The Hounds secured the K’s cup (champion retains on tie) with another 1 run win over their rivals Saturday morning at Winnemac park.

Nick “Gummi Bear” Albanese got the start and pitched a gem, frustrating hitters to only 4 hits and 3 earned runs. He would go the distance on 131 pitches to nail down the win.

The Electrons struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the second, but the Hounds immediately answered with their next opportunity. Following a trio of singles from the top of the order, the Hounds hurler Albanese helped himself with a liner a single of his own to advance everyone a base and tie the game. The bottom of the third saw the Electrons manufacture a run on a sacrifice fly to break the tie. At Albanese’s next offensive chance, he cranked a deep drive to left for a one out triple. Matt Burch ROEd to bring him around for a run. They would tack on one more on a Lehman (CF) single to bring the score to 4-2.

Responding, the ‘Trons tacked on one more run, this time from a series of gifts (walk, walk, wild pitch, wild pitch), and with two outs, a man on second, and the three hitter at bat, they threatened to score more. The next hitter hit a ball slicing foul to left, but Riggenbach (LF), out-of-play bounds be damned, chased it down, left his feet, fully extended and made the catch to end the inning.

Albanese was dead set on completing the game and had his work cut out for him in the bottom of the seventh with the lead off hitter due up second. The lefty induced a flyout and gave up a walk. Then, the Electrons 2-hitter hit a ball destined to drop in left center, but Riggenbach chased it down, left his feet, fully extended, and made another diving catch for out number 2. One last pop-up grabbed by Greg Sells (SS) ended the game.

The Doggos improved their record to 19-5 and earned a spot at the top of the CMBA table with four games remain in the season. They will take on the Jammers Sunday morning at Winnemac.