Despite rallying in the later innings of their final contest of the season against the Vikings, the Hounds fell 10-6. Despite the loss, the Hounds took the season series from the Vikings by a score of 2 games to 1.
Rookie Jules Cantor took the mound for the Doggos, two weeks removed from his 99 (but not 100!) pitch outing against the Trojans. It was a frustrating day on the bump for Cantor, who gave up 8 runs in 3 innings of work, though only 3 were earned. Far more persuasive in the courtroom than from the mound, Cantor (#34, P/Litigator) was squeezed like an orange—appropriate given the color of the fiery right-hander’s hair. Nick Schmidt (#23, CF/P) and Matt Burch (#6, 1B/P) were each admirable in relief, keeping the Hounds in the game and eating two innings apiece. The defensive highlight of the day was the Hounds’ wild pitch turned double play in the top of the seventh, your average, everyday 2-4-3-2-5-7 double play that involved Greg Sells (#19, C/3B), Alec Reinke (#14, 2B), Brian Lehman (#2, 1B/SS), Arron Kruse (#11, 3B/EH), and Phil Zelenka (#21, LF/CF).
At the plate, the Hounds started slow, but got things going in the 5th inning, stringing together a series of extra-base hits. Tim Riggenbach (#8, OF) led the way with 3 doubles, and Kruse and Lehman added a two-run homer and a triple, respectively. On the small-ball end of the spectrum, rejecting the “three true outcomes,” veteran middle-infielder Matthew Steffens (#5, 2B/SS) added three singles, and Sells and Phil Oweimrin (#25, RF) added RBI base hits of their own.
The Hounds’ fan base was strong as ever, as several members of Tony Correa (#13, C/Manager)’s immediate family, who graciously provided Gatorade and water in-game, and beer and seltzer after the game, led a cheering section that also included regulars Melanie, Anne, and Laura, and featured the triumphant return of Michael Kruse (scorekeeper/Arron’s dad).
The best thing about Saturday games in the CMBA is there’s usually another one on Sunday. The Hounds have a chance to bounce back tomorrow as they take on their all-too-familiar foe, the Orioles.