BLUE SOX/ORIOLES GAME SUSPENDED AFTER 9 INNINGS
    A local curfew halted Thursday night’s playoff game between the Blue Sox and the Brunswick Orioles after 9 innings, with the game tied at 8,
    The Orioles struck first, scoring once in the bottom of the first on 2 hits.  But the Sox pulled ahead in the second, when they sent 10 men to the plate.  Brady Weaver began the rally with a leadoff double.  Zeke Grissinger and Cody Hammond drew walks to load the bases with one out.  Alex Jenkins then ripped a single to right, driving in two.  Micah Sloane worked a walk, and Chase Anderson’s single to left brought in Hammond and Jenkins.  Tyler Sine was hit with a pitch to load the bases, but the Sox could do no further damage that inning.  In the third, the Sox made the score 5-1.  Grissinger was hit by a pitch and Spencer Delawder walked.  Hammond moved the runners up with sacrifice bunt, and Grissinger scored on Jenkins’ RBI ground ball to second.
    For the second night in a row, in the third inning and the Orioles plated 6 runs in the third inning, this time on only 2 hits, as control again deserted the Sox starting pitcher, making the score 7-5, Orioles.   But the Sox battled back with 3 runs in the top of the fifth to pull ahead by a run.  Grissinger walked and Delawder was hit by a pitch.  Hammond put down a perfect bunt for a single, loading the bases with none out.  A ground ball to first by Jenkins forced Grissinger at the plate.  But Sloane followed with a single, driving in Delawder and Hammond.  Jenkins scored on a two-out single by Jacob Whitmore.
    A home run by Orioles left fielder Tristan Riley in the bottom of the sixth inning tied the game at 8.  Following current major league rules, each team started the eighth and ninth innings with a runner on second.  But Sox reliever Cody Hammond and Orioles reliever Josh Simons did not allow the runners to score.  Hammond pitched the last 6 innings for the Sox, giving up only one run and two hits.
    The game was suspended because of a local Brunswick curfew.  It will be completed Friday night before the beginning of the game 3 in the series at Musselman High School.

BLUE SOX DROP FIRST PLAYOFF GAME
    A rough second inning sank the Blue Sox ship in the first game of their best of five series against the Brunswick Orioles, 7 - 1.  Sox starting pitcher Cam King set the Orioles down on just 8 pitches in the bottom of the first.  But the usually reliable lefty suddenly lost his control in the second inning, giving up 6 runs on just 3 Oriole hits.  The Sox thought they were out of the inning after just two runs had scored, but a 3-2 pitch that the Sox thought had caught the plate at the knees was ruled a ball, and the inning went downhill from there.  Derik Snyder took over in the third inning, and gave up only one run the rest of the way.  Sox manager Garry Geffert said:  “We have suffered from the one-bad-inning syndrome all year.  When we avoid that one bad inning, we win ball games.”
    Meanwhile, the Sox offense was silent.  Singles by Jacob Whitmore in the second inning and Micah Sloane were the only hits the Sox got.  They scored their sole run in seventh.  Zeke Grissinger and Chase Anderson walked and Micah Sloane was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out.  Tyler Sine smacked a line drive, but right at the Oriole third baseman.  Brady Weaver was hit a pitch to drive in the sole Sox run, but a strikeout ended the rally and the game.
    The Sox’ night was summed up by Blue Sox coach Scott Jenkins: “We just didn’t hit.”
    The Sox play game 2 of the series Thursday night at Brunswick.

