The 16u CT Moose began its big weekend of tournament play with quite the affair against the Hayner Academy Barnstormers 16/17u squad. Until the top of the fifth inning the game was scoreless. The Barnstormers found a way to break the scoreless tie in the fifth with scrappy baseball. It wasn't a home run or a big line drive but the Barnstormers were able to get on the board.
What was seen as a near miracle for the 16u Moose, the hungry and young squad did not back down from the challenge in front of them.
In the bottom of the sixth down 2-0, with one out, and runners at second and third, Adam Merritt stepped up and knocked in a much needed Moose run. In the next at-bat, Ryan Smith took no time to waste, slamming a double down the left field line knocking in the go-ahead run to put the Moose up 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
All around talent, Ryan Smith showed just how good he is today in game one of the tournament after not only knocking in the winning run, but also throwing a complete seven innings on four hits, six strikeouts and no earned runs. Smith showed up and delivered.
The 16u Moose look to make a run in this Firecracker Tournament this weekend in New York.
