Frederick Hustlers (11U)

Stealing perhaps an overused word from ESPN, this game was a CLASSIC. The 15U Hustlers survived a leadoff triple in the bottom of the seventh to hang on for a 2-1 win against the NCBA Golden Spikes and capture the 2018 Perfect Game Greensboro Tournament at the beautiful First National Bank Field on Sunday evening in North Carolina. This game was a pitcher's duel and Luke McVicker (Williamsport) was up for the challenge. "Luke had fire in his eyes; the kid loves to compete," noted Coach Main after the game. McVicker tossed a three-hitter with five strikeouts over six innings before giving way to Colby Patterson (Good Counsel) to close things out. Patterson was rudely greeted with a deep triple to right to open up the bottom half. Patterson never flinched and immediately went to work on the #3 hitter who proceeded to lift a fly ball to medium right field. Enter big Gabe Torres (Clarksburg). Torres caught the ball and unleashed a laser to Dustin Isanogle (Catocin) at the plate who applied the tag in a bang-bang play. The #4 hitter grounded to Matt Cunningham (Linganore) and the celebration ensued. "Can't say enough about Colby. That was a tough spot and he wanted the baseball. He's grown so much as a player," added Main. The Hustlers only mustered three hits of their own and the big blow was a run-scoring double to the power alley in left center by Marshall Mott (Gettysburg) following a Matt Kulikowski (Boonsboro) walk. Isanogle and Cunningham had the only other Hustler hits. Pitching and defense ruled the tournament. Kulikowski snagged a hot-liner and doubled off a runner at first, and Patterson turned in several big-time plays ranging far to his left. It was Isanogle that won the hearts of many with his scrappy play and leadership in catching all four games. The Hustlers return to action this weekend at the Dynamic Showcase Event at the University of Maryland, College Park.