A Classic Confrontation: The Closer v. The Slugger
Mini Mosquito at Lions Park
Abbotsford Red 12
Abbotsford Black 11
It was a classic confrontation: In the final inning, with bases loaded, two outs, down by a run, the home run king comes up to bat. On the mound, the closer gets ready, charged with the task of shutting down the slugger and securing the victory. This was the scene at Lions Park on Thursday night.
The AAHA has two teams entered into the Mini Mosquito summer competition and on Thursday night at Lions Park the two sides met up for the second time. In the previous meeting, Abby Red had won in convincing fashion at the Rup-Dog Tournament in Ridge Meadows. Abby Black was clearly looking for some payback, and came ready to take it to their local rivals.
The start for Black couldn’t have been better. Trey Gairdner started on the mound for Red and pitched well, throwing strikes. Black managed to get the bat on the ball and were full credit for a 4 run lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Red quickly answered back to even the score on some walks and doubles from Bryn Alexander, Ronan Sexton and Breandan McLaughlin. The second inning offered the same result, as Jimmy Boulanger pitched well, throwing strikes, but the Black bats were on fire, earning another 4 runs. Red again responded, evening up the score at 8 after two.
The 3rd inning was a turning point, as Jimmy Boulanger found his stuff. Red held Black scoreless as Jimmy got two Ks and caught a pop-up. A two-out rally by Red managed to bring in 4 runs to give Red the lead heading into the final frame.
Ronan Sexton came in as the closer. Nick Mangum got on with a base hit and Marcus Bell walked. A shot down the line, deep to left, by Jackson Pratt scored two. Sexton threw for two strikeouts, but Black managed to score Pratt for another run and load the bases, looking for more. The situation was dire for Red.
Black, on the other hand, couldn’t ask for a better scenario, as their home run hero, Quenton Kobes, came to the plate. And so the stage was set for one of baseball’s classic confrontations, the closer v. the slugger.
This time the pitcher prevailed. Sexton got the strikeout and the victory was sealed. Final score 12-11, Red.
It had been a hard fought, great game of baseball. As the teams shook hands, observers could only look forward to the players combining forces in the coming years of Angels baseball.