BLUE SOX TOP CUMBERLAND ORIOLES
    Clutch two-out hitting by Cody Butts and Tyler Sine, strong pitching by Caleb Horner, Nick Reeves and Derrick Snider, aided by 3 double plays, put the Blue Sox over the Cumberland Orioles 5 to 1 in a nine inning game played at Musselman High School Tuesday night.
    The Orioles scored their only run off Horner in the second inning with a double and an RBI single.  They threatened in the third, putting runners on first and second on a catcher’s interference and walk.  But Horner induced a ground ball to third baseman Alex Jenkins, who stepped on third and threw across the infield for the first Sox double play of the game.  Horner did not allow any further damage, finishing his five inning stint with 8 strikeouts, while giving up only 3 hits.
    The Sox’ offense went to work in the bottom of the third.  Peyton DeMarco stared the inning with a single to left.  He was forced on a ground ball off the bat of Zeke Grissinger, who then stole second base.  Tyler Sine followed with his first of three singles, Grissinger stopping at second. Sine moved to second on a ground ball hit by Spencer Delawder, Grissinger holding at third.  Cody Butts then smacked a two out single to center, driving in Grissinger and Sine and putting the Sox ahead 2 to 1.
    In the fifth, Grissinger walked and again stole second.  He scored on a second two-out single from Butts.  The Sox’ final two runs came across in the sixth.  With one out, Chase Anderson got his second hit of the game.  Jacob Whitmore next worked a walk.  A strikeout was followed by another walk to Grissinger, loading the bases.  Tyler Sine delivered the Sox’ third two out hit of the game, a single to center, driving in Anderson and Whitmore.
    Nick Reeves pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings for the Sox, aided by two double plays.  With runners on second and third and one out, Reeves got a fly ball to center.  The Orioles runner tagged up but was nailed at home on perfect throw from Delawder, catcher Cody Hammond making the tag on the sliding Orioles runner.  Reeves got out of a first and second, one out jam in the seventh by inducing a ground ball to shortstop Micah Sloane, who tossed to second baseman Chase Anderson, for the force out.  Anderson then made a fine throw to first to get the double play and end the inning.   Derrick Snider allowed only one hit in the eighth and ninth for the save of Horner’s third win of the season.
    The Blue Sox are now 10-8.  They play the Brunswick Orioles Thursday night at Musselman High School at 7:00 p.m.

BLUE SOX FALL TO BRUNSWICK
    Poor defense and too many bases on balls allowed the Brunswick Orioles to score 11 runs on just 4 hits to beat the Blue Sox 11-3 at Brunswick on Saturday.
    The tone of the game was set in the first inning.  In the top of the inning, Cody Butts drew a two out walk and Spencer Delawder followed with a single, but a strikeout ended the inning.  In the bottom of the inning, Brunswick got a lead off walk from starting pitcher Dylan McCartney.  McCartney induced a pop fly for the first out, and then had the runner picked off first, but he eluded the Blue Sox defense in a run down.  A sacrifice bunt was followed by a single and a three run home run by Brunswick.  Brunswick scored a fourth run in the third on a walk, a stolen base and two ground outs.
    The Blue Sox rallied with two outs in the fourth.  Alex Jenkins, Micah Sloane and Chase Anderson each worked a walk.  Nick Reeves hit a ground ball into the hole between short and third.  The throw to first was late.  Jenkins scored, and Sloane alertly raced in from second base for the Sox second run.  But the Sox left Reeves and Anderson on base.  In the top of the fifth, the Sox loaded the bases on walks to Butts, Delawder and Jenkins.  Sloane dropped a single into center to drive in Butts.  But the Sox could not muster another hit in the inning and left the bases loaded.  That was the last of the Sox’ scoring opportunities.
    The wheels fell off for the Sox in the bottom of the fourth.  The inning began with an error, and a missed third strike to put Oriole runners on first and second with no one out. A series of walks, a double, a hit batter and another error allowed the Orioles to plate 7 runs on just 2 hits and put the game away.
    The Blue play the Cumberland Orioles at Musselman High School on Tuesday, July 20.  They are now 8-8 for the season.

