Warriors Topple St. Andrew Red 18-12

Rez Life came through in a must-win game versus St. Andrew Red last week with an 18-12 victory that propelled the team into 3rd place. The solid victory keeps hope alive for a 2nd place finish in the league for the Warriors.

The offense was consistent, scoring at least two runs in every inning before time ended the game after six full innings. The team banged out 25 hits and drew 3 walks.

Lee Valle led the way and earned Player of the Game honors with a 4-4 game including a walk, three runs scored and two RBI. Eric Johnson added four hits with four runs scored and one RBI.

In the top of the first, Austin Colby singled to open the game and went to second on a flyout from Chris Burr. Brendan Finn then lined a single to score Austin and open the scoring. Eric followed with a base-hit and Lee drove home Finn with the third straight single of the inning. After another flyout, Jordan Schumack capped the scoring with an RBI single.

St. Andrew Red didn't score and Rez came to bat in the second leading 3-0. The first two batters went down but Austin and Chris hit back-to-back doubles to push one run across and then Finn singled to score Chris to make it 5-0. Red came back with five runs in the bottom half to tie it as the Warrior pitchers combined to walk five straight batters after the first two players reached on errors. After the fifth walk, three straight pitches led to three outs and ended the long inning.

Now tied, the Warriors first six batters reached base safely which led to four runs in the top of the third. Lee walked and went to second on Jamy Antoine's single. Jordan doubled to score Lee and Jon Engbrecht's grounder to short allowed Jamy to score and a bad throw allowed Jon to reach. Jeff Johnson then delivered a two-RBI single to plate Jordan and Jon all with no outs. Jason Merritt singled to make it first and second with no outs and the top of the order up. However, Austin, Chris and Finn went down in order and Rez missed out on a big inning.

Red came back with one run in the bottom half on four singles. There could have been more but a Jason to Finn to Jamy relay cut down a runner at home to end the inning. Rez Life scored three more runs in the top of the fourth to take a 12-6 lead. Eric, Lee and Jamy singled to start the inning, the last one scoring Eric. After an out and a walk loaded the bases, Jeff hit a sacrifice fly to score Lee for the second run. Jason singled up the middle to plate the final run of the frame.

St. Andrew scored one run and had four straight singles in the bottom of the fourth but Jamy fired a strike to Eric at home from right-center which cut down another potential run and a grounder to Jon at third ended the dangerous inning.

In the top of the fifth, the first two Warriors went down again only to see another two-out rally come alive. Eric and Lee ripped back-to-back singles and the bases were loaded when Jay walked. Jordan knocked out the two-out two-run single to make it 14-7 after four and a half innings.

St. Andrew used its three hits and walk well in the bottom half scoring two runs and making it 14-9 going into the last inning because of the time limit. The Warriors again used the two-out sparkplug to make things happen as Austin ripped a single to right with two outs and no one on to start the rally. Chris followed with a single and Finn's deep double plated both runners to add some cushion. Eric followed with a double down the left-field line and Lee plated Eric with his fourth hit of the game. Jamy lined his third single but both runners were stranded after the third out.

Leading 18-9 going into the last inning, the Warriors kind of cruised, alonging three runs while holding on for the comfortable 18-12 win. The team is all by itself in third place at 9-5 with four games remaining. With wins in all four games, the Warriors would surpass last season's win total and most likely finish in second place. Life is still atop the standings at 11-2 with Living Word in second at 10-4. Living Word missed out on its chance for first last week dropping a close one to Life.

St. Andrew Blue is the opponent tonight at 5:50 on field #3.