Maricopa High Baseball continues hot streak

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With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, the Maricopa High School baseball team scored four runs to beat the Collegiate Dutchman of New York 12-2.

The game was called in the fifth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Pitcher Isaac Solis opened the game with back-to-back strikeouts. The Rams got the third out on ground-ball play at first, and then attacked offensively scoring three runs in the bottom half of the inning.

After another scoreless inning for the Dutchman in the second, the Rams scored two more runs to increase their lead to 5-0. Cody Seymore hit a triple in the second bringing in one run and then he scored on a passed ball. Seymore was four-for-four in the game, and scored every time he got on base.

Collegiate was able to score one run in the third inning, which was the only inning Maricopa did not score.

The next inning, Collegiate scored again to bring the score to 5-2, but that would be the last run for the Dutchman. In the bottom half of the fourth, Matt Fierros doubled to bring in two more runs for the Rams. Fierros ended the game three-for-four with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Solis struck out the side in the top of the fifth, which brought the Rams up leading the Dutchman 8-2. Kie Zabawa led off with a double, followed by two ground-ball outs. A two-out rally started with a double by Cody Seymore, followed by three consecutive singles. The third single by Lionel Iglesias ended the game when he drove in Matt Fierros to increase the Ram’s lead to 10 runs, reaching the final score of 12-2.

The win brings the Rams within one game of a .500 season at 9-10. They are currently in first place in league play at 4-1, but will have to work hard to keep their position because all of their remaining games are against league opponents.

Coach Steve Pappas said he believes his team will continue to play well, regardless of what happens off the field.

“There are outside distractions with school coming to an end,” Pappas said. “But these guys are really starting to have fun playing, so I’m not worried about their motivation on the field.”

The Rams have already beaten four of the six teams they have left on their schedule.

“Their destiny is in their own hands,” Pappas said.


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