HORNER PITCHES BLUE SOX TO 7-1 WIN OVER B.C. ELITE
    Caleb Horner gave up only four hits and one run while striking out 9 in a complete game victory over the B.C. Elite at Walkersville, MD on Wednesday night.  The only Elite score was a home run in the bottom of the 7th inning.  It was Horner’s second complete game win of the season.
    The Blue Sox got all the runs Horner would need in the top of the 3rd inning.  Zeke Grissinger started the inning with a single.  Micah Sloane laid a perfect bunt down the third base line for a base hit, and Grissinger alertly took third when it was left unprotected.  Grissinger scored when Spencer Delawder’s hard hit grounder to short was turned into a double play.  But the Sox were not done that inning.  A walk to catcher Nick Barentz, a single by Cody Hammond and a walk to Dylan McCarthy loaded the bases.  Chase Anderson lined a single to left, driving in Barentz, and Hammond, running hard on the hit, also scored when the left fielder bobbled the ball.
    Horner got off to a rocky start, giving up two hits with one out in the bottom of the first, but got a strikeout and ground out to end the inning.  He walked two batters with one out in each of the 3rd and 5th innings, but again pitched out of the jams.
    The Sox took pressure off Horner with single runs in the 5th and 6th, and two more in the 7th.  In the 5th, Chase Anderson’s third hit of the game drove in Barentz, who had walked to start the inning.  Zeke Grissinger’s two out double over the head of the centerfielder plated designated hitter Nick Dionne, who had been hit by pitch.  Two Elite errors and a single by Danny Brennan loaded the bases for the Sox in the 7th, and Grissinger drove in his 2nd and 3rd runs of the day with a single to right.
    The Blue Sox are now 8 and 7 on the season.  They play the Brunswick Orioles at Brunswick at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

BLUE SOX GAME AT BRUNSWICK POSTPONED
    Rain during the day on Thursday left the Brunswick field too wet for playing, forcing the postponement of Thursday’s game.  The game will be made up as part of a double header at Brunswick, MD on Sunday, July 11.  The first game will begin at 2:00 p.m.

MCCARTNEY, DELAWDER LEAD BLUE SOX TO VICTORY OVER B.C. ELITE
    Centerfielder Spencer Delawder drove in 3 runs and threw out a runner at home plate to support the 6 hit pitching of Dylan McCartney as the Blue Sox beat the B.C. Elite 6 to 2 Wednesday night at Middletown, MD.  The game, a make up from an earlier rain out, began a week earlier at Walkersville.  The Blue Sox had scored two runs in the top of the first on singles by Zeke Grissinger and Tyler Sine and a B.C. Elite error, and had runners on first and third with one out when weather intervened.  The umpires spotted lightning and pulled the teams off the field.  A 30 minute wait without lightning is required to resume play.  But repeated lightning and a bought of rain caused the game to be suspended.
    When play resumed on Wednesday, the Sox immediately scored run 3 on an RBI grounder by Delawder.  The Sox scored twice more in third.  McCartney led off with a single and then stole second.  Alex Jenkins followed with a single to left, McCartney stopping at third. Delawder drove both home with a double to deep left center. A couple of walks and an error allowed the Sox to score one more run in the fourth.
    After rough first and second innings, McCartney largely shut down the Elite.  The first two Elite hitters reached base on infield hits.  The third hitter lined a single to center, and Delawder cut down the lead runner trying to score.  McCartney then got a pop-up and ground ball to end the threat. 
    B.C. Elite broke through for a run in the bottom of the second on a hit batter and two singles.  After that McCartney gave up only one hit, a one out RBI double in the bottom of the fifth. 
    The Middletown field does not have lights, and by the end of the fifth darkness was closing in.  So, the game was called.  As five innings had been completed, it was an official, complete game.  The Blue Sox are now 6 and 5.  They play the Brunswick Orioles at Brunswick, MD Thursday night.

    An inability to get a big hit with runners in scoring position, and an umpire’s call, resulted in a 3-2 loss to the Hagerstown Braves at Hagerstown Tuesday night.
    The Blue Sox jumped off a 2-0 lead in the first.  After one out, designated hitter Tyler Sine was safe on an error.  First baseman Cody Butts followed with a single sending Sine to second. Catcher Brady Weaver drove home Sine with a single, moving Butts to second.  Third baseman Alex Jenkins singled to load the bases.  Center fielder Spencer Delawder then  hit a fly ball to deep center field, scoring Butts.
    In the second inning ,shortstop Micah Sloane led off with a line drive single. Right fielder Peyton DeMarco laid down a perfect bunt, putting runners on first and second with no one out.  Left fielder Zeke Grissinger moved each runner up with a sacrifice bunt, but the Sox were unable to cash in.
    The Sox could not covert another opportunity in the third. With one out, Jenkins singled and Delawder walked, but there they stayed.
    Meanwhile, Sox starting pitcher Cam King threw very well, shutting out the Braves in the first three innings.  In the bottom of the fourth, the Braves put runners on first and second on an error and a walk to start the inning. King fielded a bunt and forced the runner at third for the first out of the inning.  A single loaded the bases, and the Braves scored their first run on a single.  Then the Braves hit a ground ball to Jenkins, who threw to home for the second out. The relay from catcher Weaver appeared to beat the hitter to first, but he was called safe on a bang-bang play.   A wild pitch allowed the Braves to tie the game at 2. 
    The Sox had runners at second and third with two outs in the sixth and seventh innings, but could not get a two-out hit.
    In the bottom of the seventh, reliever Derik Snider gave up a lead off single.  A throwing error by the catcher on a pick off play moved the runner to second. Then a stolen base attempt, with another throwing error, allowed the Braves to score the winning run.
    The Blue Sox are now 5-5 on the season. They play the B.C. Elite on Wednesday at Walkersville, MD on Wednesday

