CARY, N.C. - Team Johnson concluded the three game series at the 2024 13U/14U Athlete Development Program on Saturday with a huge 7-6 win over Team Crews thanks to a five-run first inning. With the win, Team Johnson earned its first victory at ADP.
The Team Johnson burst at the plate in the opening frame was sparked by a Mason Harris RBI. After getting on base via a single to right field, Peyton Lopez stole second and eventually found his way home via a wild pitch to put the second run on the board for Team Johnson.
While Team Johnson had success at the plate, it was pitching that sealed the win for the squad. The Team Johnson pitching staff of Cody Lashlee, Ethan Stewart, Greyson Bell, Jordan Leon, and Mateo Mier combined for 12 strikeouts throughout the contest to snuff any attempt at a Team Crews comeback. The fivesome only yielded a combined one walk through eight innings of work on the mound to seal the 7-6 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Team Johnson took an early lead in the bottom of the first courtesy of a Harris RBI and Lopez sneaking home on a wild pitch.
- With two runners in scoring position, Team Crews put its first run of the day on the board as Tristin Gaines reached first base on a throwing error which would push Anthony Frausto home.
- Team Johnson kept the momentum in its favor by plating two more runs due to Jonah Saken and his RBI double to left field. In the next at-bat, Lopez nabbed an RBI as he slapped a hard-hit sacrifice fly to center field.
- Andrės Armenta cut the deficit for Team Crews in the top of the fourth inning with a ground out which allowed Tyler Early to cross the plate.
- Colin Anderson (Team Crews) chipped away at the Team Johnson lead as he cranked an RBI triple to center field to score Dylan Mercado.
- Levi Kerr notched an RBI after he roped a single to left field which threatened the Team Johnson lead.
- The Team Johnson pitching staff registered six strikeouts over the last three innings of play to allow its offense to play with a lead.
- A strikeout from Mier and batter's interference call marked the last play of the game which secured Team Johnson the 7-6 win.
NOTABLE STATS
- Bell tallied a game-high five strikeouts in the game for Team Johnson.
- Team Crews also had a stellar performance on the mound as Frausto collected four strikeouts himself in two innings of work.
- Dylan Hottle registered the only walk of the game for Team Crews.
- Stewart, of Team Johnson, earned his way to first base via walks on two occasions, which was most amongst all batters.
- Damian Rivas finished the game with a contest-best two hits. He also added a stolen base later in the game.
- EJ Washington proved his elusiveness on the base path as he grabbed two stolen bases which marked a game best.
ABOUT ADP SCORING
USA Baseball utilizes a modified scoring system for its development programs to achieve load management and mitigate potential injuries due to overuse for its youth athletes. Pitchers are subject to a maximum pitch count of 25 per inning during game play. In the event an inning is rolled because a pitcher has reached their maximum pitch count, runners on base may be contributed to the game score. As a result of this system, the final game score may not match the overall statistics.
