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Chesapeake Baseball Association Tournament
With rain washing out all of Saturday's games, Sunday turned into a baseball marathon for the GORC Wildcats at the Chesapeake Baseball Association (CBA) tournament. The Wildcats were forced to play 4 games over 12 hours. Their efforts were rewarded with a second place finish.
The day began with a first round contest against the Lake Shore Bluesox. Offense was the story of this game as the two teams combined for 30 runs. The Wildcats prevailed 19-11. Hitting stars for GORC were Peyton Hudlow (3-4, 2 RBI), Brady Ward (2-3, 2 RBI), Robert Colvin (2-3, double, 1 RBI), Chris Ford (2-2, double, 1 RBI), Mason McElhaney (2-3, 3 RBI), Tyler Schmitz (2-3, 1 RBI).
Defensive highlights included Catcher Calvin Wood gunning down two would-be basestealers at 3rd in the same inning (4th), and a 1-6-3 (Peyton to Robert to David) double play to end the game.
In game 2, GORC squared off against the Southern Maryland Knights. The Wildcats took a 3-2 lead into the 3rd inning, but their pitching could not contain the Knights' bats as they fell 13-5. Hitting stars for GORC included David Williams (3-3, 1 RBI) and Ryan Kendig (2-2).
Game 3 pitted the Wildcats against the PAL Astros. This epic see-saw battle would turn out to be the most exciting game of the tournament.
The Wildcats took the early lead 6-2 after two innings. However, PAL would battle back with 10 runs to take a commanding 12-6 lead heading to the bottom of the 5th inning.
Down to the last 6 outs of their season, the Wildcats mounted the most impressive comeback in team history. Ryan Kendig delivered the big blow in a 5-run 5th inning with a two-out 3-run homer to left center. Robert Colvin then pitched a scoreless top of the 6th inning to keep the game close.
Up by a run in the bottom of the sixth, PAL retired the first two batters and were one out away from securing the victory. But Andrew Cassard singled, stole second base and scored on a Peyton Hudlow single to tie the game and send it to extra innings. After PAL once again took the lead with a run in the top of the 7th inning, the Wildcats showed they still had one more Houdini act in them.
Singles by Brady Ward and David Williams put runners on the corners with one-out. Then, Chris Ford delivered the game tying single, followed by a Mason McElhaney single to end this thrilling game.
Defensive highlights included two double plays started by First baseman Brady Ward, shortstop Robert Colvin gunning down a runner at the plate, and catcher Chris Ford throwing out a runner trying to steal second.
Pitcher David Williams went the first three innings for GORC allowing only 1 earned run. He would be re-inserted back on the mound in the top of the 7th inning with no outs and two runners on. He retired the only three batters he faced, setting the stage for the dramatic finish in the bottom of the 7th.
Exhausted after 10-hours of baseball, the Wildcats took the field again in the tournament finale against the Knights. Trailing 8-4 heading to the bottom of the 3rd inning, the Wildcats showed they still had some fight left in them. A one-out double by Robert Colvin got things started, and the Wildcats took advantage of some Knight fielding miscues, to battle back and tie the game at 8 heading into the 4th inning. However, fatigue would finally prevail as the Wildcats could not contain the Southern Maryland bats, eventually falling 17-8.
Notable Tournament Performances:
David Williams (9-12, double, 2 RBI, 0.769 OB%; 7 2/3 innings pitched, 3.91 era)
Robert Colvin (7-13, 4 doubles, 3 RBI, 7 runs scored, 0.538 OB%)
Peyton Hudlow (6-11, 4 RBI, 0.643 OB%, 5 innings pitched, only 3 BB)
Mason McElhaney (5-11, 2 doubles, 5 RBI, 0.500 OB%)
Chris Ford (5-11, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 6 runs scored, 0.538 OB%)
Tyler Schmitz (5-10,4 RBI)
Ryan Kendig (3-8, homerun, 5 RBI, 6 runs scored)
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