Pinto Teams in Classic Playoff Battle

On Saturday at CV Park, two strong Pinto teams (ages 7-8), KidsArt and LMG, took to the field. Tyler Garland set the tone for LMG as he led off the game with a double. Sean Hardy followed with a home run that put LMG up 2-0. Ethan Sheklow settled on the mound and registered a timely strike out to end the inning.

KidsArt’s Cade Sabin led off the bottom of the first with a home run. LMG pitcher Hardy put an end to that action with three strike outs in a row, putting LMG up 3-1.

Garland continued to be a thorn in KidsArt’s side, belting in two with a home run in the top of the second. KidsArt added a run in the bottom when Wolf Voelker blasted a triple and later scored, ending the second LMG 5-2.

Lucas Brown came onto the mound to pitch the third, taking the sting out of the hot LMG bats by striking out two and holding them scoreless.

The bottom of the third turned out to be a dramatic inning for KidsArt, turning the game, and the momentum, in their favor. Sabin added another notch onto KidsArt when he stroked a two-out RBI double. Then Brown hit a clutch two-out, three-run home run that put KidsArt in front 6-5, their first lead of the game.

But that did not stop their scrappy opponents. LMG fought their way back and scored three runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead 8-6.

The see-saw battle continued in the bottom of the fourth with Ryan Ouwerkerk hitting a solo home run, cutting LMG’s lead to 8-7. But LMG’s Mean Green Machine retired the last batter with a strikeout to win 8-7. Both teams showed a lot of heart –and class – with their displays of hustle and good sportsmanship.

LMG and KidsArt move onto the next round of the playoffs. Check out CSA’s website for times and schedule.

Submitted by Mark Brown