Unlike the the Plaza Heights double header two days before, the April 14 double header marked the first time Midland and YBC Baseball had crossed paths on the diamond. Coach Nelson sent Sam Douglas out to the mound to start the game and see where the whims of the baseball gods would take us.

 

Two pitches into the game, an infield error gave YBC a baserunner who quickly stole second, and moved to third on a fly to right. But that's all the farther he got, as Sam picked up a big strikeout followed by a flyout to center to end the inning. The Monarchs returned the favor in the lower half of the 1st, with Alex Conley picking up a leadoff single and stealing second. But like YBC, the inning ended without damage and an initial goose egg on the board.

 

YBC picked up their first hit of the game leading off the second when Mo the DH punched a single through short into left. Sam added another strikeout and after a fly to center, 1B Josh Winscott alertly snagged a grounder and flipped to second to get the force.

 

In their half of the frame, Midland gave up two quick outs, then Dylan Smith got plunked on the first pitch. His teammates had his back, so when Charlie Williams went in as a courtesy runner, he promptly stole second. Mick Kelley took a  pitch for ball one, then dropped an RBI single into the outfield for a 1-0 Monarchs lead.

 

With a run in his pocket, Sam disposed of the first two hitters on strikeouts, then finished up what would be the only 1-2-3 inning with a grounder to Alex Conley at short.

 

Alex quickly dusted off his hands and neatly led off the third with a bunt single down the first base line. An error by the pitcher and a walk to Harrison Carrender suddenly loaded the bases with no outs. A sac-fly off the bat of Jaelan Curtis doubled Midland's run total, and a Josh single made it three in the savings bank. Dylan added a two-out single to the mix, and by the end of the inning. Midland led 4-0 and had sent the YBC pitcher to the showers.

 

It wasn't going to be THAT easy though, as Midland committed another infield error on the leadoff hitter. A long double to center put runners on 2nd and 3rd, and a sac-fly to right picked up a run for the visitors. Another single by Mo the DH ran up another run, making the tally 4-2 after 3 1/2 innings.

 

Not a team to take being scored on lightly, Midland took full advantage of the new YBC pitcher whose control wasn't exactly stellar. With one out, Alex sent his second homer of the spring out in left (chocolate chips, no nuts) for a solo shot. Sam walked, Harrison beat out an infield single, Jalen walked, Josh took a HBP for the team with the bases loaded, and Peyton Shellenberger worked up a seven-pitch walk, also with the diamond full of Monarchs. A final SF from Dylan brought in run number four, and the crimson crew was up by a decided 8-2 margin.

 

Mr. Douglas picked up two more strikeouts in the fifth, giving up an unearned run in the process on a walk, error, and a single. Midland returned the favor, scoring a run of their own on yes, a walk, an error, and a single; that made the score 9-3 after five.

 

Ross Wagers came in to pitch the sixth for Midland, nonchalantlhy strolling off the mound after getting the final out of the game on a called third strike.

 

NOTES: YBC's DH picked up three of their five hits... Alex had the only multi-hit game for Midland, with two singles and a solo shot... Harrison reached base all four times at the plate, with two walks, a single, and an error... Four of the six YBC fly outs were caught in center by Joel Donn and Matthew Enriquez (the other two went to right)... Midland continued their larceny on the basepaths with five steals...