    The Blue Sox played their third double header of the year on Sunday, this one against the Appalachian Aces of the Penn-Mar League, and ended up with their third doubleheader split.  The Sox won the first game 2-0, as Dylan McCartney threw a 4-hit, complete game shutout, then dropped the second game 7-6.
    In game one, the Sox got single runs in the second and third innings.  In the second inning, left fielder Jacob Whitmore led off with a single. He stole second, and then moved to third on a ground out to the right side of the infield by centerfielder Spencer Delawder.  Second baseman Chase Anderson followed with a ground ball to the shortstop, scoring Delawader.
    Third baseman Alex Jenkins singled with one out in the third, and promptly stole second base.  Designated hitter Cody Butts drove Jenkins in with a clutch 2-out single.  The Sox had scoring opportunities in the 4th and 6th innings, each time putting a man on third with less than two outs, but left them there each time.
    Fortunately for the Sox, McCartney overpowered the Aces’ hitters to gain his first win on the season.  He walked only one hitter, while striking out 9.  McCartney allowed only one runner past first base.  That occurred in the 5th inning when, with two outs, he gave up his only walk and then a single which put runners at first and third.  He then got a foul out to catcher Brady Weaver to end the inning, and the only threat mounted by the Aces. 
    Second game starter Cody Butts was shaky in the first inning, walking two and giving up two singles with only one out, as the Aces scored twice.  Butts then got a strikeout and a ground out to first baseman Brady Weaver to end the inning. 
    The Blue Sox bounced back with a run in the bottom of the first.  With one out, catcher Tyler Sine singled, and was replace by courtesy runner Peyton DeMarco.  Weaver singled and designated hitter Hayden Stang was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Whitmore singled to center, scoring DeMarco, but a strong throw by the Aces’ centerfielder got Weaver at the plate as he tried to score on Whitmore’s hit.   The Sox were thwarted by the Aces’ centerfielder again in the bottom of the second, as he threw out third baseman Caleb Horner trying to score from second on a single by left fielder Zeke Grissinger.
    The Aces scored again in the 3rd on a lead off triple and a sacrifice fly.  The Sox bounced back with 2 runs in the bottom of that inning to tie the game at 3 with some help from a leaky Aces defense.  Leading off the inning, Sine was safe on an error.  Weaver doubled, and DeMarco, again running for Sine, scored when the Aces’ infield mishandled the throw in from the outfield.  With one out, Whitmore singled, moving Weaver to third.  Whitmore stole second, and centerfielder Delawder was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Horner hit an RBI single, scoring Weaver, the bases remaining loaded.  But the Sox left them there, managing only a pop up and flyout to end the inning.
    The wheels fell off for the Blue Sox in the top of the forth.  Butts got a ground out, and then had the second hitter in the inning struck out, but the ball got away from the catcher, and his throw to first was wide, putting a man on first.  Two more errors by the Sox infield, and two walks, handed the Aces 2 runs, for a 5-3 lead.    
    The Blue Sox pulled ahead with 3 runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Whitmore began the inning with single, and scored on a double by Delawder.  Horner grounded to third, but was safe when the throw was wide, Delawder remaining at second.  Shortstop Micah Sloane dropped down a perfect bunt, loading the bases with no one out. Delawder scored on a wild pitch as Horner and Sloane moved up.  Pinch hitter Dylan McCartney hit a long fly ball to right, driving in Horner, putting the Sox up by a run and moving Sloane to third wit only one out.  But the Sox left Sloane at third, as the next two hitters managed only a foul pop out and fly out to left.
    The Aces retook the lead with 2 runs in the top of the 6th on a single, a hit batsman, and  a two RBI double off the first Sox reliever.  Cam King came in, and shut down the Aces the rest of the way, striking out 4 in 1 and 2/3 innings.
    The Sox mounted a rally in the bottom of the 7th, loading the base with only one out a Delawder single, a walk to Sloane, and a bloop single by McCartney.  There they stayed, as the next hitter popped to short for the second out.  A bang-bang play on a slow hit ground ball by Sine ended the game.
    The Blue Sox are now 5-4 on the season.  They play the B.C. Elite in Walkersville, MD at 6:30 Wednesday night.

