Cicero came into Central Park on Tuesday night hungry for a win after dropping 3-games in a row. Their slump included a heart-breaker against the incoming ESM squad in a 6-5 loss on June 7th.
With renewed focus, Cicero returned to form, racking up 14 runs in an exciting win that included lots of hits and solid defensive plays.
Cicero opened up scoring in the first inning when Jacob Calabria grounded out, scoring one run.
Cicero evened things up at three in the bottom of the second inning, scoring one run on a stolen base.
Cicero Big Blue took the lead for good with four runs in the third inning. In the third, Alex Smith homered on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring three runs. Cicero scored on a stolen base during Ryan Keil’s at bat. Then Keil singled.
Smith also had a stolen base in the fifth and pitched Cicero to victory, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out five.
Cicero put up four runs in the fifth inning. Batters contributing to the big inning included Smith, Drew Matyasyk, Keil, and Connor Pearce, all driving in runs in the inning.
Pearce threw two and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen. He recorded the last eight outs to earn the save for Cicero Big Blue.
Avery Pankow and Keil all had multiple hits for Cicero Big Blue 13u. Keil and Pankow each managed two hits to lead Cicero Big Blue.
Cicero ran wild on the base paths, stealing 29 bases during the game as eight players stole more than one. Keil led the way with six.
Cicero was able to secure the win without the help of Dom Ciccone, Nicholas Capece and Jackson Fudge, who all missed the game.
MVP on the night was Ryan Keil, who went 2/3 at the plate, scored 2 runs and made back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back put-outs in the final innings.
Highlight plays included:
- In the park homerun by Alex Smith with 2 runners on.
- Unassisted double-play by Drew Matyasik