AVALANCHE EASY LIKE A SUNDAY MORNING

STRUTHERS, Ohio –

Carrying a perfect game and a 2-run lead into the bottom half of the 4th, Eagle Wear (8-12) was in firm control of their divisional matchup against the Goldstone top dog Avalanche (13-6).

Starter Christian Zilli worked flawlessly through the Avalanche 10-man lineup, striking out 5 in the process, before allowing the first runner to reach via the walk. The next batter would also reach, this time thanks to an error, putting runners on the corners with 1 away.

A stolen base moved the man on first into scoring position before Derek Franken would single on a ground ball through the 6-5 hole, bringing across 2 to tie the game. Franken would advance all way to third on an overthrow from the left fielder.

Already a long inning, things continued to go wrong for Eagle Wear. After plunking the next man up with a first pitch curveball, Avalanche would advance Griff Richardson to second on a stolen base. Rather than making the throw down, the Eagle Wear catcher tried to catch the man at 3rd sleeping but would launch his throw into left field giving Avalanche the lead.

Eagle Wear would never recover from their 4thinning blunder, only getting one runner in scoring position for the rest of the game.

The Avalanche plated a solo run in the 6th, thanks to a runner who reached via an error, off a 2 out single by Alarik Sierra. Towering righty, Mason Jones, came on in the 6th to hopefully close things out, but was pulled in the 7th with 2 outs and a 2-2 count, presumably for pitch count. Isaac Criss would come on and throw one pitch to strike out Sam Amodeo for the save and secure the Avalanche victory 4-2.