Dateline: Fox Mill District Park
The Angels opened their Fall campaign under the lights at Fox Mill District Park. Despite being beset by injuries, the Angels had the minimum seven needed to field a team. On a cool evening Mac led off with a walk and was followed by Taylor who was hit by a pitch right. Taylor brushed it off and headed to first. Garrett walked, Eric went down swinging, Alec was walked which brought in Mac for what would be the Angels only score. The inning ended as the Angels were forced to take a second out due to a lack of players.
Taylor walked confidently to the mound to start the game for the Angels. /fter 5 pitches the Indians batter smacked a shot that bounced up and caught Taylor in the forearm. Due to this injury Coach Goldstein had to pull Taylor and go early to his bullpen. Alec got the call and held the Indians to only a run. This reporter notes that Eric made a nice play on a shot to first.
In the second, the Angels bats were silent. Alec was able to hold the Indians to only two runs. So after two it was 3-1 and Angels fans hoped for a rally.
In the 3rd Robbie hit an infield fly that was sadly caught by the first baeman. In the bottom of the third the Indians took advantage of a couple of hits and several walks to score 4 to take a 7-1 lead.
In the 4th Mac went to the mound for the Angels and shut down the Indians 1, 2, 3. The Angels offense remained off track and Mac strolled to the mound to try to keep hope alive. He gave up only one run and benefited on a nice play by Ben at first as he charged a dribbler and outran the batter to end the inning.
In the top of the 6th the Angels had a change with 8 players now available, it was possible to win this game. But alas the Indians closer shut down the Angels 1,2,3.
Final score Indians 8 Angels 1.
This reporter tried to get a comment from Coach Goldstein but all he was able to hear was “Grumble…grumble…grumble, did you see that play by Eric, grumble…grumble…grumble, did you see that play by Ben, grumble…grumble…grumble, that Taylor is tougher than he looks”
Coach Grossman was reached for a rare phone interview as he was busy scouting players for the Spring draft. “I am extremely happy that we will play the Indians twice more this season. Things will not go so easily for them when we have all our players. Our team has practiced hard and I think we’ll bounce back quickly. I am very pleased that our pitching was pretty good and I suspect it will only get better. Our hitters have looked too good in practice for us to routinely score only one run –we’ll have another great practice on Wednesday and be ready to play this Saturday.”
The Angels have a practice Wednesday at Hook Road 1 at 5:30 and a game on Saturday at 10:00 at Browns Chapel. Players are asked to arrive at 9:30 for pre-game warm-ups.
