The Chargers lost the elimination game against the Wolves.
Photo courtesy of Leanna Cappucci
After losing to Newsome 2-0 on April 23 and defeating Newsome 11-6 on April 24, the two teams faced off on Saturday for an elimination game.
The leadoff batter for the Wolves reached first. Brisen Tweedy, Crest’s pitcher, struck out the second batter for the first out of the inning. The third batter of the inning hit a single to center field, putting two on with one out. The cleanup batter for the Wolves grounded out into a fielder’s choice, making it runners on the corners with two outs. The next batter reached second after two Chargers errors in the field, scoring two Wolves runs. A wild pitch by Tweedy advanced the Wolves batter to third. The Wolves extended their lead to 3-0 after an RBI single through the right infield. The following batter for the Wolves was walked, putting another two Wolves on with two outs. The Wolves extended their lead once more with a RBI single to right field, making it 4-0. Yet another Wolves RBI single made it 5-0. Tweedy struck out the following batter to get out of the top of the first inning.
Toby Highsmith led off for the Chargers and popped up in the infield for the first out of the inning. Reuben Vasquez was up next and was walked, giving the Chargers their first base runner of the game. Nico Cappucci was next and singled on a hard-hit ball to centerfield. Chase Conti was up with two on and one out for the Chargers and hit a RBI double over the third baseman. With Dillon Knight up next, it was one out with runners on second and third. Knight was walked, loading the bases with Matt Hall up. Hall grounded into a force out as they got the runner out at home. Tripp House was up next and flew out to right field to end the inning, with the Wolves up 5-1.
At the beginning of the second inning, Tweedy made a great fielding play as he stopped the hard-hit ball to him and got the out at first. The following batter reached first on an infield single. The next batter for the Wolves grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out of the inning. The next runner fouled out, leaving one on for a nice bounce-back inning for Tweedy and the Chargers.
Tweedy was up first for the Chargers and flew out to right field for the first out of the inning. Saxon Shah was up next and struck out. Toby Highsmith was up with two outs and flew out foul for a quick 1-2-3 inning.
Tweedy was back on the mound in the top of the third and struck out the leadoff batter. The second batter of the inning had a nice single into center field. The following batter grounded out to the third baseman for the second out of the inning. The next batter grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
Vasquez was back up for his second at bat in the bottom of the third but tried stealing second and was thrown out by the Wolves catcher for the first out of the inning. Cappucci was up next and singled up the middle, putting one on with Conti up. He singled, putting two on with one out, and Knight was up. A wild pitch advanced Cappucci to third during Knight’s at-bat. Knight grounded out to third base, but Cappucci scored. Hall was up next, and RBI doubled, making it 5-3. House was up next, and a wild pitch on his at-bat advanced Hall to third. House struck out, ending the third with the Chargers up 5-3.
Saxon Shah took over for Brisen Tweedy to pitch for the Chargers in the top of the fourth. The leadoff hitter singled to center field. The following batter for the Wolves hit an RBI triple to extend the lead to 6-3. The Wolves then hit a pop fly to center field. The Chargers were unable to locate it, and another run scored, making it 7-3. The next batter was hit by a pitch, which put two on with one out. Shah got into rhythm with his first strikeout of the game. With two outs and runners on first and second, the next Wolves batter was walked, loading the bases. The Wolves batter RBI singled, keeping the bases loaded and extending the lead to 8-3. Shah struck out the next batter to leave bases loaded.
Tweedy was back up in the bottom of the fourth for the Chargers and flew out deep to right field. Shah was up next and was hit by a pitch. Highsmith was back for his third at bat. He singled, putting two on with one out, and Reuben Vasquez was up. James Marinez took over as a pinch runner for the pitcher on second. Vasquez struck out, keeping two on with Cappucci up. He grounded out and left two on with the Wolves up 8-3.
Shah was still pitching in the top of the fifth for the Chargers. Shah struck out the leadoff Wolves batter. The following batter for the Wolves popped out on the first pitch. Shah struck out the next batter for a quick, three-up, three-down.
Conti was up in the bottom of the fifth to lead off for the Chargers. Conti struck out for the first out of the inning. Knight was up next and tripled with a nice hit to right field. Hall hit a sacrifice fly to center field, getting out but scoring Knight. James Marinez was up for his first at-bat of the game and grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning. At the end of the fifth inning, the Wolves were up 8-4.
Shah was back out for the top of the sixth and struck out the lead-off batter for his third strikeout in his last four faced. The following Wolves batter doubled with one out. The next batter grounded out to second but advanced the Wolves batter to third. Shah struck out his fifth batter of the game to get out of the inning.
Tweedy was back up in the bottom of the sixth with the Chargers down four runs. Tweedy hit a hard ball to first, but the Wolves’ first baseman made a good play for the first out. Shah was up and hit another hard ball to the first baseman, but it resulted in an out. Highsmith was back up and singled with a nice hit to left field. Vasquez was up next, with two outs. He singled, which put two on with two outs. Cappucci was up next and struck out to end the inning, with the game still 8-4 Wolves.
Shah was back out there in the top of the seventh inning for the Chargers. Shah stayed hot with his sixth strikeout of the game for the first out. The following Wolves batter flew out to center field for the second out of the game. Shah struck out his seventh batter of the game to send it to the bottom of the seventh.
Conti was leading off in the bottom of the seventh and hit a leadoff double. Knight was up next and struck out. With one out, Hall was up and flew out to left field on the first pitch. James Marinez was up next and flew out. The final score was 8-4, with the Newsome Wolves winning and advancing in the regionals.
Box Score:
Reuben Vasquez: 2-4, 1 Run
Toby Highsmith: 2-4
Nico Cappucci: 2-4, 1 Run
Saxon Shah: 0-3
Chase Conti: 3-4, 1 RBI, 1 Run
Tripp House: 0-2
Dillon Knight: 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 Run
Matt Hall: 1-3, 2 RBIs
Brisen Tweedy: 0-3
James Marinez: 0-2
Pitching:
Brisen Tweedy: 3IP, 3K’s, 8H, 5ER, 1BB
Saxon Shah: 4IP, 8K’s, 5H, 3ER, 1BB
