Frederick Hustlers (13U)

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.

Windy conditions, good pitching and solid defense by both teams made for low scoring in Saturday's doubleheader between the 10U Hustlers and the LOUYAA Bears.  The Hustlers escaped with an 8-4 win in game one and a 6-4 triumph in game two.  Andrew McElwain (St Johns) threw three scoreless innings to start the opener holding the Bears to just one hit.  Joe Pippin (Oakdale) shook off the rust in the 4th and 5th innings and Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) pitched a 1-2-3 6th inning.  Ryan Bennett (St Johns) was the offensive star with two hits and two RBIs.  JT Sachar (Green Valley), Mikhai Evans (North Frederick), Ropp, Matt Cunningham (Green Valley), McElwain, Pippin, Zach Rutter (Middletown) and Hayden Bailey (Walkersville) each had a single.

Game two was pretty much a carbon copy as hitters struggled with a strong wind blowing in from centerfield.  Mikhai Evans got the start on the mound and threw an effective two innings - limiting the Bears to one run.  Brandon Buschman pounded the strike zone and sat the Bears down in order in both the 3rd and 4th, and Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) made his pitching debut in the 5th.  Justin Ropp came in and slammed the door on the Bears in the 6th giving the Hustlers the 6-4 win.  Andrew McElwain led the Hustler bats with a 2-2 performance and two runs scored.  Evans and Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown) had the only other clean hits for the Hustlers.

The 10U Hustlers broke open a close ball game with five runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to take a 13-4 win against the LOUYAA Bears.  The Hustlers finished with 13 hits but the key to the game was pitching and defense.  Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) pitched three strong innings allowing only one run and the young Hustlers turned three double plays -- the final one a game-ender.  Dustin "Ice" Isanogle (Lewistown) was red hot at the plate going 3-3 with a double and two runs scored, JT Sachar (Green Valley) went 2-3 with a double, and Brandon Buschman went 2-3 with a run scored.  Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) and Zach Rutter (Middletown) had two of the bigger hits driving in runs in key situations; Donovan's was a triple.  Mikhai Evans (North Frederick), Ropp, Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) and Andrew McElwain (St. Johns) also contributed a hit.  Isanogle was once again a force behind the plate.

The Hustlers are back in action Saturday, April 26, for a DH against the same Bears at Utica Park.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00pm.

The 10U Hustlers broke open a close ball game with five runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to take a 13-4 win against the LOUYAA Bears.  The Hustlers finished with 13 hits but the key to the game was pitching and defense.  Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) pitched three strong innings allowing only one run and the young Hustlers turned three double plays -- the final one a game-ender.  Dustin "Ice" Isanogle (Lewistown) was red hot at the plate going 3-3 with a double and two runs scored, JT Sachar (Green Valley) went 2-3 with a double, and Brandon Buschman went 2-3 with a run scored.  Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) and Zach Rutter (Middletown) had two of the bigger hits driving in runs in key situations; Donovan's was a triple.  Mikhai Evans (North Frederick), Ropp, Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) and Andrew McElwain (St. Johns) also contributed a hit.  Isanogle was once again a force behind the plate.

The Hustlers are back in action Saturday, April 26, for a DH against the same Bears at Utica Park.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00pm.

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.