and Red Sox kicked off the 2020 Le Roy Little League season on a sunny July night. Yes, a JULY night! Pitching for both teams was extraordinary with 27 strikeouts between both teams. Ultimately, the Twins would end with a 5-0 victory over the Red Sox. For the Twins, Noah Kaczanowski was a force on the mound, striking out 12 and walking none. Avante’ Walker was a wall behind the plate for Kacz, not letting a ball go past him. Brayden Chase and Matthew McCulley stepped up on defense allowing Noah to go all the way to the last batter with a no hitter. Brayden Chase struck out the last batter to give the Twins a no-hitter game. Pitcher Joey Verancini also had an amazing game on the mound, striking out 13 batters. Joey Reschke would step in the bottom of the fifth inning and finish the game on the mound with one strike out. Noah would start lead off for the Twins hitting a single. Brayden Chase hit a line drive to right- center field scoring Noah. In the bottom of the third inning, Noah would walk and again be driven home by Chase who ended up scoring on his own hit through errors. In the fifth inning, Noah would hit a double and the next batter, Kade Oliviani, would rip a single up the middle scoring Noah. After a walk to first, Chase would still second allowing Olivani to steal home, making the score 5-0. Kaczanowski had two hits and a walk for the Twins to go with his excellent pitching performance. Kade Olivani had one hit and RBI. Brayden Chase completed the shut out for the Twins and had two hits, a walk, and two RBI’s. Avante’ Walker would also add a walk in the second inning. Indians 6 Orioles 5 The Indians and Orioles would square off for each team’s first game of the 2020 Little League season. Grady Gilligan got the start on the mound for the Orioles with Jace Jedrewski getting the call for the Indians. The Indians would score first taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning after Jeremiah Sheehan led off with a single and would later score on a wild pitch. The Indians added to their lead in the bottom of the 3rd after Hayven Cordes laced a 2-run single scoring Tommy Clifford, who had singled, and Jagger Smith, who had reached on an error, giving the Indians a 3-0 lead after 3. Indians starting pitcher Jace Jedrewski cruised along for the first 3 innings holding the Orioles hitless and striking out 4 batters. However, Jewdreski would get into trouble in the 4th after issuing walks to Brady McClurg and Cam Wilson. Jedrewski was replaced by Jagger Smith who then surrendered a single to Grady Gilligan that scored McClurg and a single to Simon Greene that scored Wilson and Gilligan knotting the game 3-3. After an error and a hit batter loaded the bases, Smith would settle in and strike out the next 3 batters to end the rally and keep the game tied. In the bottom of the 4th, the Indians would take the lead back with a two-out rally started when Edwin Lathan would get his first little league hit blasting a double down the left field line. Tommy Clifford then singled and Jagger Smith hit a 2-run double plating Lathan and Clifford to give the Indians a 5-3 lead. The Indians would hold the Orioles scoreless in the top of the 5th inning with some outstanding defensive plays by Hayven Cordes and Tommy Clifford. In the bottom of the 5th, the Indians would add what would turn out to be an important insurance run after Peyton Privitera ripped a triple down the right field line scoring Jeremiah Sheehan who had reached on an error. In the top of the 6th, the Orioles would make things interesting. Mia Strollo and Deacon Queal both singled with one out and both would come around to score after a double by Tommy Roloson. With the tying run on base, the Indians would retire the next two Orioles batters with the final out being an outstanding running catch in the outfield by Tommy Clifford after a deep shot to left- center field off the bat of Brady McClurg. For the Indians, Jagger Smith picked up the win on the mound going 3 innings and striking out 3. Offensively for the Indians, Tommy Clifford (2 runs) and Hayven Cordes (2RBI’s) each had two hits while Smith doubled with 2 RBI’s. Jeremiah Sheehan (2 runs), Peyton Privitera (3B, RBI) and Eddie Lathan also had hits. For the Orioles, Grady Gilligan (5 K’s) and Brady McClurg (2 K’s) handled the pitching duties. Gilligan added 2 hits (1 RBI), Tommy Roloson doubled with 2 RBI’s and Simon Green also added a hit and 2 RBI’s. Mia Strollo and Deacon Queal also added hits. Tigers 4 Red Sox 2 The Tigers and Red Sox squared off in the third game of the 2020 Season with the Red Sox playing their second game in three days. This game would be dominated by pitching for both teams. The visiting Tigers scored two early runs, in the top of the first inning, when Alex Spezzano led off with a double and scored on a RBI ground out by Jack Currin. Peter Clark scored the second run of the game. Following Currins’ RBI, Clark tripled to right center and scored on a RBI ground out by Liam Grayson. This would be all the scoring until the 4th inning as pitchers Alex Spezzano and Isaac Stella combined to strike out 15 batters through the first three innings. In the fourth inning, the Red Sox tied the game, scoring two unearned runs on two errors and a hit batter. Isaac Stella reached on an infield error and Joe Vernecini on a hit by pitch. Both scored on a double steal when the ball scooted away from the third basemen. Scored tied 2-2. The Tigers would take the lead back in the fifth when Carter Page, leadoff single, scored on Jack Currin’s second RBI of the day and Alex Spezzano scored on a passed ball after advancing to 3rd on Currin’s RBI single. The score would end Tigers 4, Red Sox 2 as Alex Spezzano struck out the last 5 batters he faced before Liam Grayson earned the save by getting the last out of the game. Offensively for the Tigers, Peter Clark went 2 for 3 with single, triple and run scored. Liam Grayson singled, doubled and had 1 RBI. Jack Currin had a single and 2 RBI. Alex Spezzano walked, doubled and scored two runs. Carter Page singled and scored. Andreas Condidorio singled for his first career Little League hit. On the mound for the Tigers, Alex Spezzano struck out 17 of the 19 batters that came to the plate in 5 2/3 innings for the win. Liam Grayson earned the save. Offensively for the Red Sox, Isaac Stella and Joey Vernecini scored. Isaac Stella was very effective through 4 1/3 innings recording 9 strike outs. Cole Tonzi, in relief, gave up a hit and struck out 1 in 1 2/3 innings. Yankees 8 Orioles 7 The Yankees began defense of their 2019 Scanlan Cup Championship with a thrilling 8-7 victory over the Orioles in LeRoy Little League action. (Results Continued on pg 6) LeRoy Little League Week 1 Results