MINT HILL, NC – The baseball season has finally arrived. The Independence Patriots defeated Olympic 11-7 on a cool evening on their home field under the lights in a non-conference game.
The stadium was dressed up for the occasion as the new outfield fence just installed for this season gave a new improved look to the field. The grass was cut and trimmed, the mound and batter’s box were freshly racked, the foul lines were bright white, and the umpire yelled “play ball.”
Indy starter Joe Reddish had a shaky outing when he hit Elijah Booker with a pitch. The next batter drew a walk, then Elijah Holmes stepped up to the plate to drive in the first run of the season with a hard smash off the new right field fence for a 2 bagger and an RBI. After walking Andrew Brewer, he settled down to get our of the inning allowing only one run.
The Patriots bounced back to even things up scoring a run when Thomas Miller reached base on an overthrow by the Trojans’ shortstop ending up on second with one out. He promptly stole 3B on a great jump on the pitcher. Then the number 3 hitter Jake Stanley would drill a long fly deep to right center for the sacrifice fly.
In the second inning, the Trojans would combine for 5 runs on a couple of walks, 2 errors, and 3 hits to drive Reddish off the mound. With two outs, Tyler Spicer would enter the game in relief to end the onslaught. The Trojans now had a 6-1 lead.
However, the Patriots bounced back scoring 7 runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame. Three consecutive base hits by Luke Chantry, Garrett Thomas, and Frank Jones would load up the bases followed by two consecutive base on balls to Cooper Golden, and Spicer for two runs. Up steps Cole Coats who lines another base hit scoring runners from second and third for two RBI’s, and Miller smacks a long sacrifice fly to tie the ball game.
But the the home team was not done. With a runner on 3B, Stanley drilled a hard grounder down the line at 3B. The ball was picked nicely, but the throw was not on the money, and the speedy Stanley was on first base. The runner scored from third on the errant throw. PJ Chiles beat out an infield hit, and Chantry followed with a single to complete the scoring, giving the Patriots an 8-6 advantage after two innings of play.
Indy would add 3 more runs along the way to give the home team a comfortable cushion, expanding their lead to 11-7 on some clutch hitting, smart base running, and good execution of plays to manufacture the final run of the ballgame.
Meanwhile, Spicer was pitching a gem in 4.1 innings of relief. He accumulated 5 strikeouts along the way in a shutdown performance. Then Cole Carter pitched the top of the 7th inning for the Patriots. The closer shut down the Trojans facing just 4 batters while striking out 3 batters, showing his comfort and potential in the closers role for the Patriots.
