Maggie Guerin scores the go-ahead run for NW Explosion 10U following Hadley Meitzler’s bunt.
By Sean Reilly
When Maggie Guerin is at the plate, she likes her pitches a certain way. But even when the location is in a different spot, the NW Explosion 10U Koehler leadoff batter can make an opposing pitcher pay.
She lined out to first base in her opening at-bat when her Bethlehem, Pa. team faced the NJ Pride 10U in its first of three games at the 10U Aces Spring Invitational on Saturday morning at Diamond Nation.
When she came up again, there was one out in the top of the third. There were runners on second and third, and the Explosion was trailing by two runs.
This time, another hard hit ball resulted in a two-run triple to center field, and she then scored the go-ahead run when Hadley Meitzler was retired on a bunt to third base.
It was the pivotal sequence in what became a 5-4 victory for the Explosion in Flemington.
“This was a tough game,” Guerin said. “I wanted to get the baserunners in. I like outside pitches, but that one was in. But I was able to hit it.”
Guerin’s triple scored Alivia Harris (the courtesy runner for Kassidy Erdie) and Roslyn Parry, after the inning began with two walks. The runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. The hit from
Guerin came on a 2-2 offering and after she fouled off two pitches.
The Explosion took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Meitzler drew a one-out walk and stole second. She moved to third when Blake Olbrys flew out to right field. She scored on a wild pitch with Charlie Black at the plate.
Viviana Milazzo leads off third for NJ Pride 10U at Finch’s Aces Spring Invitational.
The Pride scored three times in the third for a 3-1 lead.
Viviana Milazzo led off and reached on a two-base error. She moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a ball four wild pitch to Melanie Freyer, who raced non-stop to second.
With one out, and with Freyer on third after a wild pitch, Jordyn Johannessen was safe after bunting down the third base line, with the fielder opting to check Freyer back to the base.
After a strikeout, Sam Gonzalez hit a two-run single to center to give the Pride a 3-1 lead.
After the Explosion went ahead in the third, it added another run in the fourth for a 5-3 advantage. Emma Leiderman walked with one out, stole second, and after another strikeout, scored an important insurance run as Lennox Reinhard reached on an error.
The Pride tried to come back in the bottom of the fourth. Kayleigh Maricic hit a one-out single and advanced on a passed ball. After another strikeout, Freyer hit an RBI single to right field. A fly out to center ended the inning, and also the game, since the 1:15 play clock had expired during the frame.
Blake Olbrys delivers pitch for NW Explosion at Finch’s Aces Spring Invitational.
Each team split its two later games on Saturday.
The Explosion beat Storm Academy 10U, 11-6, and lost a 2-1 nail-biter to Empire State Huskies-Carozza.
The Pride rebounded with an 8-0 triumph over the Nazareth Blast 10U, and was then blanked, 6-0, by Ascent Athlete 10U.
All 10 teams in the field will compete in the playoffs on Sunday. None of the 10 were able to navigate Saturday unbeaten and untied.