Lebron Grand Slam Puts Thrill into North vs. South Game

The Rams and the Vikings put on an exciting show when they played this week at South.

Both teams played excellent baseball in a game filled with spectacular plays and controversial calls.  The highlight of the evening came when Aaron Lebron came up for the Rams in the top of the seventh with two outs and hit a grand slam to tie the game and send it into extra innings.  The two teams battled it out after this until the Vikings finally won it with a walk-off walk in the bottom of the ninth.

By the top of the sixth, the score was 3-1 in favor of the Vikings.  With one out and runners on second and third, the Rams hit a would-be sacrifice fly to center field.  The runner at third was safely home, however, the ball was caught and the runner on second failed to tag up.  He could not get back in time and was thrown out at second to not only end the inning, but to also negate the scoring run.

The Vikings scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score to 5-1.  This set up the game for the spectacular play in the top of the seventh.  With bases loaded and two outs, Aaron Lebron came up to the plate.  He took a strike and then hit a shot deep into left field that soared over the fence for a grand slam to tie the game at 5-5.

The Vikings could not score a run in the seventh and the game went into extra innings.  They had trouble in the top of the eighth, as they went through three pitchers in five hitters to load the bases with only one out.  Anthony Barbetto came up and hit a grounder to first which the pitcher snatched and threw to get the runner out at home.  The catcher whipped around and threw the ball to first for the double play, however, the first baseman bobbled the ball.  Unfortunately for the Rams, Barbetto was called out due to running slightly outside the baseline to end the top of the eighth.

The Rams head coach Mike Pisano took issue with the call and was tossed for arguing with the umpire. 

The Rams closed out the bottom of the inning well, with Vaccarelli striking out two of the three batters and Stephen Shileile making an excellent sliding catch in center field.  North loaded the bases again in the top of the ninth, however, their final shot of the game from Stephen Shileile was fielded for the third out.

After another excellent sliding catch in the outfield, the Rams began to allow runners on base.  Joe Solicito missed a stop on a ground ball which allowed a man on first.  Vaccarelli then walked the next man to put men on first and second.  A hit deep right allowed the man on second to advance to third, despite an excellent running catch by Stephen Shileile.  Unfortunately for the Rams, Vaccarelli then walked the next two batters to bring in the winning run.

While both teams played a great game and had many excellent plays, the Vikings were able to come out on top 6-5 to bring their record to 10-7.  The Rams put up a great effort, however, they put themselves in a difficult situation with five errors.  Both Rams pitchers, Abdallah and Vaccarelli, had solid games. But fter pitching six innings, Vaccarelli  started running out of gas. Despite the outcome, the Rams took the loss in stride with good sportsmanship all around.