2014 Eastern Region: Day 2 Recap

Check out the tournament previews HERE and HERE

Catch the Day 1 Recap HERE


Taney (PA) 11, West Salisbury (MD) 1, 4 innings

Pennylvania began its tournament on Saturday morning with an impressive showing against Maryland. Jared Sprague-Lott threw 2 2/3 innings of no-hit ball and it wasn't even the sharpest I've seen him (he walked four). Jack Rice and Sprague-Lott each homered and Jahli Hendricks was 3-for-3 with two doubles. As expected, they're in the top two in the region, but we'll know a lot more in the morning.

Check out the rest after the jump!




Cumberland American (RI) 25, Barnstable (MA) 5, 4 innings

This game was over in the top of the first inning with a leadoff home run from Nick Croteau and a 3-run blast from Addison Kopack. Cumberland had seven hits in the first inning alone. After taking a 5-1 lead through one inning, Cumberland added four more in the second, including an RBI double by Jayden Struble, and 13 in the third inning. Massachusetts actually hits the ball fairly well, but they conceded the game after one inning. It was impossible to get a solid read on either team. Massachusetts' six pitchers walked or hit 11 batters. Interesting note though, Barnstable didn't strike out once today.

Toms River (NJ) 12, Northwest Washington (DC) 2, 4 innings

Northwest actually led this game 2-0 after a wacky first inning marred by interesting umpiring decisions and one weird play. Toms River finally got on the board in the second inning though, and then exploded in the third. All of the damage was done with two outs. It started with Kayla Roncin's pinch hit double to centerfield which scored two runs giving Toms River a 3-2 lead. In continued through the lineup until Vinny Rose drew a bases loaded walk setting the table for Jonathan Giordano. Northwest Washington looked to its big right handed arm, Peter Yanes. The scouting report says, "That's a bad idea." After sneaking two hard fastballs by the equally powerful Giordano, Toms River's big bat launched a grand slam 300-feet high, and 255-feet long into the trees in left field. That was all she wrote for this one. Phil Antionotti and Jason Kapp combined to go 5-for-5 for Toms River.

Fairfield American (CT) 10, Falmouth (ME) 0, 5 innings
Like the three previous games, this one was over fairly early. Fairfield scored four runs in the first and then a pair each in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to put this one away. Jamie Flink, the Ralphie from A Christmas Story look-a-like, was magnificent on the mound allowing no runs on three hits. He struck out five and walked just two. PJ Egan had a double and a pair of RBI, and Vince Camera added three runs batted in. Maine did not look great at all in this one with four errors and a couple misplayed balls on top of it. They have just nine hits in two games as well.

East Region Rankings After Day 2

1. Pennsylvania

2. Rhode Island

3. New Jersey

4. Connecticut

5. Delaware

6. New York

7. Vermont

8. Massachusetts

9. Washington, D.C.

10. New Hampshire

11. Maryland

12. Maine

Random Thoughts: Some people will say, "Hey John! How the heck can your rankings change that much?!" My answer will be, "Because I have no idea what I'm doing!" No, in all seriousness, this year is about groupings. We had four mercy-rule victories today. I can't remember another time that's happened. I know we had three back in 2010 in one day. So what do the mercy rule victories tell us? There are haves and have-nots this year. I think the first six teams in my rankings are fairly even. I wouldn't be shocked in any of those six won the two tournaments. On the other hand, the bottom six teams can all beat each other but I don't think any of them can beat the Top 6. Within those two groups the rankings don't mean much at all.

Home Run Meter: 9 (Last Year: 5, Previous Year: 8)

Strikeout Meter: 98 (Last Year: 114, Previous Year: 105)

Prediction Record: 4-0 (Overall 7-1) Note: That walkoff homer is haunting me
Sunday's Predictions: Pennsylvania over Delaware 6-4, Vermont over Maine 7-4. New Jersey over New York 8-5, and Connecticut over New Hampshire 5-2.


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