It was a battle of wits this week with the Orioles riding high and the Athletics on a 2 game losing streak.
The Orioles Liam Evans and KJ Moreno got the offense going early for the Orioles in the first inning as Evans hit a solid line drive into left center field and was able to stretch what was a guaranteed single into a double. Moreno who was next up, matched Evans by going to right center field garnering a single and an RBI. The Orioles unfortunately where only able to put 1 more run on the board in the top of the 3rd, after Chris Ricca was walked, then stole 2 bases and was driven in by Liam Evans.
Not to be outdone, the A's come out fighting. In the top of the 2nd inning, Max Betteto started off the offense with a single to center field. Dylan Sommerville also reached base and was driven in by the surging Kip Malpas who singled to left. In the top of the 4th, Corey Simas blooped a single to right center and later scored on a James Patterson double putting the A's on top 3-2.
The A's added a little insurance in the top of the 7th, when combo of Betteto & Sommerville walked and singled. But it was Kip Malpas who again did it for the A's driving in the runs solidifying the A's victory over the Orioles by a score of 5-2.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
YAO Baseball League Round Up
Orioles and Athletics
IslandStats.com
This game early on looked as if it was going to be a real classic between the Orioles and Athletics as the two teams battled it out and got through 3 innings in near record time, but in the end the Orioles defeated the Athletics 14-11.
At the completion of those 3 innings, pitcher Jaylen Martin and the Athletics had given up just 3 runs. Martin pitched through the 5th inning, struck out 7 Orioles batters in that time frame. Catcher James Patterson put in a spectacular effort behind the plate with a diving catch that sent him nearly crashing into the fence! Patterson also had 2 Singles, a Double and 2 RBI’s.
The day however belonged to KJ Moreno and the Orioles, Moreno pitched 4 perfect innings striking out all 12 batters he faced throwing just over 50 pitches. On the offensive side of things, Moreno and Josh Allen led the charge for the Orioles with 2 walks, a Single and a RBI for Moreno and 2 Singles, a Double and 2 RBI for Allen.
The YAO Little League Phillies came from behind and defeated the Mets 12-7, the game was back and forth with 5 lead changes. The Mets jumped out to an early lead in the 1st and added more on a passed ball scoring Sebastian Lee. The Mets were once again led by Stephan Paynter with strong pitching and was relieved by Ryan Mullen. The Phillies bats proved to be too strong for the Mets, led by Nicholas Martin with 3 RBI’s. Martin was also very strong on the mound, coming on relief and giving up only one run.
The afternoon game featured the Orioles and struggling Red Sox, who dropped out of first place with the 2nd consecutive loss. The bottom of the Orioles order came through in spectacular fashion in a tense 11-10 victory over the Red Sox. Armand Foy scored two runs, drove in two runs with a fifth inning double and made a great catch in center field, which would prove to be a game saver. Jalen Commissiong scored three times, including the game winner. Keiran Malott drove in a run and worked a crucial walk in the bottom of the sixth inning. Liam McCue came on in the sixth inning to record the third out and picked up the win. The Red Sox had strong pitching from Narsje Brockington and Declan McKittrick. Shirwin Jones had a home run, but the late rally fell short.
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Hall Helps Badgers Win Opener
IslandStats.com
Adam Hall and his London Badgers Bantam baseball teammates opened the 2013 PBLO season with a 7 – 4 win over the Waterloo Tigers at Aldridge Field in London, Ontario.
Hall had two Plate appearances in the game, with one Hit and one Walk, Hall also had a RBI.
Saturday, May 04, 2013
YAO League Round Up
IslandStats.com
The offense started quickly for both teams first with the Athletics scoring 2 in the first and the Orioles scoring 3.
Mateo Rodriguez started the game for the Athletics. Through 3 innings, Rodriguez struck out 5 while only giving up 1 walk. The Orioles did string together a series of hit against Rodriguez in the 3rd inning putting them out in front.
