MIDDLEFIELD, OH- On Saturday afternoon the Cardinal Huskies played host to the the Garfield G-MEN in a game that was originally to be played at Garfield as part of a doubleheader. Unfortunately the rain from this past week made Garfield's field unplayable. It was moved to Cardinal as a single game at 3:00 PM. The Huskies took this one in 6 innings 14-4.
After a scoreless 1st inning, the Huskies put up a four spot in the bottom of the 2nd. They loaded the bases with two outs on a couple walks and a hit batter. Reese Soltis was then hit by a Leo Grandizio pitch forcing in the first run of the game. Garfield coach Mike Paes made a pitching change to sophomore Brayndyn Bugucki. Charlie Soltis greeted him with a 2-run single.
CHARLIE SOLTIS WITH AN RBI SINGLE FOR CARDINAL IN THE 2ND INNING
A third run came home on an errant throw to third base. Bogucki retired Logan Strever on a ground out to end the inning. The Huskies led 4-0 after two.
Garfield was able to get on the board in the top of the 3rd. Tyler Lutz drew a walk from Huskies starter Carter Tucker. After the next two batters were retired, Bogucki reached on an error. He then stole 2nd base with the throw from catcher Hunter Gresch going into centerfield allowing Lutz to score. Grandizio grounded out to end the inning. The Huskie lead was now 4-1.
GARFIELD'S TYLER LUTZ SCORES THEIR 1ST RUN ON AN OVERTHROW BY THE CATCHER IN THE TOP OF THE 3RD
After Bogucki held the Huskies scoreless in the bottom of the 3rd, the G-MEN were able to bring home two more runs in the top of the 4th. After an Eric Geddes line drive single, G-MEN first baseman Aiden Hill smacked a 2-run homerun to left field. Cardinal was held scoreless again in the bottom half of the inning by Alex Carter. After four the Huskies held a 4-3 lead.
The 5th inning determined the outcome of this one. After Tucker set the G-MEN down in order in the top half, the Huskies erupted for seven runs. A walk to Gresch, a single by Jackson Puruczky and another walk to Tucker loaded the bases with no outs. Evan Jones then drew a bases loaded walk for the first run. Carter was able to retire Matt Hissa on strikes before three straight run scoring hits by Reese Soltis (RBI single), Charlie Soltis (RBI single) and Troy Domen (2-run double) drove in four runs and knocked Carter out of the game.
REESE SOLTIS, CHARLIE SOLTIS & TROY DOMEN WITH 3 STRAIGHT RUN SCORING HITS FOR CARDINAL IN THE 5TH
Garet Warnick took over on the mound for Garfield and allowed a 2-run single to Gresch before Puruczky was thrown out trying to extend a hit into a double to end the inning. The Huskies had blown it open 11-3 after five innings.
Garfield was able to pick up another run in the top of the 6th on another long ball. This one was a solo shot off the bat of Eric Geddes making it an 11-4 game.
The bottom half of the inning started with Tucker taking a pitch off of his batting helmet. With one out pinch hitter Logan Mullet smacked a single to left center. Reese Soltis drew a walk loading the bases. Charlie Soltis then drove in a run with a single making it 12-4. Troy Domen ended it with a 2-run double to right field that put Cardinal up 10 runs ending the contest. The Huskies pulled off a big 14-4 home win against a good G-MEN squad.
TROY DOMEN WALKS IT OFF WITH A 2-RUN DOUBLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 6TH
Troy Domen had a huge day going 5/5 with a pair of doubles and 4 runs batted in. Charlie Soltis also drove in 4 runs while collecting 3 hits to lead their offensive attack. Carter Tucker was solid on the mound for Cardinal going the distance. In 6 innings he allowed 5 base hits, 4 runs (3 earned) and walked only 1 batter while striking out 7.
The Huskies (2-2) head to Kirtland on Monday at 5:00 PM while the G-MEN (3-1) will look to rebound at home against Newton Falls on Monday at 5:00 PM.
Unofficial stat leaders:
Cardinal:
Troy Domen: 5/5 2 2B, 4 RBI
Charlie Soltis: 3/5, 4 RBI
Jackson Puruczky: 3/4
Reese Soltis: 1/2, 2 BB, 2 RBI
Hunter Gresch: 1/2, 2 BB, 2 RBI
Carter Tucker: 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Garfield:
Eric Geddes: 2/3, HR RBI
Aiden Hill: 1/3, HR, 2 RBI
Tyer Lutz: 1/2