    The Blue Sox reprised their opening weekend double-header split with the Cumberland Orioles, again winning the first game and losing the second Saturday at the Musselman ball field.
    Caleb Horner threw a complete game in the opener, allowing only five hits and striking out 10.  Still, the Blue Sox did not plate the winning runs in the 4-3 ballgame until the bottom of the seventh inning.
    The Sox drew first blood without a hit in the bottom of the third. Left fielder Zeke Grissinger and designated hitter Cody Butts each walked, and third baseman Alex Jenkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs.  Center fielder Spencer Delawder worked a five pitch walk to drive in Grissinger. 
    The Orioles pulled ahead, using three singles and a hit batsmen to score 2 runs in the top of the fifth.  A great throw by centerfielder Spencer Delawder cut down the potential 3rd run at the plate and ended the inning.  The Sox tied things up in the bottom of that inning.  First baseman Brady Weaver led off with a double, and moved to third on a fly ball to center off the bat of Butts.  Alex Jenkins then hit a fly to deep right, Weaver scoring after the catch.
    In the top of the sixth, the Orioles got a run on a single, a fielder’s choice moving the runner to second, and an RBI single, making the score 3 to 2, Orioles.
    Horner got a 1-2-3 7th, with 2 strikeouts.  In the bottom of the inning, Grissinger drew his second walk of the game to lead off the inning.  Catcher Tyler Sine singled, moving Grissinger to second.  Weaver grounded the third, but was safe on an error, loading the bases.  On a 3-1 count, Butts hit a long fly to right, easily scoring Grissinger.  Sine tried to advance on the fly ball, and the right fielder overthrew the third baseman, allowing Sine to score the winning run for the Sox.
     In the second game Blue Sox starting pitcher Dylan Miller escaped bases loaded jams in each of the first two innings.  The Blue Sox scored a couple in the bottom of the second inning.  First baseman Cody Butts walked, and right fielder Cody Hammond singled, and each moved up a base on a long fly to center off the bat of centerfielder Spencer Delawder.  A single by second baseman Micah Sloane drove in both runners and gave the Sox a 2-0 lead.  James Walsh relieved Miller to begin the third, and, like his predecessor, escaped a bases loaded situation without allowing a run. 
    The Blue Sox had a chance to blow the game open in the bottom of the third. Third baseman Tyler Sine was hit by a pitch, and catcher Brady Weaver and Butts followed with back to back singles to load the bases with no one out.  Hammond worked a walk to drive in Sine, and Delawder was hit by a pitch, scoring a second run.  But the Orioles changed pitchers, and the next two Sox hitters popped up to the infield and the third struck out leaving the bases loaded.   The inability to score more in the third led to the Sox’ downfall.
    In the top of the fifth, the Orioles scored 5 unearned runs as 2 Sox errors, 3 base hits and 3 walks handed the visitors the lead.  The Blue Sox tied the game in the bottom of the inning.  Hammond walked.  Delawder laid down a bunt, and the Orioles threw the ball down the right field line allowing Hammond to score.
    Nick Reeves shut the door on the Orioles with perfect innings in the 6th and 7th, but the Sox were unable to score. As the teams play by MLB rules, the top of the 8th began with an Oriole runner on second base.  Reeves got the first hitter to fly out to right, but the runner advanced to third.  The Sox pulled the infield in, and Reeves got a ground ball to the shortstop, but the throw to home was up the first base line by about a yard, and the Orioles took the lead.  The Blue Sox got a runner to third with one out in the bottom of the 8th, but could not get him in, and so lost 6-5 in extra innings.  Reeves, the most effective of the Blue Sox pitchers, was the hard luck loser.
    The Blue Sox are now 4 - 3.  They play two games against the Appalachian Aces of the Penn-Mar League on Sunday, June 27 at Mussleman’s park.

