MINT HILL, NC – Nick Reddish grand slam home run

Frankie Jones, Jr. inside-the-park home run  

On Tuesday evening at Independence High School the Independence Patriots baseball squad used a ten run first inning to blow out the Queen’s Grant Stallions 20-1 in a non-league baseball game.

Frankie Jones, Jr. started the rout with a lead off inside-the-park home run. Jones hit a shot to the center field wall and his speed was too much for the Stallions’ defense.  Sam Merli and Garrett Lawrence each walked and scored Indy’s second and third runs.  Joe Reddish reached after being hit by a pitch and crossed the plate for the Patriots’ fourth run of the inning.

Cole Coats drew a walk and worked himself to third base and plated Indy’s fifth run on a Brian Crowder double to left field.  Crowder was then credited for Indy’s sixth run.  Zac Mangum walked and after working his way to third base scored the Patriots’ seventh run.  Isaiah Redfearn walked and Cooper Golden reached on a single and then they scored Indy’s eighth and ninth runs.  Frankie Jones, Jr. came to the plate for a second time in the inning and after being hit by a pitch, scored the team’s tenth run of the inning.

In the bottom of the second inning Brian Crowder led off with a triple to the left field wall. After an Indy out, Isaiah Redfearn followed with a walk.  With two runners on, Cooper Golden hit a double to left field driving in Crowder and Redfearn.  Golden scored Indy’s third run of the Inning to make the score 13-0 after two innings of play.

The Stallions managed a third-inning run after Christian Bernash singled and Jesus Pichardo reached on a throwing error allowing Bernash to move to third base.  After Isaias Canela was called out on strikes, Bernash scored on an Indy error to make the score 13-1.

Indy answered back with a run in the bottom half of the inning.  Ben Malenfant reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a Nick Reddish double to the left field wall.

In the bottom of the fourth inning the Patriots finished the game by scoring six more runs.  After plating two runs, Indy loaded the bases.  With two outs and the bases loaded, freshman Nick Reddish came to the plate for the second time.  After a couple of pitches the Stallions’ pitcher served up a waist high fast ball that Reddish sent soaring over the 370 feet center field wall for a grand slam home run making the score 20-1.

After the game, Indy’s Nick Reddish said, “With the game already over with and with two outs, I was going to swing for the fence.  Then he threw a fastball down the middle, and I just made good contact with the ball. The grand slam was really great.  But it was a team win.”

With the win Indy’s record stands at 3-1.  Queen’s Grant fell to 1-2.

Queen’s Grant.   0 0 1 0 0 –   1

Independence  10 3 1 6 X – 20