Frederick Hustlers (13U)

The Frederick Hustlers completed a doubleheader sweep of a tough Mason Dixon RuffNeck squad from York, PA with a clutch 5-4 win in game two on Saturday. The Hustlers were late to wake up in the opener trailing 2-0 early but a six run third inning proved the difference as they came away with a 10-4 victory. Matt Cunningham (Green Valley), Joseph Pippin (Oakdale) and Mikhai Evans (North Frederick) handled the pitching duties while the offense went to work. Leadoff man JT Sachar (Green Valley) started the 3rd inning with a line drive to left and the Hustlers were off and running. Evans followed with a walk and Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) singled. Another clutch hit by Dustin Isanogle (Lewiston) sandwiched around two Mason Dixon errors where Andrew McElwain (St Johns) and Ryan Bennett (St Johns) squared up balls and the Hustlers found themselves with a workable cushion. Sachar and Ropp each had two hits and scored two runs while Evans was on base all three times (error, walk and single) and scored two runs. Cunningham, McElwain and Isanogle each recorded a hit.

Game two turned out to be quite a pitcher’s duel. Justin Ropp tossed the first three innings and was sharp as always. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out five Ruffnecks. The game stayed at 1-0 Mason Dixon until the 4th inning when the Hustlers plated two runs. Hayden Bailey (Walkersville) got things going with a single. With two outs, JT Sachar and Mikhai Evans ripped back to back hits and the Hustlers took a 2-1 lead. The Hustlers than got a leadoff double from cleanup hitter Matt Cunningham to open up the fifth inning. Not to be outdone, Dustin Isanogle smoked one to left center for a triple and Ryan Bennett drew a critical 2-out walk. Brandon Buschman then stepped to the plate and delivered the key hit of the day - a line drive 2-run single to center to plate Isanogle and Bennett and give the Hustlers a 5-1. The Ruffnecks were not impressed and responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to make it a 5-4 game. The Hustlers tried to add one in the sixth but the Ruffnecks turned a nifty double play on a smoked liner by Sachar after a key SAC bunt by Riley Donovan (Tuscarora). The Hustlers then went to work on the defense side. Brandon Buschman struck out the cleanup hitter and then Andrew McElwain and Joseph Pippin turned in plays for ESPN Sportscenter. McElwain made a game saving diving catch on a ball hit to the fence in right field and Pippen jumped and snagged a liner header to the right field corner to end the game. Donovan also made a nice running catch earlier in the game in centerfield to thwart a Mason Dixon rally. Ropp, McElwain and Buschman all pitched well and Bennett was his superb self behind the plate.

The Hustlers are back in action Wednesday evening against the HCYP Raiders at the Yellow Springs Baseball Complex.

The Frederick Hustlers completed a doubleheader sweep of a tough Mason Dixon RuffNeck squad from York, PA with a clutch 5-4 win in game two on Saturday. The Hustlers were late to wake up in the opener trailing 2-0 early but a six run third inning proved the difference as they came away with a 10-4 victory. Matt Cunningham (Green Valley), Joseph Pippin (Oakdale) and Mikhai Evans (North Frederick) handled the pitching duties while the offense went to work. Leadoff man JT Sachar (Green Valley) started the 3rd inning with a line drive to left and the Hustlers were off and running. Evans followed with a walk and Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) singled. Another clutch hit by Dustin Isanogle (Lewiston) sandwiched around two Mason Dixon errors where Andrew McElwain (St Johns) and Ryan Bennett (St Johns) squared up balls and the Hustlers found themselves with a workable cushion. Sachar and Ropp each had two hits and scored two runs while Evans was on base all three times (error, walk and single) and scored two runs. Cunningham, McElwain and Isanogle each recorded a hit.

Game two turned out to be quite a pitcher’s duel. Justin Ropp tossed the first three innings and was sharp as always. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out five Ruffnecks. The game stayed at 1-0 Mason Dixon until the 4th inning when the Hustlers plated two runs. Hayden Bailey (Walkersville) got things going with a single. With two outs, JT Sachar and Mikhai Evans ripped back to back hits and the Hustlers took a 2-1 lead. The Hustlers than got a leadoff double from cleanup hitter Matt Cunningham to open up the fifth inning. Not to be outdone, Dustin Isanogle smoked one to left center for a triple and Ryan Bennett drew a critical 2-out walk. Brandon Buschman then stepped to the plate and delivered the key hit of the day - a line drive 2-run single to center to plate Isanogle and Bennett and give the Hustlers a 5-1. The Ruffnecks were not impressed and responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to make it a 5-4 game. The Hustlers tried to add one in the sixth but the Ruffnecks turned a nifty double play on a smoked liner by Sachar after a key SAC bunt by Riley Donovan (Tuscarora). The Hustlers then went to work on the defense side. Brandon Buschman struck out the cleanup hitter and then Andrew McElwain and Joseph Pippin turned in plays for ESPN Sportscenter. McElwain made a game saving diving catch on a ball hit to the fence in right field and Pippen jumped and snagged a liner header to the right field corner to end the game. Donovan also made a nice running catch earlier in the game in centerfield to thwart a Mason Dixon rally. Ropp, McElwain and Buschman all pitched well and Bennett was his superb self behind the plate.

