CLAREMONT- The Windsor Yellow Jackets’ baseball team crossed state lines from VT to NH Saturday to take on the Stevens Cardinals, and took home a victory, 12-9.
Windsor came out in the top of the first and quickly got on the board. A sacrifice fly from Duncan Frazer scored Ryland Richardson to give the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead. Stevens would not answer in the bottom half of the inning.
Both team’s bats stayed quiet in the second, but the Yellow Jackets’ offense exploded in the third. With runners on second and third and one out, an infield single from Ben Meagher would push a run across. Three runners would cross the plate on passed balls, while an error would score another, giving Windsor a 7-0 lead.
“We got timely hits,” said Windsor Head Coach Jamie Richardson. “It helped that we’re able to basically run the bases at will.”
On the mound for the Yellow Jackets, Robert Slocum was cruising. The starter would not allow a hit until the fourth inning, while striking out seven.
After the Yellow Jackets pushed the score to 9-0, the Cardinals offense would begin to chip away. A passed ball scored Owen Taylor before two consecutive strikeouts with runners on first and second would end the inning.
Slocum would be pulled for Dylan Hodgedon going into the fifth inning. In the bottom of that frame, a collision in centerfield scored Ethan Johnson, and an error would then close the gap to 9-3. At this point, Slocum returned to the mound. A bases-loaded walk would score another, making it 9-4 Windsor.
In the top of the sixth, a single from Adam Stapleton would score Dakota Page stretching the lead back to 10-4.
However, Stevens would not go away quietly. The Cardinals would load the bases with no outs, before an Alex Taylor single made it 10-5. A double off the bat of Brendan Bean, and a single from Aidan Cahill brought Stevens within two, 10-8. A strikeout would end the inning, stranding three runners on base.
“We have struggled with runners in scoring position this year,” said Stevens Head Coach Paul Silva. “Need to find some timely hits.”
Windsor would fight back, scoring two to make it 12-8 heading into the bottom of the seventh. At that point, the Yellow Jackets would call on their closer. Richardson allowed one run to make it 12-9, but would ultimately slam the door shut on the Cardinals. “He is economical, usually keeps his pitch count below 20,” said Coach Richardson.
Despite taking the loss, Silva was proud of his team’s valiant effort. “I love these guys, they do not go away. My guys are using all 21 outs.”
For Stevens, Bean had a big day, going 3-5 with 4 RBIs. Johnson went 2-4 with 2 runs scored. Alex Taylor and Drew Grenier each had 3 runs scored and an RBI.
For Windsor, Slocum and Page each had two hits, and Richardson and Frazer each chipped in 2 RBIs.
The win puts Windsor at 7-2 on the season, with a contest against Bellows Falls on Monday. The loss drops Stevens to 3-4, as they will face Mascoma under the lights on Monday night.
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