Sports
Merrick Patch Orioles on Wrong End of Back and Forth Game with Marlins
Both teams brought their bats as the Marlins edged the Merrick Patch Orioles Wednesday evening, 12-10.
The Merrick Patch Orioles clawed their way back from an early six-run deficit Wednesday, but ultimately wound up on the wrong end of a 12-10 outcome at the hands of the Marlins.
The Orioles, a Patch-sponsored Merrick Little League softball team, saw their two game winning streak come to an end, after a back and forth game at Chatterton Elementary School. The Marlins scored six runs in the top of the first inning, but the Orioles never stopped playing hard, and managed to create a lead of their own in the bottom of the third inning.
The Marlins started the game off with their first three batters reaching base. First there were singles from Jenna Korsten and Lexi Larson, and then Kayla Braccio drew her first of four walks on the night to load the bases. The clean-up batter Condello promptly cleared the bases with a three-run double. Nicollette Vanella capped the inning for the Marlins with a two-run single.
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"We got down six runs in the first and we didn't quit," Orioles manager Bob Hagerman told his team after the game. "You (the Orioles) should be proud of the way you played."
Lindsey Sheridan started the game on the mound for the Marlins, striking out four Orioles in that time. Sheridan struck out the side in the second inning, and left her team with a 6-1 lead when she was finished pitching for the night.
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The next inning proved to be very important in the how the duration of the game would be played out. In the top of the third inning Sheridan drew a walk with the bases loaded to build the Marlins' lead to six once again.
With the bases still loaded, and two outs, Korsten hit a sharp groundball to the Orioles shortstop, Gabby Farino, who proceeded to throw out Korsten at first base without much time to spare.
In the bottom of the inning the Orioles bats came alive, as they seven runs crossed home plate. After the leadoff batter was retired, the next seven Orioles' hitters reached base safely, cutting the Marlins' lead to two runs.
The Marlins then changed pitchers, bringing in Katie Goodman, who managed to put out the fire so-to-speak. The Orioles scored two runs on a groundout by Christie Powell, and got an RBI single by Tara Hagerman to give the Orioles their first, and only, lead of the game. Goodman was able to get two of the three batters she faced in the inning to ground out, but the Orioles had the lead going into the fourth.
Alex Molinari pitched brilliantly for the Orioles, recording seven strikeouts in her three innings of work, and the Orioles took a one-run lead into the final inning. Goodman was first up for the Marlins in the inning and hit a bullet to Maggie Flaherty playing second base.
Flaherty calmly fielded the ground ball and threw Goodman out for the first out of the inning. It was the final two outs of the inning that proved to be difficult for the Orioles.
Sheridan hit a single with the bases loaded, scoring three runs for the Marlins, and built a lead that would not be overcome.
Going into the bottom of final inning, with the Orioles down four, Farino rallied her teammates together in the dugout to create a spark. "Do you want to win?" Farino asked her teammates. "This is last licks."
The Orioles managed to scratch out two runs in the inning with RBIs from Hargerman and Farino, but it was not enough as the Marlins held on to win, 12-10.
Hagerman told his team after the game, "Every single one you has gotten better as softball players from the beginning of the season to now."
The Orioles will start post-season play Saturday against the Yankees.
