Williamsport, Pa. – With their 20-9 win over State College, the Williamsport Crosscutters clinched the 1st Half Title and a trip to the MLB Draft League Championship.
Evan Grimes set the tone for the afternoon, retiring the first six batters he faced, striking out four through his first two innings.
The Crosscutters bats immediately backed their starter, plating five runs in the 1st inning, highlighted by a three-run double from James McCoy, a RBI triple from Chance Jennings and a RBI single from Kelly Robertson.
In the bottom of the 2nd, the Cutters plated four more runs as Ben Tryon ripped a two-run single and Chance Jennings drove in two more with a double.
State College got their first base hit in with one out in the top of the 3rd inning, but Grimes was able strand the running, delivering another scoreless frame.
The Cutters offense erupted again in the bottom of the 3rd inning, plating four more runs. Chris Stanfield drove in two with a single to center, Tryon picked up an RBI single and James McCoy scored another with a RBI ground out.
Grimes ran into some command issues in the top of the 4th inning, allowing four runs on two hits and three walks before being lifted for Caleb Anderson. Anderson entered with the bases loaded and two outs, striking out the first batter he faced to end the inning with the Cutters leading 13-4.
After going scoreless in the bottom of the 4th, Ben Tryon launched a 417-foot home run over the right field wall, his 2nd home run of the season, extending the Cutters lead to 14-4.
Caleb Anderson retired the first four batters he faced, but allowed five runs in the top of the 6th inning. Allowing a pair of two-run home runs in the frame. The first coming off the bat Luke Nomura and the second being hit by Tyree Reed. The Spikes brought the game within five at 14-9.
Williamsport answered in the bottom of the 6th inning with a five-run frame of their own. Chris Stanfield cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left, a 340-foot shot and his first of the season. Kelly Roberston capped the scoring with a two-run, two-out single to up the lead to 19-9.
Jaden Noot earned the win out of the bullpen, tossing a pair of scoreless frames in the 7th and 8th innings.
Chance Jennings plate the final run of the night, using a RBI ground out to score Maddix Dalena to give the Cutters a 20-9 lead.
Myles Myer closed out the ninth by retiring all three batters he faced.
The Crosscutters look to sweep the Spikes to close out the first half of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. Sunday in State College
Cutters Carvings - This is the second 1st half title for the Cutters in the MLB Draft League and their third half title overall… Kyle Schupmann raised hit batting average to .400 with a three-hit effort… Ben Tryon became the first MLB Draft League era hitter to record 30 or more RBI in the First Half, currently sitting at 31…
