Ken’s Market edges 5-Spot

(May 1) In a game highlighted by defensive dexterity on both sides, a Cameron Young steal home and an Andrew Roger sacrifice RBI saw the Spotters draw ahead at the bottom of the third. Yet the Ken’s defense did not cash out so easily -- a throw by catcher Brian Cropp to shortstop Jack Sendelbach thwarted a stolen base attempt and shut down the inning. A pitcher’s duel involving Spotter Young and Ken’s Alex McCullough turned up the heat -- neither hurler allowed runners to gain a significant foothold on the base paths. However fortunes changed for the visitors at the top of the fifth; back-to-back deep centerfield shots (a triple by McCullough and a fence-line double by Ronan Hagerty) knotted the score once again. At the bottom of the frame, reliever Carl Loacker took the mound to ice 5-Spot batters, and shortstop Ian Feichtmeir’s backhanded snatch of a worm-burner at short (and ensuing throw to Ady Anderson for the put-out at second) held the Spotters from adding to their tab. At the top of the sixth, Loacker belted the go-ahead run to right field, while 5-Spot’s Young flashed his leather yet again when making a scorching throw from third to first to deny the visitor’s padding their lead. Spotters were quickly sent back into the kitchen at the bottom of the sixth, however; Loacker fanned a batter, a deep fly to center was handled neatly by Sendelbach, and a throw by Nick Hanway from home plate to Feichtmeir at short zeroed a base runner attempting a dash for second base.

- Mary Cropp