Cool under fire: ABC Ice stays undefeated
ABC Ice kept its cool, and kept its perfect record with a 9-1 win over Hoover and Son Insurance Saturday night at Hoover Millraney Field.
ABC remained undefeated in Junior League play, improving to 8-0 overall and 3-0 in the “American League” division. With the loss, Hoover and Son’s first of the season, they fell to 8-1 on the season and 3-1 in division play.
Just one night after a strong pitching performance from Brett Patterson led them to a win, ABC Ice got an equally stellar outing from Tyler Gilley.
Gilley matched his teammate’s numbers from Friday’s game, fanning 16 Hoover and Son batters and allowing just two hits and five walks, one of which was intentional.
Gilley did his part at the plate, as well, coming through with a three-run double to center field to highlight a seven-run fourth inning that all but put the seal on Saturday’s win.
Michael Thrower and Tyler Hughes reached on back-to-back bunts, and Cole Stubblefield brought in a run with a grounder. Brian Rhoady then reached on a bunt single, setting the table for Gilley’s shot to center that cleared the bases.
After Patterson and Dustin Morris reached to reload the sacks for Hector Labrada, who drove in a pair of runs with a hit to the infield.
Rhoady singled to start the fifth, and came home with the game’s final run on a Patterson RBI.
Patterson put the game’s first run on the board in the first, slapping a shot to shortstop that was too hot to handle and allowed Stubblefield to score from third.
Hoover came back to tie the game in the third, scoring what would prove to be their only run when Lake Kirby singled, stole second and third, then came home when an errant throw off a Cody Phillips grounder pulled ABC’s first baseman off the bag.
Rhoady finished with three hits and two runs to lead the way for ABC Ice, while Stubblefield reached base three times and Patterson reached all four times he came to the plate and Thrower added a pair of base hits.
Patrick Harvey and Kirby had the only two hits for Hoover and Sons.