Navigators walk off the field with first victory
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Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom |
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
DOVER-FOXCROFT — During an American Legion contest on June 23 at Foxcroft Academy, both the Rowell’s Navigators and Motor City would blow save opportunities in the seventh inning. However, the host Navigators (1-3) utilized homefield advantage by earning the team’s first win of 2016 by retaking the lead in the bottom of the seventh.
After a three-run top of the seventh gave Motor City (0-4) a 5-4 advantage, the visiting team brought in Ryan Jurgiewich to close in relief of starter Parker Walker. Facing a 2-2 count to lead off, the Navigators’ Cameron Doak fouled off the ensuing pitch and he then dropped a single into leftfield.
Jurgiewich then worked an 0-2 count against Chandler Rockwell. Rockwell drew a ball on a pitch outside of the strikezone and he kept the at-bat alive with a foul. Rockwell, who finished with a game-high three hits, picked up his third and final hit on a 1-2 pitch sent into the rightfield corner. The ball rolled on the grass as Rockwell reached second base and Doak advanced to third to put the potential tying and winning runs 90 and 180 feet away from the plate.
With no outs, Colin Beckett spread his hands apart on his bat to bunt as Doak took a large lead at third and then took off with the first pitch on the squeeze play. Beckett made contact by sending the ball toward first base, limiting the defense’s chance of getting Doak out.
The play worked as intended with Doak scoring to tie the game at 5-5 and Rockwell got to third base with the only chance for an out coming at first.
The fielded bunt of Beckett’s was throw down the line, but the toss was off target as the baseball went over the first baseman’s head and into foul territory. Rockwell, who had turned at third base, sprinted home before the Motor City players could attempt a throw to the plate and the baserunner scored with ease for the walk-off 6-5 victory.
In the home half of the first, Tanner Strout hit a two-run double to deep centerfield, bringing home Nate Church and Brooks Law. Law would drive in Rockwell on a groundout in the third and then in the sixth Noah Allen brought Law home on a squeeze bunt — and similar to what would transpire an inning later as the batter reached base safely.
Church earned the victory on the mound by taking the ball after the first three hitters reached in the seventh. He relieved Law, who tossed the first six innings. Law scattered five runs and five hits while walking six and recording a strikeout.
The Rowell’s team used some key defensive plays in two later innings to protect the team’s lead at the time. In the fifth inning Motor City had two runners in scoring position with one when Church picked a line drive out of the air next to third base. He was able to step over to the bag before the runner got back for an inning-ending double play.
During the top of the sixth Motor City had men on at second and first when a single up the middle of the diamond was fielded by Rockwell in shallow centerfield. Rockwell quickly relayed the ball to catcher .Beckett The lead runner was too far off third base as an unmasked Beckett ran a few steps down the line before throwing to Church. The third baseman applied the tag shy of the bag for out No. 2. Church then scooped up a ground ball and went to third for the force to end the inning with the score 3-2 at this point.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HOME SECURITY — After handling the relay throw from centerfielder Chandler Rockwell, catcher Colin Beckett gets ready to throw to third where teammate Nate Church would tag the runner out during the sixth inning.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
TURN TO THIRD — Cameron Doak advanced to third on Chandler Rockwell’s double in the seventh. Doak and Rockwell would score the respective tying and winning runs in the Navigators’ 6-5 victory on June 23.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
WINNING RUN — Chandler Rockwell of the Rowell’s Navigators (3) scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh to give the team a 6-5 victory vs. Motor City in an American Legion contest on June 23 at Foxcroft Academy. Trailing is head coach Nick Miller while players Tim Mazzeo (8) and Brooks Law (2) look on.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
WAY AWAY FROM THE BASE — Nate Church applies the tag away from third base in the top of the sixth after catching the ball from catcher Colin Beckett.