3U3D leadoff man Ricky Scott connects on a two-run double. He went 1-for-1 with two walks.
By Sean Reilly
At the rate he was pitching, Luke Sandor of 3U3D 17U Red didn’t need extra help on Tuesday afternoon.
His teammates gave him plenty anyway, by scoring three first-inning runs and adding much more during a 10-2, five-inning victory over Northeast Pride 25 Scout at the Diamond Nation 18U Blue Chip Prospects, Powered By Victus.
Leadoff man Ricky Scott led the offensive charge by walking twice, scoring a run, and hitting a two-run double in his three at-bats. All 10 players in the lineup reached base with either a hit, walk or hit by pitch.
Sandor, a Class of 2025 right-hander from Pope John Paul II High School in Pennsylvania, pitched all five innings, allowing two hits and three walks, while striking out five.
“I threw my curveball for a strike well today,” he said. “The fastball was there, but sometimes it wasn’t, so I had to adjust. It was also a big confidence boost to pitch with a lead. It helps when our team hits like that.”
3U3D, out of Reading, Pa, took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, after Sandor pitched a 1-2-3 top of the inning.
3U3D’s Jarred Baer looks to throw to second as Kellen Jackson stands in box for Northeast Pride.
Scott led off with a walk, and Benjamin Vaughan followed with a single to left field. Dysen Neill was the third batter, and after a passed ball advanced the runners, he hit a two-run double to center field. Neill scored later in the inning on an error.
3U3D added four runs in the third for a 7-0 lead.
The bases were loaded with two out when Ben Steppke reached on an error that scored a run. Sandor then drew a full count walk to score another. That brought up the top of the order, and Scott followed with a two-run double.
“I’m looking to get on base no matter what,” Scott said. “I think it was a 2-0 count. I found my pitch and took it to left field.”
Northeast Pride 2025 Scout scored both its runs in the fourth. The inning began with walks to Nate Figueroa and Kaden Coyne. Figueroa stole third and scored when Sam Finarelli reached on a grounder that forced out Coyne at second. Finarelli stole second and scored when Ryan D’Ambrosio singled to left field.
3U3D scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Baer walked with one out and stole second. Landon Richard reached on a two-base error that scored Baer. Robert Gray hit an RBI single to right field and took second on an error, and Aaden Lopez added an RBI single.
Sandor got two ground outs and a strikeout to close out the game in the top of the fifth, as 3U3D moved to 1-0-1 in the tournament. Dominic Ruggiero pitched a one-hitter, with 11 strikeouts and four walks, in a 1-1 tie against Baseball U Pa 17U National on Monday.
Northeast Pride 2025 Scout moved to 1-1 in the tournament. It was a 5-2 winner over Baseball U Pa-Philly 17U on Monday.