The Baldwin Purple Pony team headed to Bethel Park’s Millennium Field after a tough loss in their season opener. While the Purple team had lost to Bethel in the 7th inning of their season opener the team wanted a different outcome and looked to even their record.

In the first inning Austin got a quick ground out but Bethel was able to string some hits together and the team missed a few plays in the field that typically would have been made. Being down 5-0 after a half inning didn’t seem to worry the team. Roman lead off with a walk. Gio flew out to left and Austin flew out to right. Roman was able to steal second and third. Nick would walk and Roman slyly stole home as the left hander on the mound didn’t realize in time that Roman had taken off. Baldwin trailed 5-1 after the first.

In the second inning Caleb, who will now forever be known as “The Thumb”, as he battled through an at bat with a swollen thumb. While he grounded out Coach Kevin stated “That’s a gutsy at bat. He stepped in to the box and was ready to go even with an injured thumb.” Isaac would line out to second and Tyler S, who was bumped up a spot in the order, struck out after a lengthy battle earning praise from Coach Bill for a great at bat. Coach Bill turned to Gio to pitch the second. A strike out and a come backer to the mound provided two quick outs. Two errors had Bethel threatening but Austin, who was now catching, gunned a would be base stealer out at second to end the threat and keeping the score 5-1.

Baldwin struck with some two out magic in the second. After two quick outs Gio doubled and would come in to score when Austin singled. Baldwin trailed 5-2 but Bethel quickly struck back. A leadoff single to the number two hitter was followed by a steal on a close call at second. That runner would score but Gio struck out three batters in the inning keeping the score 6-2.

Baldwin wasn’t able to strike in the fourth as the Bethel pitcher struck out the side in a 1-2-3 inning. The bottom of the Bethel order was able to tack a run on despite three more K’s from Gio. Baldwin now trailing 7-2 decided it was time for some action in the 5th inning. After a leadoff strikeout Tyler H walked. With two outs Gio tripled Tyler H in. Austin and Nick would be hit by pitches. They would come home to score with some aggressive base running and the score was now 7-6.

Gio would work around an error in the 5th and strike out two more Bethel hitters and Baldwin was back in the game being down 7-6.

In the 6th Baldwin wasn’t able to plate any runs but Isaac grounded out and Tyler S kept putting the bat on the ball but came in still down 7-6. Gio would continue his dominance on the mound striking out three of the four batters he faced in the 6th.

In the 7th Roman earned a one out walk and would score on Gio’s second RBI triple of the night. The game was tied and the Baldwin squad was pumped. The action wasn’t complete yet as Austin put down a perfect bunt scoring Gio, earning a bunt single and giving Baldwin their first lead. Nick would follow with an RBI bunt. Dylan nearly knocked in another run but a nice play by the short stop ended the inning with Baldwin up 9-7.

Gio pitched the 7th and earned the win as he struck out two more batters to finish the evening with 14 strike outs in a dominating performance on the mound.

After the game Coach Bill was heard telling all the players what they did well and what they will want to improve on as the team hopes to rack up more wins. The players all contributed with the bat as all players either were on base or at least made contact. Coach Kevin stated “These players are all putting the bat on the ball or earning walks with patience at the plate. Dylan hit the ball three times, Tyler S and Isaac keep making contact and the players are all being aggressive on the bases. Everyone is contributing one way or another. This is a younger team and they’re playing teams with big size advantages but they refuse to back down.”

After earning a fun come from behind win the Baldwin team rest up and will then head back to Bethel for another game at Millennium Park with hopes of improving their 1-1 record.