    The Blue Sox rode a 7 run third inning and Cam King’s left arm to a 9-5 victory over the Brunswick Orioles Thursday night at Inwood.
    King struggled in the first inning, walking two of the first three Orioles.  A one out single plated a run for the Orioles.  But King got a ground ball and a strikeout to end the inning.
    The Blue Sox came back with two runs in the bottom of the first.  First baseman Zeke Grissinger led off with a walk, and third baseman Tyler Sine followed with a single, Grissinger stopping at second.  With one out, designated hitter Hayden Stang walked to load the bases.  Right fielder Nick Reeves hit a ground ball short, scoring Grissinger and forcing Stang at second.  But Reeves was safe at first and Sine scored on a throwing error by the Oriole shortstop.
    In the third, the Blue Sox exploded for 7 runs.  Sine began the inning with double down the left field line.  Catcher Brady Weaver walked, and Sine and Weaver then worked a double steal to put runners on second and third.  Stang hit a long fly to left, driving in Sine.  Reeves singled, driving in Weaver for the inning’s second run.  Reeves stole second.  After left fielder Jacob Whitmore walked, Reeves stole third.  Second baseman Chase Anderson blooped a single left, scoring Reeves, and shortstop Micah Sloane walked to load the bases.  Center fielder Peyton Manning grounded to third, but the Oriole third baseman was unable to field the ball cleanly, allowing Whitmore to score, and DeMarco, hustling to first, was safe when the throw was late.  Grissinger walked, driving in Anderson.   With two outs, Weaver singled up the middle, Sloane and DeMarco racing home with the final runs of the inning.
    Meanwhile, King retired all nine batters he faced in the second, third and fourth innings.  He gave up an unearned run in the fifth.  Derrick Snider pitched the final two innings.  The Orioles scored three unearned runs in the sixth, as the Sox defense was a little sloppy.  But shortstop Maverick Keller bailed Snider out, making a diving stop of a hard hit ground ball up the middle, then popping up to throw out the hitter and end the inning.  Snider tossed a perfect 7th to end the game.
    The Blue Sox are now 3-2 on the season.  King has two of those wins, and gave up only one hit to the Orioles.  The Sox play a double header against the Cumberland Orioles of the Penn-Mar League on Saturday.  The first game begins at 3 p.m.

    The Blue Sox fell behind in the first inning, and never caught up to Post 14 in a 5-2 loss at Musselman’s ball park. 
    Post 14 scored one in the top of the first on a triple and a ground out and another in the fourth inning on a single, a stolen base, and a two out single.  Both runs were given up by starter and losing pitcher Dylan McCartney.
    Meanwhile, the Sox could not get a key hit through the first six.  Alex Jenkins was safe on a error leading off in the bottom of the first. He went to third on a two out single by catcher Brady Weaver, but was still on third when the inning ended.  Center-fielder Cody Hammond earned a lead off walk in the second, stole second base, and went to third when second baseman Chase Anderson followed with a single.  But Anderson was caught stealing, and two strike-outs left Hammond at third.  Again in the fourth the Sox had runners and on second and third with one out, as Weaver led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a ground out by left fielder Caleb Horner, and moved when the Post 14 shortstop misplayed Hammond’s slowly hit ground ball, and Hammond promptly stole second.  Again, two strikeouts left the runners on base.
    Post 14 scored three times in the top of the 7th on 3 hits and walk, putting the Sox in a 5 run hole.  In the bottom of the inning, shortstop Maverick Keller worked a one-out walked and scored on a triple by Alex Johnson.  Catcher Tyler Sine followed with an RBI double, but the Sox were unable to do any further damage.
    The Sox will play the Brunswick Orioles on Thursday, June 24 at Musselman field.  Game time is 7:00 p.m.

