The Dodgers needed only 2 hits and 3 runs to secure the win Saturday morning in game 1 of the CMBA semifinals at Simeon Career Academy High School.

Matt Burch earned the pitching start, having pitching for wins in the regular season games against the Dodgers. The lobber struggled with control, although in lieu of walks, he offered HBPs, 4 in total. Despite this, he only allowed 1 hit and 1 earned run (3 total) before succumbing to relief.

The Hounds offense could not manage to bring a run across the plate through most of the game, despite tallying 6 hits. All told, they would leave 8 players on base. However, a dominate pitching performance by reliever Colin French (0 R, 1 H, 7 Ks) and strong infield effort by Kruse (3B), Sells (SS), and Rondon (2B) (5 ground outs, and a 5-3 double play) kept the Doggos in the game. They tacked on 1 run in the 6th when Alberto Martinez, on a fielder’s choice, knocked in Timmy “Two-Bags” Riggenbach (DH) who reached on a scorched double. In the final frame, they made a final push, getting men to first and second on a Kruse lead-off walk and single by Garrett Eddy (CF), but the game was cut-off by a final and very close double play.

With the loss, the hard fighting Hounds are down, but not out. They will face the Dodgers in game 2 at Winnemac Park tomorrow morning.