Orioles sweep weekend 21-1 over Bandits and 12-11 over Knights.

Orioles 21- Bandits/Aliens 1

The Orioles started the weekend with a matchup v the Bandits/Aliens. The Aliens, a planned expansion team for the 2024 season, have stepped it to help the Bandits out and have taken over the Bandits final matchups. The Orioles had beaten the Bandits twice previously, but this was truly the first matchup between teams here.

The hitting breakout they had been waiting for all season finally seemed to take place Sunday and it started early. The game would last just 4 innings on a run rule as the Birds scored 5 runs in each of the first 3 innings and scored 6 runs in the 4th inning to finish the game. Starter Noah Baer would surrender the lone run in the second inning to his opponent after a leadoff single would come around.

The Orioles batted around in every single inning and there were standout performers all over the place. John Rosenmayer would go 2-2 2B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 2SB, 1run which included a big bases clearing 2-out double in the 3rd inning. Jackson Lightcap went 3-4 2B, 2RBI, and 3 Runs. Dylan Brown would score 3 runs after taking a walk in each of his 4 plate appearances.

The Orioles needed just 10 hits to score the 21 runs but walked 17 times. This was the final matchup between the Orioles and River Bandits/Aliens on the season.

Orioles 12 - Knights 11

The Orioles took on the Knights in the second game of their Doubleheader. The Knights had taken each of the previous matchups from the Orioles 7-0 and 4-2.  This game was a continuation of a game stopped for rain earlier in the season with the Orioles trailing 5-1 in the bottom of the 4th inning.

When the game was initially paused the Orioles had 2 runners on with no outs in the 4th so the game picked up right there. The Orioles bats would stay red hot as they immediately tied the game back up in the inning with a 4-spot. A bases loaded 2-run double by Jordan Dobbins would be the big hit in the inning.

The Orioles pitching would hold the Knights to start the 5th and the bats added on via a Josh Pfeiffer 2-out single that followed Nick Antonides' first double of his 2 on the day. The Orioles now led the Knights 6-5.

The 6th inning would get a little wild. The Knights would immediately take the lead back by putting up 6 runs in the top half of the inning to lead 11-6. The Orioles, however, would not go down quietly and added 4 runs of their own in the bottom half. Two of those runs were via an Alex Kasak 2-run double. After 6 innings the Knights led 11-10.

Noah Baer returned to the game to throw a scoreless top of the 7th inning. This gave the Orioles the opportunity to tie the game they were looking for.

The bottom of the 7th (the final inning) did not start the way the Bird were hoping as Jonah Fullenkamp struck out. But Jordan Dobbins then had his second double of the game to put the tying run in scoring position. John Rosemayer would then walk to put the winning run on first. Alex Kasak popped up to LF which left the runners where they were with 2-outs and still down a run.

Fortunately, the Orioles had just who they wanted at the dish - Nick Antonides. Nick would lace a 1-1 curveball into left field. Dobbins would score easily to tie the game but the Knights left fielder let the ball get past him all the way to the wall. John Rosemayer would crank all the way from first to score the walk-off run and the Orioles come back win jubilation would ensue. Orioles 12 - Knights 11.

Nick Antonides would go 3-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI's including the game winner. However, Nick, never one to talk about himself much or get too excited, had this to say following the game "Great ..... team win, that was fun".

The Orioles would also like to take a moment to bid farewell to Jordan Dobbins. Jordan is moving to Denver for work. We will immensely miss our quiet but deadly leadoff hitter ever since he came over in an acquisition from the Boars.

Jordan finishes the season batting .333/.468 - exactly what you want from a leadoff guy. Where he ranks on the team in stats below:

Stolen Bases : 16 2nd

Hits : 21 3rd

Walks: 15 T2nd

Runs: 22 2nd

RBI's: 11 5th

We wish Jordan all the best and hope he finds a way to keep playing baseball!