Spartans top Jags in Round 1
The visiting Saraland Spartans ended the Jags playoff hopes in Round 1, taking the opening series two games to one. The Jags battled the elements and a solid Saraland team for Game 1 and came out victorious in a 4-3 win. In Game 2, which started late on Friday night, the Jags (designated as the visitors for the game) held the lead going into the bottom of the fifth at 2-1. However, the Spartans added two runs then another five in the bottom of the sixth to claim the 8-2 win. Saturday’s deciding Game 3 saw Northridge hold a 1-0 lead until the top of the fifth, when Saraland tied the game at 1-1. That score held until the Spartans tacked on four runs in the top of the eighth and held the Jags off the board for the 5-1 win to claim the opening round playoff series.
GAME 1
After two silent innings, Saraland broke the scoring drought with a run in the top of the third. But, with one out, Mother Nature showed up and showed out for a while. Heavy rain and some electricity in the sky caused a delay of just over an hour. When the tarp came off, the Jags finished off the Spartans, to keep the lead at only one run, 1-0.
The Jags got things rolling in the bottom of the fourth and scored two runs to go up 2-1. Milo Obradovich singled to start things off for the Jags. Jack Sanderson moved Obradovich to second on a ground out to the second baseman. Thomas Woolf’s grounder to short turned into an error, with Woolf getting all the way to second base and Obradovich making it in to score. Logan Caldwell then grounded into a fielder’s choice that allowed Woolf to reach third and Caldwell to get to first safely. With runners at the corners, a Saraland wild pitch allowed Caldwell to advance to second, but Woolf held at third. Next up, Evan Malone drew a walk to load the bases. Anthony Messina grounded into a fielder’s choice to short that took Caldwell off the bases, but Woolf was able to score, giving the Jags a 2-1 lead. A fly ball ended the Jags inning.
The Spartans added single runs in the tops of the fifth and sixth innings, with the Jags coming up empty in the bottoms of those innings. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Mayson Elam singled to left with one out in the inning and stole second. With an 0-2 count, Cade Senn singled to left, advancing Elam to third. Obradovich followed with a double to right, scoring Elam to tie the game at 3-3, with Senn ending up at third and Obradovich at second. The Spartans decided to put Sanderson on, loading the bases for Woolf, and hoping for a chance at a double play. Woolf watched the first pitch go by for a strike, the watched two balls swing the count in his favor. Woolf fouled off strike two, took Ball 3 and fouled off the next pitch. With a full count, Woolf watched as Ball 4 passed by, a little outside and between the New Balance logo and the Jags script on his jersey. Senn strolled in from third base to touch the plate and the Game 1 victory dance ensued.
Offensively, Elam, Senn and Obradovich led the Jags with two hits each. Woolf and Malone collected one hit each. Obradovich, Woolf and Messina had one RBI each. Elam, Sennd, Obradovich and Woolf scored the four runs for Northridge.
Woolf completed five innings on the mound, striking out four, walking four and giving up two runs on seven hits. Messina saw 1-1/3 innings in relief, walking two and giving up one run on two hits. Senn closed out with 2/3 inning of work.
Game 2
The late starting (and ending) second game of the night didn’t go as well for the Jags. Things briefly looked good as the Jags scored one run in the top of the first (being designated the visiting team for Game 2). Elam led off with a single to right. Senn sacrificed Elam over to second. A Saraland pickoff attempt allowed Elam to reach third. Obradovich sent a sacrifice fly to center to score Elam. That would be it Jags’ runs in the first inning.
It took Saraland until the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1. And the Jags responded with a run in the top of the fifth to reclaim the lead at 2-1. Once again, Elam led off with a single, this time to center. Senn dropped a bunt and reached first safely, moving Elam into scoring position. Obradovich drew a walk to load the bases for the Jags, with nobody out. Sanderson sent a sacrifice fly to left, plating Elam for the Jag’s only run of the inning.
The Spartans re-took the lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth. After holding the Jags at bay in the top of the sixth, the Spartans put five runs on the board with the bottom of the sixth. A double play and a strikeout ended the Jags hopes of a comeback in the top of the seventh, ending in the 8-2 win for Saraland.
Elam led the Jags at the plate, going 3-for-4. Senn collected the only other hit for the Jags in Game 2. Obradovich and Sanderson were responsible for one RBI each and Elam scored both Jags’ runs.
Game 3
After a short night, the deciding game of the series commenced at 10am, with the Jags taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. As the third batter for the Jags, Obradovich homered to left. That was the only run of the inning and game for the Jags.
The Jags held the Spartans at bay until the top of the fifth, when they tied the game at 1-1.
With neither team being able to score in the sixth and seventh, they headed to extra innings. The Spartans came alive to score four runs in the top of the eighth, and the Jags weren’t able to get anything going, resulting in the 5-1 victory for the Spartans.
Obradovich went 2-for-3 for the Jags, with a homer and a single. Elam, Senn, Sanderson and Woolf added one hit each for the Jags. Obradovich’s home run gave him the lone run scored and RBI of the game.