Frederick Hustlers (11U)

The Frederick Hustlers completed a doubleheader sweep of a tough Mason Dixon RuffNeck squad from York, PA with a clutch 5-4 win in game two on Saturday. The Hustlers were late to wake up in the opener trailing 2-0 early but a six run third inning proved the difference as they came away with a 10-4 victory. Matt Cunningham (Green Valley), Joseph Pippin (Oakdale) and Mikhai Evans (North Frederick) handled the pitching duties while the offense went to work. Leadoff man JT Sachar (Green Valley) started the 3rd inning with a line drive to left and the Hustlers were off and running. Evans followed with a walk and Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) singled. Another clutch hit by Dustin Isanogle (Lewiston) sandwiched around two Mason Dixon errors where Andrew McElwain (St Johns) and Ryan Bennett (St Johns) squared up balls and the Hustlers found themselves with a workable cushion. Sachar and Ropp each had two hits and scored two runs while Evans was on base all three times (error, walk and single) and scored two runs. Cunningham, McElwain and Isanogle each recorded a hit.

Game two turned out to be quite a pitcher’s duel. Justin Ropp tossed the first three innings and was sharp as always. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out five Ruffnecks. The game stayed at 1-0 Mason Dixon until the 4th inning when the Hustlers plated two runs. Hayden Bailey (Walkersville) got things going with a single. With two outs, JT Sachar and Mikhai Evans ripped back to back hits and the Hustlers took a 2-1 lead. The Hustlers than got a leadoff double from cleanup hitter Matt Cunningham to open up the fifth inning. Not to be outdone, Dustin Isanogle smoked one to left center for a triple and Ryan Bennett drew a critical 2-out walk. Brandon Buschman then stepped to the plate and delivered the key hit of the day - a line drive 2-run single to center to plate Isanogle and Bennett and give the Hustlers a 5-1. The Ruffnecks were not impressed and responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to make it a 5-4 game. The Hustlers tried to add one in the sixth but the Ruffnecks turned a nifty double play on a smoked liner by Sachar after a key SAC bunt by Riley Donovan (Tuscarora). The Hustlers then went to work on the defense side. Brandon Buschman struck out the cleanup hitter and then Andrew McElwain and Joseph Pippin turned in plays for ESPN Sportscenter. McElwain made a game saving diving catch on a ball hit to the fence in right field and Pippen jumped and snagged a liner header to the right field corner to end the game. Donovan also made a nice running catch earlier in the game in centerfield to thwart a Mason Dixon rally. Ropp, McElwain and Buschman all pitched well and Bennett was his superb self behind the plate.

The Hustlers are back in action Wednesday evening against the HCYP Raiders at the Yellow Springs Baseball Complex.