Frederick Hustlers (13U)

The 10U Frederick Hustlers took their “A game” for a long ride to Bel Air, MD for a Sunday twinbill against Catoctin Baseball and the Hickory Hornets. The boys from Frederick got an excellent three innings from Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) to start game one and came away with a 17-3 win. Mikhai Evans (North Frederick), Joseph Pippin (Oakdale) and Brandon Buschman (Walkersville) worked the final two frames and provided sound relief in a game shortened by the 12-run rule. JT Sachar (Green Valley) continued his hot summer going 2-2 with a double, single and a walk. The big bats came alive in the 4th with the Hustlers clinging to a 4-1 lead. Cunningham hit a triple over the centerfielder’s head and Andrew McElwain (St. Johns) followed with a deep blast to center for a 2-run home run. Pippin, Dustin Isangole (Lewistown) and Ryan Bennett (St. Johns) followed with base knocks while Buschman and Zach Rutter (Middletown) walked before Sachar singled and the Hustlers were off and running. Sachar, Cunningham, Isanogle and Hayden Bailey (Walkersville) each had two hits. Isanogle was outstanding behind the plate.

Game two could perhaps go down as a defining moment for the young Hustlers season. The Hickory Hornets decided to give their new friends from Frederick a lesson in baseball. The Hornets rapped out six hits in the first inning and coupled with two outfield miscues, took what seemed like a commanding 6-0 lead. The Hustlers would have none of that. JT Sachar led off the bottom of the inning with a sharp single to right and then stole 2nd and 3rd. Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) followed with a single and the Hustlers were on the board with seemingly new life. Ropp went out and slammed the door on the Hornets the next two innings while the Hustlers bats came alive. Pippin, Isanogle, Buschman and Rutter all had base hits in the 2nd as the Hustlers scored three times. The big noise was made in the 4th when Sachar led off with a single, followed by a two-base missile from Evans, and sharp singles from Cunningham, McElwain, Pippin and Isanogle. When the inning was over, the Hustlers had scored five runs for a 9-6 lead. Credit goes out to Hickory because instead of rolling over, they answered with fours runs of their own in the 4th to take a 10-9 lead. The Hustlers went quietly in the fourth but came up big in the fifth as Sachar once again got things going, this time getting hit by the pitch. Evans and Ropp followed with singles and Cunningham doubled and Pippin singled. The Hustlers put four big runs up to take a 13-10 lead. McElwain then went out and slammed the door holding a great hitting team scoreless over the final two innings. Pippin led the way with three hits and two runs. Sachar was again 2-2 with an HBP and scored three runs. Evans, Ropp, and Isanogle each had two hits while McElwain, Buschman, Rutter and Riley Donvan (Tuscarora) each chipped in with one. Ryan Bennett gave the Hustlers a gritty and outstanding effort behind the plate.