KJ Moreno started off on the mound for the Orioles and had a rough go of it in the first inning. Moreno quickly settled down in the 2nd and 3rd innings, facing just 6 batters and striking out 5 of those 6. Moreno finished the day with 12 strikeouts.
On the offense side of things for the Orioles, KJ Moreno and Liam Evans both lead the charge with 2 hits and 2 RBIs each. Andrew Daly also pushed the Orioles ahead with 2 RBIs ending the game with a final score of 10-6 to the Orioles.
The Phillies moved in to a tie for first place, combined with a Red Sox loss in the afternoon. In the morning game the Phillies defeated the Orioles in a close game with strong pitching by Billy Montgomery in the first two innings for the Phillies. The Orioles countered with Alex Bordage and Collin McCue. The Phillies broke out with 7 runs in the top of the 6th, led by Aaron Joaquin and Dariyon Davis. Nick Martin earned the win in relief 10-5.
In the afternoon, the Red Sox fell to the Mets after 3 dominate innings by Stephan Paynter. Paynter, at one point stricking out 9 of the first ten batters he faced on only 46 pitches. Paynter alos led the Mets in hitting, driving in 4 runs. The Red Sox struggled in the field, came back in the top of the 6 only to fall short 12-9.
Friday, May 03, 2013
Hall's Sacrifices are Paying Off
Adam Hall has needed to make some sacrifices to reach a distant goal usually not asked for from a 13-year-old, but he’s stepping up to the plate.
“Every challenge that comes around he seems to take it head on,” said Ken Frohwerk, a former London Badgers coach of Hall who is currently housing the teen at his Medway home. “Hall’s a 13 year old with a 15 or 16 year old body in a 25 year old mind.”
Born in Bermuda, Hall left the Caribbean country he grew up in for good last year in hopes to get a more formative Baseball Training in the Forest City. Hall has dual citizenship in Canada and Bermuda.
Before entrenching himself in everything from snow to poutine, Hall spent two summers in London with his parents renting a house in the area and family close by in Woodstock.
Hall’s parents only have the summer months off as teachers in Bermuda. To be good at Baseball is a year-round event.
“It’s basically just house league in Bermuda,” Hall said. “There’s not much baseball there, it’s not one of the main sports.”
Although Bermuda’s heat can get higher than 30-Celsius, it isn’t exactly a hotbed for baseball talent.
“I think the highest someone made it for baseball was, and they moved to the States, was like single-A maybe,” Adam said. “I’d like to get a scholarship to a College or University. Maybe someday play some sort of level professionally.”
You can almost see it now with nicknames for Hall like the Bermuda Bomber or Adam “Longball” Hall.
With his graduation at Masonville Public School coming soon, Hall is about to enter A.B. Lucas Secondary School next semester and has about five years to get even better before transitioning to his next academic-athletic endeavor to college ball.
He’s well on his way towards his goals, though.
In his first year with the Badgers in 2011, Hall earned the team’s offensive batting title and defensive award. Last year, he was named the Badger organization’s MVP after a season where he batted .644 and crushed 32 home runs — the 13-batter PeeWee team totaled 46 altogether.
His most recent reward is a little closer to home, though. On April 18th, the Bermuda Ministry of Community and Cultural Development rewarded Hall with a $4,390.00 grant at the National Junior Sponsorship Awards to assist with off-season training expenses.
The latest accolade is one of personal pride for a family still in Bermuda with plans to come to Canada soon.
“It does for two reasons. Firstly, it recognizes several years of hard work as opposed to a single season,” said Hall’s father, Tyler, born in Woodstock and his wife from Bermuda. “Secondly, there is a sentimental value to this award as Bermuda is where Hall's love for baseball started.”
More rewards might be coming Hall’s way. He might watch less TV than the average teen, but he can probably hit the ball farther than most adults. He might not have his parents around to cut the crust off his sandwich, but he might make it further in baseball than anyone has ever before in an island country with a population of about 65,000.
“If I want to do anything in baseball I know I have to make that sacrifice to be able to,” Hall said.
