MILLERS` IS SHOT TO PIECES!
Orwigsburg, Memorial Field. April 6, 2013 –
It only took four innings for the new look Rohrer’s
ball club in their burnt orange and black uniforms to sink a projected good
Millers` ball club on a bright, sunny Saturday afternoon on opening day. Well,
Cranks, as far as this writer can see the Rohrer’s ball club doesn’t have a
weak spot anywhere on the field. The returning veterans looked superb, and the
new rookies look sharp and ready to play ball.
There was a little anticipation on this writer’s part for
the ball club after losing three power hitters and pitchers from last season to
include Jake Biever, Drew Grace and M.J. Oswald. But as the Rohrer’s club took
the field and went to the box in the top of the first, I can guarantee you I
didn’t see anything different than what we all witnessed last year. The hitting
was superb. The fielding was quick and accurate. The Rohrer’s ball club brought in two runs in
the first inning, to the shock of the management at Millers` making the score 2
– 0. It will certainly prove interesting for the opponents of the Rohrer’s club
as the Rohrer`s heavy hitters they will face this year will be clouting the
ball right and left.
As the ball club came off the field, manager Ken Grace
congratulated the boys on the fine play at bat they showed for the
first-inning. Brent Kaunas, Dylan Biever, Blake Lipko, Nate Dixon, four of the
returning veterans, were strong at bat
along with Dylan Grace and Todd Schappell. As I noted in the preseason story,
manager Ken Grace stated, “The boys should be able to hold their own against
anybody in the league this year.” Now what came to this writer’s mind was,
let’s see what happens on the defense.
As we well know
the hunt for the league honors this year will not be an easy one for the
Rohrer’s club. I watched two of the three games played today and some of the
clubs that were supposedly going to be weak looked quite strong in the field
and at the bat.
When the club took the field in the bottom of the first,
Brent Kaunas, the bullet throwing right-hander, was the pilot of this new
juggernaut. With stunned silence from the Millers` dugout, Brent fanned the
first batter, second Millers` hitter got a single, and Millers` got an on base
run from the rule of being able to run on the third strike. But to no avail for
Millers`, Brent kept the score at 2- 0 at the end of the first inning.
Up to bat first for Rohrer’s in the top of the second was
rookie Troy Oswald making his debut in the majors. He is one of the consistent
outfielders on the club. With a good eye, Troy scopes each pitch from the
Millers` hurler and takes a walk . Blake Lipko slammed the ball into right
field and rounded the bases to third with a standup triple but then was ordered
by the manager to go on home which he
did and scores. Dylan Biever was up next and he poped out. Brent Kaunas enters the box and
slams one to deep right and rounds the bases right back to home for another
score. Big Nate Dixon, the third baseman, slams a hard-hit ball to center field
and gets on base. Dylan Grace takes his position in the batter`s box and pounds
out a single scoring Nate Dixon. And to finish out the rotation, J.T. Foulkrod
was called out. Kyle Bainbridge slams another single to right field while TJ,
our catcher, pops out. Back in the rotation, Blake Lipko slams another hit into
the outfield for a double. And finally to end the inning, Dylan Biever strikes
out. Score is 9-1 as the stunned fans for Millers` looked shocked. Base hits
are as plenty in this inning, for the Rohrer’s club, as straw hats in August.
They made the pitching delivery of the Miller’s pitcher look like a target on
which a squad of sharpshooters has been working at short range.
Brent “The Bullet” Kaunas is on the mound at the bottom
of the second. Brent gives up a single
to the first batte . Then in quick succession, Brent drops the next three
batters for three outs and the score is still 9-1 Rohrer’s.
In the third
inning Brent gets a hit and during a run down to second dives for second base
and is called out by the rule of no diving headfirst into a base. Nate Dixon
pops up and gets tagged out at first and TJ Shappell strikes out for the final
out in this inning.
Manager Grace made judicious and crafty use of his
pitching staff as he called Blake Lipko,
the tall right-hander, to the mound. As the Millers` batter steps up, Blake
gracefully makes him swing at dead air for the out. The next Millers` batter
drives a screaming grounder to the left side of Nate Dixon who snags it down
low, throws quick to Dylan Biever who is
on the bag at first and makes the out.
Next batter gets a single and the fourth batter drops to Blake’s consistent
right arm for the final out.
The final inning for Rohrer’s was just another hit fest
with Troy Oswald getting a single. Blake Lipko banged out his second triple and
Dylan Grace nailed a solid single. Brent Kaunas finishes off with a hard
driving triple. Nate Dixon gets a nice little daisy cutter right past the short
stop.
Manager Grace in his final talk with the club stated,” We
had a lot of hits and good pitching. Brent and Blake, you had really good
pitching today and we got to keep it up.”
After the first game of the season this writer is well
pleased with the play of the infield and our outfield. Power hitting was superb
and our pitching from Blake and Brent Kaunas was excellent. TJ Shappell caught
a good game. JT Fulkrod was a good catcher and in the infield also. The
outfield looks superb with Troy Oswald, Matt Ross and Kyle Bainbridge standing
tall. All in all, the club looked pretty impressive for the first game. But, cranks,
remember, we have a long haul to the final game.
Thanks to the coaches for their expert mentoring and support!
We’ll see all the fans at Memorial field on Tuesday,
April 9 as Rohrer’s vs. Schuylkill MRI at 5:50
See you there.
Our boys in action at the bat and on the field
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