Fitzroy visits Micksburg

from Scott Conroy
West Carleton made the drive up to Micksburg on Thursday night with uncertainty in the forecast as rain was expected throughout the evening. The Bantam Twins faced off against the Fitzroy Bantams before the GOFL game with the Twins prevailing 15-4 (WP John Enright, Joe Mick LP Josh Ottens, Owen Brown).

The balls were constantly being sent to the towels tonight with the constant rain and wet grass. But it turned into a pitching duel with Andy Barber toeing the slab for the 'Trics and the Twins countering with Joran Graham.

Fitzroy threatened in the first with Andy Barber hitting a single, and then Shonfield reaching on an attempted sac bunt. Graham would escape the threat with a ground out and two K’s.

Both pitchers sat in a rhythm from there on. Graham would strike out 8 consecutive batters after the first two hitters of the game reached.

In the fourth the Twins would threaten. Corey Costello led off with a single which was followed by two walks. Bases loaded, nobody out, Barber was able to get a fielder’s choice at the plate and then strike out the next two to keep the game deadlocked at 0’s.

A memorable fastball moment in the top of five as fifteen year old Matt Rorwick got his first GOFL at bat and hit for the 'Trics.

The sixth inning came with some controversy. Scott Conroy hit a fly ball just over the left fielder's head [Editor's note - yeah, that was me that missed it] and was able to reach third. The bases would be loaded again with nobody out for Micksburg. Chad Costello was intentionally put on and Quinton Rook also drew a walk. Jamey Mick chopped a ball up the middle which was played by the shortstop Shonfield which resulted in an attempted tag of the runner going to third, touching second, and a throw to first for the triple play. He was able to get the tag and the throw to first but the umpires left the runner on second after protest and discussion coming from both teams. Since it was ruled only a double play, Conroy scored to break the tie in the midst of all that and give the Twins a 1-0 lead.

Steve Cavanagh would single to lead off the seventh but Graham would shut it down.

Both teams were happy to get out of the rain. That being said, there is never a bad night for fastball.

Fitzroy
Pitching
Andy Barber 6inn 3 hits 7K’s 6BB
Hitting
Andy Barber 1-3
Steve Cavanagh 2-3
Matt Rorwick 1-1

Micksburg
Pitching
Graham 7inn 3 hits 13K’s 0BB
Hitting
Matt Mcintyre 1-3
Joran Graham 0-2 BB
Corey Costello 1-2 2B
Scott Conroy 1-1 3B
Chad Costello 0-0 3BB
Quinton Rook 0-1 2BB