Lake Shore Gray Sox Keep Rolling, Pick Apart Blue Crabs

By Colin Murphy

The 13U Lake Shore Gray Sox opened up Memorial Day weekend’s State Championship Tournament on a high note, pounding out 12 base hits over five innings in a 15-5 mercy rule victory over the Blue Crabs of Southern Maryland at Kinder Park on May 28. The victory is the latest in a scintillating start to the season for the Gray Sox, who have posted a 28-6 record to begin the year.

With 10 tournament championships in the past three years, including a state championship in 2009 and a championship at the Cal Ripken Tournament in April, and the Gray Sox are very much accustomed to winning.

They played like it against the Blue Crabs. After surrendering two runs in the top of the first, the Gray Sox came right back to put immediate pressure on the Blue Crabs’ starting pitcher in the bottom half. Zac Stoll got things started, reaching on an error by the Crabs’ shortstop. After walks to Andre Brown and Matt Thomas loaded the bases with two outs, David Marrocco belted a two-RBI single to tie the contest at 2-2. Perry Freeberger followed with a single of his own, scoring Thomas and giving the Gray Sox a 3-2 lead. Sam Ryan knocked in Marrocco on another Crabs’ error, and Lake Shore held a 4-2 lead after one.

Southern Maryland came ready to play, however, and they managed a three run-rally in the second to go back on top, 5-4. Again the Gray Sox responded. AJ Lee began his big afternoon—he went 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs in the game—by singling with one out. After Jordan Sanders reached base and advanced to second on a throwing error, Brown singled to score Lee and Sanders, and the Gray Sox went right back on top, 6-5. Brown took advantage of another Crab throwing error to score on a grounder by Marrocco, and the Gray Sox held a 7-5 lead after two.

Backed by a solid team-defensive effort led by Justin Miskimon and Brett Marsh, Gray Sox starting pitcher Reggie Keller settled into a rhythm, allowing only two hits and no runs over the next two innings.

“I felt like my curveball wasn’t working, but my fastball and changeup were,” said Keller, who attributed the Gray Sox’s success this season to their team chemistry. “We all like each other and our connection is just good.”

The Gray Sox lineup seemed to have the connection working well over the remainder of the game, as a team-wide hitting effort continued to put runs on the board. Ryan led off the third with a single and was advanced on a groundball by Marsh, who reached on a throwing error. Lee doubled home both Ryan and Marsh, pushing the Gray Sox lead to 9-5.

In the fourth, Brown led off with a single and was followed by a walks from Marrocco and Ryan; singles by Marsh, Freeberger, Lee, and Stoll; and a double by Sanders, totaling six runs to put the Gray Sox up by ten and end the game by slaughter rule.

“We came out a little weak, but then we woke up a little bit, came out and started hitting,” said Freeberger of the victory. Asked about the full summer schedule of games, Freeberger exuded confidence on behalf of his team: “If we play our best, we can beat anybody.”