Keys Fall After Black Bears Strike Early
Published on August 5, 2023 under Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
Frederick Keys News Release
Frederick, MD- The West Virginia Black Bears started strong on Saturday night and kept the runs rolling to defeat the Frederick Keys at Nymeo field 14 - 5.
West Virginia put up a four spot in the top of the first inning against Mason Philley and the Frederick Keys. Patrick Lee walked and advanced to third base on a line drive single to right field by Noah Lucier. Lee and Lucier came home to score the first two runs of the first inning on a double to center field by Michael Cooper. Manny Vorhees had an RBI double to left field, scoring Cooper from second. Vorhees would go on to score the final run of the first inning on a double to right field.
Alec Sanchez singled to center field early in his at-bat in the bottom of the first. After a flyout and a groundout, Taylor Smith was walked and stole second base to place two runners in scoring position for Hernan Yanez. Unfortunately, a great catch in foul territory by Manny Vorhees halted the Keys momentum in the first.
West Virginia stayed hot in the second inning when Tyner Hughes hit an infield single and advanced to second on an error by Logan Thomason. Hughes scored on a triple to center field by Patrick Lee, making the score 5-0 Black Bears. Lee came in to score on a sacrifice fly to center field thanks to Tyler Dellerman. The offense didn't stop there! Michael Cooper reached first base on an error and would score on the next at-bat when Bobby Lada hit a 365ft homerun to center field, only his second of the season. Manager Rene Rivera of the Frederick Keys replaced Mason Philley with Albert Cuello-Batista who went on to pitch until the top of the 6th inning. Cuello-Batista gave up a 393ft home run to Manny Vorhees, his first of the season, making the score 9-0 Black Bears. After back-to-back singles by Cam Ridley and Andres Ugarte, a wild pitch and a walk to Tyner Hughes would load the bases for Patrick Lee. Cuello-Batista struck Patrick Lee to score Cam Ridley from third and advance the runners making the score 10-0 Black Bears.
The Frederick Keys were able to score one run in the third and one in the fourth inning to make the score 10-2. Keylon Mack hit his first homerun of the season on his first pitch of the night, a 395ft solo shot to right center field. In the fourth inning, Taylor Smith lined a double into left field and advanced to third base on a single by third baseman Andrew Papantonis. A fielder's choice on a groundball hit to third base by Logan Thomason would score Taylor Smith.
For the next two innings, neither team was able to get a runner across home plate. However, in the top of the seventh inning, pitcher Matthew Maldonado gave up three walks (Ugarte, Lee, Lucier) and a hit by pitch (Hughes) to allow the first Black Bears run since the second inning. The scoring didn't stop there. Tyler Dellerman grounded out to the pitcher, advancing the runners and scoring Hughes from third base. Michael Cooper and Bobby Lada hit back-to-back singles forcing yet another pitching change by the Frederick Keys. Tyler Germanowski was able to put away the next two batters, ending the scoring for the West Virginia Black Bears and making the score 14-3.
John Bakke came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning for the Black Bears. Keylon Mack reached first base on a fielding error by first baseman Michael Cooper and would advance on a walk to Kirkland Banks. Taylor Smith singled to center field to score Mack from second.
Down 14-3 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, the top of the order was up for the Frederick Keys. Alec Sanchez grounded out to pitcher Shayne Clowar. Kirkland Banks struck out swinging, but a wild pitch allowed him to advance to first base. With two outs, Taylor Smith launched his second homerun on the year measuring 383ft and making the score 14-5. The Frederick Keys were unable to score any more runs and the game concluded with West Virginia's thirty-second victory of the season.
Major League Baseball Draft League Stories from August 5, 2023
- Spikes Get It Done Late to Surge Past Scrappers, 7-2 - State College Spikes
- Keys Fall After Black Bears Strike Early - Frederick Keys
- Cutters Take Down Thunder - Williamsport Crosscutters
- Spikes Come Back Twice But Fall to Scrappers in Overtime After 6-6 Regulation Tie - State College Spikes
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