Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
Things did not go very well for the Lackland Warhawks Varsity Baseball Team on April 20 in the San Antonio Men's Senior Baseball League (Open Division).
The Red Sox beat Lackland 11-6 during 7 1/2 innings at Warhawk Field.
After the game, Warhawks coach and first baseman Davin Dukes indicated his team had to hustle and become more aggressive in the batter's box.
"Our problem is not knocking in base runners in scoring position," Dukes added. "Some people are waiting for the perfect pitch to hit. Unofficially, the strike zone is between the ankle and the nose. It always has been. We have to start playing with a sense of urgency, and we have to do the little things right."
Indeed, the Warhawks stranded 11 runners against the Red Sox, including eight at second or third base. Moreover, the Lackland defense allowed four runs on six errors.
Both teams played to a 1-1 tie through the first inning.
Lackland catcher Andrew Taylor led off the first with a walk, and he scored on a double by center fielder Keith Bratton. For the Red Sox, a double by second baseman Jason Pusick drove home shortstop Sean Bresette.
The Red Sox went ahead 4-1 through the bottom of the second inning, after they scored three runs, including two on a Lackland throwing error.
During the top of the third, the Warhawks reduced the Red Sox lead to 4-2 after Lackland second baseman Dominic Ortega singled and scored on an infield error.
During the bottom of the third, Ortega did well in the field, too. Red Sox starting pitcher Rolando Perales smashed a hard grounder to Ortega near second base. Ortega leaped into the infield dirt and stopped the ball on his glove hand. Then, he rolled over his stomach and made the throw to Dukes at first base in time to put out Perales.
Warhawks starting pitcher Justin Ailor allowed the Red Sox no runs and only one hit through the third and fourth innings.
However, Lackland fell behind 8-2 and essentially lost the game during the fifth. Ailor gave up just two hits, but the rest of the Lackland defense committed three errors and allowed four runs.
During the Lackland sixth, Dukes singled. Substitute catcher Richard McDonald served as a courtesy runner for Dukes and scored on an infield error.
When the Red Sox batted during the sixth, they added three more runs, one on an infield error, another one on a wild pitch, and one more on a single by center fielder Kyle Richardson.
Warhawks left-hander Jose Isales struck out four during the sixth and seventh innings after he relieved Ailor during the sixth.
Lackland put together a mild rally during their final at-bat in the eighth. McDonald singled and scored later on a single by left fielder Keith Simon. Red Sox relief pitcher Ernest Alcorta hit Ailor with a pitch, and Ailor later scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Fabian Salazar.
Before the game ended, Simon scored on a single by Ortega.
Lackland is now 2-4 in the SAMSBL.