Pledged to crush, The Knights Wait For Late Inning Heroics

BURBANK, CA - Picking up where the Cardiac Kids of last year left off. The SC Knights have already lived up to this year’s slogan of “The Greatest Show On Earth”. In the season opener the Knights took a few innings to get their ‘juices’ flowing and their bats swinging. But once they did it was a thing of beauty. With the biggest hits coming from Brendan McDonald and Jonathan Williams.

Down 5 nil in the 4th inning the Knights began their triumphant comeback. Starting their comeback? Whoelse but team sparkplug Pete Halvorsen, Halvorsen took an 0-2 pitch off the leg to give the Knights their first base runner since the first inning. Ryan Brooks took it personally, making sure to make the Astros pay for this mistake. Brooks laced the second pitch he saw into the right field gap scoring a hobbled Halvorsen all the way from first and ending up him self on second base. Giving the Knights their first run of the season, their first run of the game and cutting the lead to 4. Rod Boaz then delivered a clutch 2 strike hit, scoring Brooks easily from 2nd base cutting the lead to 3 runs.

A comeback isn’t any good if the other team keeps scoring runs and that’s where pitcher Rod Boaz stepped in. Following Sulser’s 2 hit outing through the first 3 innings, Boaz decided to use a different approach, not allow any hits through the rest of the game. The Knights 5th inning picked up where the 4th inning left off, scoring 2 more runs one on a past ball and the other on a Josh Steiner single.
Boaz continued his tight rope walking allowing 6 base runners on walks but removing the threat with 5 strikeouts. Giving the Knights an opportunity to scrap all the way back in the game. Down 5-4 Van Buren ripped a single then stole 2nd and moved to third on a passed ball. Halvorsen walked bringing up Brooks with a chance to tie the game. Halvorsen took off on the first pitch and the Astros catcher threw the ball into center field attempting to throw out the speedster. This allowed Van Buren to score the tying run and Halvorsen to go to third as the leading run with 1 out. Brooks knew his job now was to get that run to give the Knights the lead late in the game. He wasted no time smashing a fly ball deep into center allowing Halvorsen an easy tag, trot home. Knights take the lead 6-5.

The Knights in typical Knights fashion weren't done making this game exciting however. Knowing that the game would be much more entertaining if they allowed another run. So the drama continued when the Astros scored the tying run and loaded the bases for their slugger. Boaz quickly got a two strike count on two sneaky change-ups then blew him away with a two-seam fastball. This put the Knights back in the dugout with a tie score and one at bat to do something about it.

With two quick outs in the last half inning of the game, the Knights were down to their final strike. Mike Vogel swung at a splitter in the dirt for strike three...Game Ov...orrr not. The ball got away from the Astros catcher giving the speedy Vogel a chance to make it to first and extend the inning. Vogel dove in headfirst beating the throw by a step sacrificing his body for the team. Josh Steiner then connected on his second hit of the day moving the winning run to 2nd base. With the outfield in, Brendan McDonald smashed a basehit to rightfield, but alas, he struck it too hard and didn't give Vogel a chance to score. So the stage was set, Bases loaded...Jonathan Williams at the plate. The late inning heroics would come from the soft-spoken southern gentleman. Williams who spends his days saving Dolphins and his KNIGHTS doing battle.Williams missed his first chance...swinging through a fastball.Jonathan Williams then collected his biggest hit as a Knight. With perfect form he laced a line drive down the right field line scoring Vogel and winning the Knights their first game of the season.

The Knights will look to continue this Cinderella story next week versus the Brewers. I'm Max Mercy and I'll see YOU at the ballpark.