    Cam King pitched 6 and 1/3 innings of of 3 hit shutout ball, and Cody Butts got the final two outs as the Blue Sox beat the B.C. Elite 3 to 0 in a Blue Ridge League game at Musselman High School in Inwood, WV. 
    King got off to a shaky start, giving up a double to the Elite’s leadoff hitter, and then allowing a walk after one out.  But a strikeout, and a fine play by catcher Brady Weaver on a foul popup near the netting, ended the threat.  In the bottom of the first, third baseman Alex Jenkins led off with a double down the left field line.  Second baseman Tyler Sine followed with a single up the middle, but Johnson was out at the plate on a fine throw from the Elite’s centerfielder.  Designated hitter then Cody Butts singled, with Sine stopping at third.  Weaver hit a single to drive in Sine.
    The Elite got one double in each of the third an fourth innings, but those were the only other hits King allowed.  Meanwhile, the Sox were held to one more hit through the fifth, a one out single by Butts in the third, which went for naught when it was followed by a sharply hit ground ball by Weaver which became an inning ending double play. 
    In the bottom of the sixth, first baseman Caleb Horner singled to right with one out.  Horner was forced at second when shortstop Micah Sloane hit a hard ground ball to short.  Sloane took second a a passed ball.  Left fielder Hayden Stang, who had entered as a pinch runner in fifth after Cody Hammond was hit by a pitch, singled to drive in Sloane.  Stang took second on a passed ball, and scored a single right by right fielder Dylan McCartney, giving the Sox a 3-0 lead.
    King got the first hitter in the top of the seventh on a fly ball to center, but then allowed two consecutive walks.  The Sox then turned to the veteran Butts, who got a strikeout and a groundball to short to end the game.
    The Sox finished with 8 hits, 2 by Butts, and played flawless defense.  The Sox are now 2 and 1 on the season.  They will play the Post 14 American Legion team on Thursday night at Musselman. Game time is 7:00 p.m.

Hard rains forced the postponement of the Blue Sox/BC Elite doubleheader scheduled for June 13.  No make up date has yet been set.

    The Blue Sox began their 2021 season with a 9 to 5 win over the Cumberland Orioles, but then dropped the second game, 5 to 1.
    In the first game, the Blue Sox scored three times in each of the third, fourth and seventh innings.  Third baseman Alex Jenkins led off the third inning with a single, and left fielder Zeke Grissinger followed with a double.  Staring pitcher Cody Butts drove them home with a single.  Centerfielder Spencer Delawder singled, moving Butts to second, and Butts scored on one-base hit by first baseman Brady Weaver.
    Jenkins started the fourth inning with another single, and scored on a second Grissinger double.  Shortstop Micah Sloane walked, and Cody Butts singled, scoring Grissinger.  Sloane scored on a Cumberland error.
    In the seventh, second baseman Chase Anderson started the inning with a single. He scored on a triple by relief pitcher Caleb Horner.  Jenkins reached on an error, and both scored on Grissinger third hit.
    Starting pitcher Cody Butts went three innings, giving up 3 runs on 2 hits, with 3 strikeouts and 4 walks.  Winning pitcher Dylan McCartney threw two hitless innings, given up one unearned run, while striking out 4 and walking two.  Caleb Horner threw the final two innings, allowing one run on 2 hits, while striking out 3 and walking one.
    Grissinger had 3 hits and 3 RBI, and also stole a base.  Butts had 2 hits and an RBI, and Jenkins had 2 hits an RBI and scored three times.  Catcher Tyler Sine and Weaver had 2 hits each.
    In the second game, Cumberland held the Blue Sox scoreless until the final inning, when Delawder singled, Jenkins walked and Anderson singled to load the bases.  Delawder scored on a Cumberland throwing error, but the Sox were unable to do any further damage.
    Cam King started and threw 3 inning for the Sox, giving up just 1 run and 3 hits while striking out 4 and walking 2.  Nick Reeves pitched the fourth innings, and was hurt by Sox defense, allowing 4 unearned runs and two hits, with a strikeout and 2 walks.  Caleb Horner threw a perfect fifth inning, striking out the only 3 batters he faced.  Dylan McCartney followed with a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and two walks, while striking out 2.
    The Blue Sox next play on Sunday, June 13 at Middletown, MD against the B.C. Elite – another doubleheader.