Game Date:        May 8, 2004
Leagues:          Rookie
Orioles 13    Athletics 13
 

Description:

An exciting 3 inning game featuring hitting and DEFENSE at the kids best!  After a 1st inning which featured the A's getting the third out at the end of the Orioles rotation and the Orioles unable to stop the powerful and timely hitting of the A's, the Orioles trailed 8 to 5.

The second inning found the Orioles coming back in the top half to take a 13 to 8 lead going to the bottom of the 2nd.  Orioles Pitcher Bennett Fulkerson started the inning with a driving double.  Little Powerhouse Nathan Henry found a low sinker he drove through the infield for a double and RBI.  Russell Jackel and Robert Bohnenkamp both had 2-RBI hits in the inning. 

The Orioles started a stunning defensive inning with 1st baseman Jeremy Renner teaming up with 2nd baseman Nathan Henry for all 3 outs allowing only one base runner during the half of inning.

Entering the 3rd and up to bat with a 3 run lead, a few insurance runs would put the game out of reach for the Orioles.  Not to be out done, or out defended, the A's, behind the solid defensive play of pitcher Emma Leskody, systematically retired the Orioles holding them to just two base runners - completing an unusual SCORELESS bottom/top halves of an inning!  Well done teams!

Needing to hold on for the victory, the Orioles bounces did not seem to go their way!  Matthew Saxey started the inning with a stand-up double.  After a dead-ball single for Caleb Strunk and Joseph Ingemi's fielders choice out at 2nd base, defensive phenom Emma Leskody stood in the box and delivered the first of 5 RBI singles in a row.

The game now tied in the bottom of the third with only one out, things looked bleak for the Orioles.  A single out of the infield wins the game in walk-off fashion.  Responding to the call from his coach (me) 2nd baseman Nathan Henry cleanly fielded a ground ball and beat the runner to second base for the out.  Advancing the runner by Cameron Reeder was all his team asked and his job was done.

Runner on third, two outs, game tied...the Orioles needed something to field.  Jeremy Renner, our reliable first baseman fields a sharply hit ground ball and runs to step on first to end the game in an unlikely road to a tie game!

Two very good teams showed all aspects of the game!