Sports
Clutch Hitting, Strong Pitching Lift Chatham 10U Past Clark
Team edges Clark in the 21st annual Chatham Invitational Tournament.
The last three outs of the game came easy for Chatham 10U pitcher Nick Vivona, but Saturday’s victory over the Clark Little League 10U All Stars was far from that.
Chatham defeated Clark 2-1 in the opening game of the 21st annual Chatham 10U Invitational Tournament at Nash Field. The game featured outstanding pitching, but it was Chatham’s offense that outlasted Clark by one run.
Key Performers: (Chatham) Nick Vivona did more than just close out the game on Saturday, he also added two of Chatham’s three hits on the day. Vivona singled in the tying run for Chatham in the bottom of the fifth inning that sealed Chatham’s victory. Pitcher Will Ethridge also contributed on the day, pitching two scoreless innings. Ethridge also struck out four Clark batters on the day.
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Pitchers: Brian Cook pitched two innings with two strikeouts, while giving up two hits and one earned run; Will Ethridge pitched two innings with four strikeouts, while giving up one hit and no earned runs; Nick Vivona pitched two innings with two hits allowed and no earned runs.
Key Moments: Chatham came to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning down 1-0 and rallied to take the lead. Bobby Keenan led of the frame with a walk and Sean Vowells followed him with a walk of his own. That’s when Vivona stepped to plate and delivered an RBI single down the right-field line scoring Keenan. Vowells later scored in the inning on a fielder’s choice hit by Dillon Murray.
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Clark took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning after Tavares led off with a single. Tavares then used his speed to steal both second and third base to put Clark in prime position. Tavares then came home with Clark’s only run of the game on a Logan Olsen ground out.
Clark had a chance to extend its lead in the top of the fourth inning. The inning started when Nicholas Shapiro walked and then stole second and third base. Stephen Kehrle was then hit by a pitch in the leg, loading the bases for Clark. Chatham pitcher Will Ethridge then dug deep and got out of the bases-loaded jam without surrendering a run. He struck out Andrew Kehrle and got Joseph Concina to ground out.
