Arlington Loses to the Blue Sox, 6-3

The Intercity League game was off and literally running after only the second swing of the first inning late July 12 when Arlington Trojan Paul O'Neill ran to second after smacking the ball deep into left field at Lexington High School.

But O'Neill's hit didn't carry enough momentum for the Trojans to win, as the Lexington Blue Sox took the victory 6-3, running their record to 14-4.

"Don't take (the Trojans) lightly. If you want to win, play tough, play smart," Blue Sox coach Rick DeAngelis said he told his club before the game.

O'Neill did score the Trojans' first run in the first inning against Blue Sox pitcher Drew Brzozwski after Mike Griffin's hit got O' Neill to third and Greg Wilson's RBI single brought him home.

The Blue Sox touched home plate for their first run off Arlington starter Matt Olsen in the third inning. Ross Curley's grounder slid past third base and into left field for an RBI, scoring Dan Capra from second to tie the game at 1-apiece.

After a talk between Trojans pitcher and catcher, the Blue Sox scored again in the fifth inning. Curley pounded the ball into left field with the bases loaded for his second RBI, scoring Ryan Duff and Dan Capra, and advancing Pete Frates to third and himself to second. Ben Hewett then took to the plate. His single scored Frates and Curley to make it 5-1.

Once more, the Trojan catcher ran to the mound to converse, this time with Trojans coach Joe Hart joining.

The Blue Sox scored again, making it 6-1, when Eric Poling — with Hewett at third and pinchrunner Chas Agrillo at first — knocked a hit to left field.

The bottom of the sixth inning brought a pitching change for the Trojans, with Peter Given taking the mound.

Even though Olsen was relieved in the sixth, Hart said that this was one of Olsen's best outings. Olsen let up one walk in the first, one wild pitch in the second, and one walk in the fifth.

After only the first swing by Blue Sox pinch hitter John Seed, Given and the catcher had a chat, the fourth time in the game that Trojan's pitcher and catcher talked.

It was the Trojans' final chance to catch up to the Blue Sox and eliminate their fourth straight loss to Lexington in the top of the seventh inning. Chris Dicecca's hit did allow Justin Mansfield and Brown to score, but the rally came up short, ending the game and continuing Lexington's winning streak over Arlington.

"This is what I expected," Hart expressed.

"Our goal is to play competitively," Hart continued, but he added that since his team consists of "real young" players, he feared his boys didn't have a chance against the reigning Intercity League champions.

DeAngelis believed his players were "playing better as a team" in tonight's game and added that Brzozwski, who pitched the entire game and only allowed one walk in the fourth and one wild pitch in the seventh, "pitched very well" and was "in complete command."