Ottawa Snaps Rockland’s Winning Streak
In the second game of a four game series between the two teams, the Ottawa Champions defeated the Boulders by a score of 13-8 to break up Rockland’s seven game winning streak. Starter CJ Riefenhauser gave up seven runs (five earned) in five innings for the Boulders while Austin Chrismon (4-2) also had a seven run (six earned) outing in six innings to take the win. Thomas Lawrence (1-1) recorded the loss.
The Boulders got off to their usual hot start. In the first inning, back-to-back singles from Dylan Tice and Cody Regis set up Joe Maloney who doubled to bring in both runners. Later in the inning, Chrismon fielded a groundball but threw it into the first base dugout allowing Maloney to score and give the Boulders a 3-0 lead.
Rockland loaded the bases in the second inning. Maloney picked up another RBI with a sac fly to drive in Alex Herceg and Marcus Nidiffer gave the Boulders their fifth run with an RBI single bringing home Tice.
However, the Champions battled back starting in the third inning. Matt Helms led off with a double and scored on a single by Daniel Bick. Another single by Steve Nyisztor and an E6 loaded the bases. The Boulders tried to turn an inning ending double play but Dylan Tice threw it past Maloney at first base allowing two more runners to score. A solo homer by Daniel Grauer in the fourth cut his team’s deficit with the score at 5-4.
In the fifth inning, things went south for the Boulders. Sebastien Boucher and Brandon Fischer singled to reach base. Grauer then hit his second home run of the game to give the Champions a 7-5 lead. Captain Nidiffer also left the game in the inning with an apparent injury. Maloney became the catcher and Chris Carmain entered the game to play first base.
The Boulders tied the game up in the sixth inning starting with a leadoff double by Mike Montville who moved to third on a groundout and scored on a sac fly by Herceg. McDonald then smacked his second homer in two games over the short porch wall to even the score.
Ottawa took the lead back with new pitcher Thomas Lawrence on the mound. After Boucher walked and Steve Brown’s bunt single, a base hit from Grauer scored Boucher. The Boulders loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but were unable to capitalize.
The deficit continued to build in the eighth. Reliver Alex Farina walked the first three Champions to load the bases. Chris Carmain replaced Farina and Ottawa put up a five spot to take a 13-7 lead.
Regis gave the resilient Boulders another run with a double to bring home Tice in the bottom of the inning. In the ninth, three straight singles by Jon Smith, Herceg and McDonald tacked on another run but it was not enough as the Champions improved to 13-21 while Rockland is 26-9. The third game of the series will be tomorrow starting at 6:30 p.m.