The American Astros came out swinging and never stopped in an 11-1 mercy-rule win over the National Rockies in Wednesday's Junior City Championship.
The Astros topped off the year with a record of 13-1.
“We lost only one game this year; the kids have kept the intensity up all season long. We have a great group of kids that are always working hard and always playing hard,” Astros coach Dale Lovelace said.
As a team, the Astros accumulated 10 hits for the game, over nine stolen bases and 11 runs scored, five of which were scored in the first two innings.
The Rockies would score their only lonesome run in the first and that would be all for their offense as they were shutout for the remainder of the game by Trevor Lovelaces’ tremendous pitching. By the end of the second inning, the Astros had taken a quick 5-1 lead and they did not look back after that.
Trevor Lovelace went the distance again after throwing his third complete game of the season going six strong innings, while only tossing 74 pitches, allowing one run, striking out four and walking two.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Astros’ Ray Wiegger and Cameron Haggstrom scored the sixth and seventh runs after each stole second and third base to raise the score to 7-1. Adriano Garcia scored the eighth run after Brendan Curwow drove him in with an RBI single. Bradley Enos drove in Dominic Silva for the ninth run after an RBI single. Enos scored after a pass ball and John Fitzgerald stole second and third, then walked in the game winner after a second past ball.
Wiegger batted 2-for-4 with three runs scored from the lead off position and also stole six bags. Haggstrom went 2-for-4 for the day with two runs scored. Enos hit 1-for-4 with a run scored and three stolen bases.
“This group of kids has fought all year long. They are a great group. The majority did not know each other before the season, but they acclimated quickly and well. They are all great kids and everybody has hit a clutch hit at least once this year,” Lovelace said about his Astros squad.
