Tabor Engle got the start, and the 16u Connecticut Moose smoothly took care of business in game one of the summer. A long-awaited opening day for these 16-year-olds, after two games got rained out in week one. But, now the Moose are off.
A strong outing from Tabor Engle, the right-hander, pumped fastball after fastball right by the bats of the Southington Knights. Engle went three innings, giving up one hit, one run, and tallying seven strikeouts. Devin Wolff followed, allowing no hits with five strikeouts. The left-hander, Josh Castro, captured his first save of the summer.
For the Moose bats, Mac Louis knocked a blooper to right field that went from a routine fly ball to an entertaining triple. Louis soon scored on a Wolff ground out to shortstop to get the Moose on the board. The bottom of the third was filled with perfectly executed base running, one of the more critical components to winning baseball games that head coach Rob Perry stresses.
Back to back doubles in the bottom of the fourth by speedster Jacob Dorman and Michael Greco put the Moose up 3-1. After taking a two-run lead in the fourth, it was smooth sailing for the Moose defense, giving no more runs with a perfect fielding percentage.
Other notable performers, Drew Seidman and Drew Taylor each had one base knock and held down the middle infield the entire game.
Clean baseball will always be the key to success in the win column. The 16u Moose advertised a stellar all-around ball club today against the Southington Knights, and hope to continue efficient play tomorrow against the CT Rivals at 3 pm.
