Bulldogs (Baymen-Roadrunners) PrevailSep. 20, 2009 The LI Bulldogs, formerly playing as the LI Baymen-Roadrunners, took on Team STAMPEDE at Brady Park Saturday. The STAMPEDE won 4 of their last 5 meetings versus the Bulldogs/Baymen, but the Bulldogs took the doubleheader as they moved to "even the score".
In the 1st inning of game one, Smithtown jumped ahead quickly with 2 runs following Matt the Bat's single to right. Anthony dropped a perfect SAC down the third base line to put Matt, who stole second base, on third. Jason's RBI liner to right brought Matt in, with Sneaky J slipping into second on the throw. Jason then stole third, and scored on Nick the Stick's rope down the LF line. Nicholas then stole second, and moved to third as Salvatore & the Pounder drew walks. With one out, bases loaded, & 2 runs in, two STAMPEDE strikeouts came to douse the rally.
The STAMPEDE bats went somewhat silent the next 5 innings with no hits or runs in the 3-2 defeat, as the STAMPEDE pitching of Nick S. & Connor S. held strong with the defense until the 4th inning. In the 4th, the Bulldogs rallied to register 3 runs on 3 singles and 2 walks, in what proved to be their busiest inning of the game. The Bulldog defense (despite 5 walks issued by their pitching) made several solid plays in the infield and outfield to keep Smithtown's offense in check.
In Game 2, the Bulldogs parlayed 2 singles, 4 steals, and a Smithtown error into a run, as Jason killed the rally with 2 strikeouts to end the 1st inning. The STAMPEDE came right back when Matt the Bat led off with a walk, and moved to 3rd on Jason's (who took 2nd on relay) smoker to right. Nick the Stick then did his thing, driving a ball past the shortstop to bring in both runs. As Smithtown pounded out hits - Pounder to RC, Hit Man Anthony double to LC -- the Bulldog defense stepped up. A superb diving grab in center to rob Jason of a sure hit, and a stellar back-tracking overhead catch in deep left to take an extra base hit away from Nick the Stick held the STAMPEDE to only 2 runs through 5 innings. Defensive gems such as STAMPEDE 2B Chris snagging a hot liner in the hole for an L4-3 DP also kept the Bulldogs quiet until their half of the 5th.
After Smithtown turned it's second highlight-reel DP of the day in the 4th (grounder to Chris now at 3B, firing to Salvatore at 1B, gunning to a planted Connor S. at the plate), the upcoming 5th was to be the deciding inning. Anthony, on in relief, gave a single to center, then saw the flood gates open after an error on a sure FC. With the STAMPEDE infield playing in... a hit batter, a roller in front of the plate, a FC (held ball), a missed pop up in the infield, and another single slapped behind second base... all preceded a come-backer and a pop to RF to end the inning. The 5th frame netted 6 unearned runs for the Bulldogs as they sent a parade of 11 batters to the plate to seemingly put the game out of reach.
In the STAMPEDE 6th, they fired up a furious rally as Matt the Bat singled and was followed by Hit Man & Jason's walks... bases loaded one out and Nick the Stick lined an RBI single through the hole into RF. Connor N. worked a key bases loaded walk, and Nick S. topped an RBI (FC) roller to the pitcher for the second out, scoring the 5th run. Chris worked a huge walk to re-load the bases, continuing the rally. The Bulldog bullpen scrambled to get a pitcher loose, but looked on to see the STAMPEDE 2 out rally fizzle as their reliever tallied strikeout number eleven to end the game.
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