Gritty Pitching Effort Helps Rams Secure Win

A pair of powerful hits by slugger's Wyatt Featherston and Alex Haussmann and a valient effort by the team's pitching staff lead the Rams to a 13-6 victory last night over the Stanley Lake Gators.

The game started with the first two batters, Jake Staley and Ben Boyd, drawing a walk from the opposing pitcher. Next, Haussmann snaked a hard-hit single through the hole, and drove both baserunners home. That cleared the plate for Featherston, who smashed a monster home run, scoring two more runs. Trevor Willson singled and Austin Jones drew a walk, as did Garrett Storm. The inning ended with the Rams scoring an impressive 7 runs.

Pitcher Jake Staley struck out the first two batters he faced, and allowed only one run on a walk. In the early part of the game, it looked like it was going to be a blowout.


The second inning saw Staley lacing a single down the third base line. Then, with two outs on the board, Haussmann smashed his best hit of the season: a triple that rolled all the way to the fence. He made it home off the bat of Featherston, who hit a single down the line. The Rams had scored 10 runs.


In the bottom of the second, the Gators scored three runs. The inning ended on an infield play to second baseman Arley Anderson. The Rams batters kept things going in the third, with a double by Austin Jones. Garrett Anderson was hit by the pitcher, and driven home on a sacrifice fly by Benjamin McHugh.


When it was clear that Staley had run out of gas, Colton Faubion took over the pitching effort and forced a couple of hits that the outfield easily handled. One particularly pretty catch was made by Staley, who was playing shortstop at the time.


The team started showing wear in the fourth and fifth innings, and allowed the Gators to stay in the game. Faubion gritted through the inning, allowing only two runs, despite obvious fatigue.



In the top of the fifth, the Gator's pitcher made a couple of oustanding plays, catching hard hit balls by both Featherston and Jones. Willson, however, singled, and catcher Joe Anderson smoked a ball past the shortstop to drive hime home. McHugh connected for the second time in the game, and added another run to the score.



The game ended in great style, as Faubion struck the next two batters out. The third batter connected and sent the ball sailing into the outfield. Not to worry. Center fielder Storm made a beautiful catch and ended the game. Score: Rams 13, Gators 6.