Burns & Burns Beats Lions 4-2 to Earn Fourth Win (05/13/14)
(By Coach Kenn Staub)
Burns & Burns beat Lions 4-2 in the second game of a Clarion Little League week night doubleheader on Monday, May 12th. In a low scoring, back-and-forth affair, Burns & Burns needed some late inning heroics to nail down the win, their fourth of the season.
Lions, playing as the away team, opened the scoring in the top of the first. Ryan Hummell, the second batter of the inning, reached base on a fielder’s choice and then stole second. A two out double by Logan Lerch to right field plated Hummell, giving Lions a 1-0 lead. Burns & Burns responded to this early challenge, scoring a run of their own in the bottom of the frame to tie the game. Hayden Callen singled to the left side and advanced to second on an errant throw. On the fourth pitch to the following batter Callen stole third and eventually made his way home on a dropped third strike later in the at bat.
After a quiet second inning, scoring resumed in the third. Frederick singled to the left side and advanced to second on a sacrifice by the next batter. Ben Smith doubled Frederick home to put Lions ahead 2-1. The away team’s lead was short lived, however, as Burns & Burns tied things up in the bottom half of the inning. Ethan Burford, batting in the second spot, made it to first on a fielder’s choice and scored when Lake Staub hit a two out double to center.
Neither team scored in the fourth. Callen, on in relief for Burns & Burns, struck out the away side in nine pitches, and the Lions’s Hummell, also making a relief appearance, retired the orange and blue on two strike outs and a comebacker. Lions threatened in the top of the fifth, but their scoring attempt was thwarted on a play reminiscent of one in the two teams’ first meeting. With two outs Lions had a player on third who they attempted to score on a pitch in the dirt. Callen, aware of his responsibility in such a situation, charged from the mound to cover home and received an underhand toss on a direct line from his catcher, Staub, tagging out the runner as he slid into the plate and ending the inning. After this play, Burns & Burns came to bat and used a two out rally to take the lead. Callen reached on a fielder’s choice and scored from first when Staub hit a two out double to left field. Staub then motored around the bases to cross the plate when Jordan Pezzuti tripled to right.
Holding a 4-2 lead Burns & Burns needed the defense to come up big in the sixth to preserve the victory. Hummell led off for Lions, hitting a hard single to right field. With one out, the third Lions batter hit a deep shot to right field, which was caught by Bryan Andreas to prevent the runner on first from advancing. Callen struck out the final Lions batter to seal the win.
Frederick had a multi-hit game for Lions (two singles, double), with Hummell (single), Smith (double), and Lerch (double) also contributing hits. Smith and Lerch each drove in a run. Staub had two doubles for Burns & Burns and was joined in the hit column by Callen (single), Pezzuti (triple), and Jordy Hesdon (single). Staub was credited with two RBI and Pezzuti one.
Frederick got the start for Lions, striking out six in two-and-two third innings. Hummell pitched two-and-a-third innings in relief, fanning two. Staub started for Burns & Burns, striking out three in his three innings of work. Callen came on in relief to get the winning, fanning six in the final three innings of the game. Staub and Callen combined to complete the game in only 65 pitches (35 by Staub, 30 by Callen).
(Thanks to Coach Staub for this article.)