Sox Rally to Tie Mad Frogs 5-5

The Sox rallied to tie the Menno Mad Frogs 5-5 at Prentis Park on May 4 in the first game of the season.

The Greysox started off very well on defense.  Manager Mike Moran started the game on the mound going three innings, striking out four, allowing only two singles, no walks and no runs scored.  Even better was the defense behind him.  Some sharp hit balls in the infield were gobbled up by Greysox defenders and outs were made quickly.  Moran only faced 11 batters in the three innings.

Jon Merrigan stepped to the mound in the fourth and kept the Frogs in check yet again.  Merrigan allowed only one hit in his two innings of work, no runs and no walks.  Again, the Sox defense came to the aid of their pitcher with some good plays to keep the Greys out of trouble.

Menno got their bats going in the top half of the sixth with the Greys on top 4-0.  Sox pitcher Nick Anglin allowed a few singles and Menno was able to capitalize on an error by the Sox defense that allowed one run to score.  Anglin stayed determined to get out of the inning with little damage, getting the final out of the six via strikeout.

Layne Brown got the ball in the seventh and tried to keep the Frogs at bay, but it was a tough first outing for the rookie.  Brown got into some trouble and was relieved by Ethan James after one out in the sixth.  James would work hitters deep into the count and get out of the inning with the Frogs still trailing the Sox 4-2.

The bats would come alive again for Menno in the top half of the ninth.  With the score 4-3 in favor of the Sox going into the final inning, the Frogs were able to score two more runs to give them their first lead of the night 5-4. 

In the bottom part of the ninth, the Sox would get some help with a timely hit and some Menno mistakes.  With one out, Mitchel Brown stepped to the plate and belted a single up the middle to give the Greys some hope.  A balk by Menno pitcher Macon Oplinger allowed Brown to get to second unharmed and then stole third base.  With a runner in scoring position and two outs, the Frogs pitcher threw a wild pitch to the back stop which allowed the speedy Brown to score easily from third. 

Dan Bell got a hit with two outs after the score by Brown and would end up at second with another Menno error.  Menno was able to strikeout the last Greysox batter to finish the inning tied at five a piece.  It was then decided that the game end in a tie after the scheduled nine innings.  “No need to overdo it the first game of the season”, said Coach Moran.  “Both teams used a lot of pitchers.  Menno only had 10 or 11 guys show up so it was understandable not to play into extra innings.”

Manager Mike Moran praised his team.  “On defense we did really well, especially in the beginning of the game.  Defense seemed to be our Achilles heel the last few years.  If we started off not making plays that we all know we should have, it would leave a bad taste in our mouth and hard to overcome.  Starting this game the way we did helped our confidence and it showed.”

Offensively, the Sox were led at the plate by rookie Mitchel Brown who was 2-3 with a double, single and an RBI.  He also had an important stolen base in the ninth.  Colin Olson also chipped in two hits in four at bats with an RBI. 

Up next for the Sox (0-0-1) will see three more SCL teams on the schedule with two coming to Vermillion.  Monday May 9 the Lesterville Broncos make the trip to Prentis Park followed by a home date against the Irene Cardinals on Thursday, May 12.  The Greysox will travel to the Wynot Expos on Friday, May 13 to take on the 2014 South Dakota State Amateur Champions.  All games are slated for 7:30pm starts.

You can read more from the Vermillion Plaintalk here:  http://www.plaintalk.net/sports/article_56eef7ee-1851-11e6-bc5e-7fd8c4a64605.html