The Hustlers are back in action Wednesday evening against the HCYP Raiders at the Yellow Springs Baseball Complex.

The Frederick Hustlers found themselves in a good ballgame trailing 5-3 going into the bottom of the 5th inning last evening at Olney Park. Unfortunately for the Hustlers, the Pirates found another gear and scored six runs on three uncharacteristic walks and five hits and sent the Hustlers up Interstate 70 with an 11-3 loss. The Hustlers got a gutsy three innings of pitching from Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) who limited the Pirates to just three runs (and only one earned). Ropp picked off two base runners but the Hustlers failed to complete the run downs. Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown) had another strong game behind the plate and has proven to be one of the best catchers in the league. The Hustlers struggled to get much going offensively. JT Sachar (Green Valley) led off the 4th by getting hit-by-the-pitch. He stole second and third and scored on Mikhai Evan’s (North Frederick) RBI single. Evans then stole second before scoring on a nice line drive by Matt Cunningham (Green Valley). Cunningham finished with a 2-2 day (double, single) while Evans and Andrew McElwain (St. Johns) recorded the only other Hustler hits. Isanogle drove in the 3rd Hustler run with a nice SAC fly to left.

The Frederick Hustlers found themselves in a good ballgame trailing 5-3 going into the bottom of the 5th inning last evening at Olney Park. Unfortunately for the Hustlers, the Pirates found another gear and scored six runs on three uncharacteristic walks and five hits and sent the Hustlers up Interstate 70 with an 11-3 loss. The Hustlers got a gutsy three innings of pitching from Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) who limited the Pirates to just three runs (only one earned). Ropp picked off two base runners but the Hustlers failed to complete the run downs. Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown) had another strong game behind the plate and has proven to be one of the best catchers in the Crab League. The Hustlers struggled to get much going offensively. JT Sachar (Green Valley) led off the 4th by getting hit-by-the-pitch. He stole second and third and scored on Mikhai Evan’s (North Frederick) RBI single. Evans then stole second before scoring on a nice line drive by Matt Cunningham (Green Valley). Cunningham finished with a 2-2 day (double, single) while Evans and Andrew McElwain (St. Johns) recorded the only other Hustler hits. Isanogle drove in the 3rd Hustler run with a nice SAC fly to left.

The Frederick Hustlers 10Us came away with a round-robin sweep on a beautiful afternoon for baseball at the Yellow Springs Baseball Complex. The Hustlers beat a scrappy Catoctin Baseball squad 13-5 in game one and held a very solid Hickory Hornets team in check in game two and won 11-4. Pitching and defense was the story of the day as the first-year Hustler team continues to put together an impressive spring. Catoctin’s starting pitching had trouble finding the plate in the opener when the Huslters scored five in the first and three in the second. The big blows in those rallies were a triple from leadoff man JT Sachar (Green Valley) and a double from three-hitter Justin Ropp (Walkersville). Sachar ended up going 2-2 with a walk and three runs scored and Ropp was 2-2 with a walk and two RBIs. Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown) caught a stellar game and added a single, and Joseph Pippin (Oakdale) reached twice and scored two runs. Matt Cunningham (Green Valley), Pippin and Brandon Buschman shared the pitching duties. Cunningham had three strikeouts.

The Hustlers put it all together in game two against Hickory. The black and gold got great outings from Ropp and Andrew McElwain (St Johns), played superb defense and brought the lumber to the plate. Sachar was at it again leading the Hustlers off in the first with a single followed by a missle to right center by Mikhai Evans (North Frederick). Ropp got hit-by-the-pitch and Cunningham followed with a one-hop bomb to the fence in left for a standup double. After a fielder’s choice by McElwain, Pippin laced a single and it was game on. The Hustlers kept their foot on the pedal in inning two and scored four more. Zach Rutter (Middletown) and Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) drew walks before Sachar singled and Ropp ripped a shot to right center. Meanwhile the Hustlers defense made believers out of many as they turned two more double plays – literally killing Hickory rallies in the 2nd and 3rd innings. Ropp and McElwain turned in phenomenal performances on the mound, and Ryan Bennett (St Johns) and Isanogle continued to provide leadership and solid play behind the plate. Sachar, Cunningham and Pippin each had two hits; Sachar and Cunningham scored two runs. Ropp also had a hit and scored two runs and Evans finished with one hit and a run scored.

The Hustlers are back in action Thursday evening against the Olney Pirates at Olney Manor Park.