Cody Quinn leads off third base for JM Baseball Academy during Super 16 World Series.
By Steve Merrill
JM Baseball Academy’s bats came alive for a wire-to-wire 11-1 mercy rule victory over the New Jersey Marlins in four innings on Friday morning in the Super 16 World Series.
Head coach Matt Walsh’s squad slugged 10 hits off the Marlins pitching staff en route to a five-run second inning and a six-run third inning. JM Baseball only needed three ups at the plate to secure the mercy rule win and each hitter in the 10-man lineup produced at least one hit.
“Our approach was really good today,” Walsh said. “We got some guys into scoring position early. It’s easy to get going when you have (Logan) Zemotel leading off. When he gets on base that’s when we’re at our best. He takes bags and he plays the game the right way.”
Zemotel was the catalyst of JM Baseball’s offensive production in the game, going 3-for-3 at the plate and driving in four runs. The leadoff man also stole two bases and scored a run.
Just two of JM Baseball’s 10 hits were for extra bases. It didn’t matter and because of heads up base running, the Academy was able to pour on more runs. JM Baseball also drew five walks and only struck out twice facing Marlins pitchers Rey and Ethan Cruz.
“We’re not going to drive the ball out of the park all of the time,” Walsh said. “But the thing about our team is that we have a lot of athletes who know how to run the bases and run hard. Our philosophy and approach is to just shoot balls up the middle and it worked out today. I’m proud of our guys and our at bats.”
The Marlins’ lone run of the game came in the top of the third inning. After three straight walks to Jordi Rey, Angel Cruz, and Jack Rivlin loaded the bases with no one out, Shea Patel laced a single to bring in Rey. The Marlins could only scratch out one other hit in the game, that coming in the first inning by Angel Cruz.
Baseball Academy starting pitcher Joe Rogan pitched three solid innings on the mound. He struck out five, walked seven, and stranded eight runners on base.
“He (Rogan) was a little erratic today but at the end of the day he competed,” Walsh said. “He fell behind early in the first two innings but he turned it around. He’s the type of guy who’s going to go out there and give you everything he’s got. He threw earlier in the week so he was falling behind a bit but he managed to come back in every count.”
Rogan also helped himself out at the plate, posting two hits and driving in three runs. The Plymouth South High School (Plymouth, MA) righty scored two runs on the day as well.
Mike Hannon came on to relieve Rogan in the fourth inning and pitched a 1-2-3 frame, striking out two Marlins batters to end the game.
Now winners of three straight games, JM Baseball Academy moves to 3-1 in the Super 16 World Series while the Marlins fall to 0-4.