Oak Grove Park Centerville Ohio,

July 29,2018

The Boars hoped to snap the 3 game losing skid they have been on. With little offensive production over the last few games this seamed to be a big task. The Cardinals came into town to play the Double Header against the Boars at Oak Grove Park in Centerville.

The visiting Boars came away with nothing in the top of the first, While the Cardinals took advantage of some walks and a timely hit by Brenden Anderson, to push 2 runs across in the bottom of the first.

The Boars put together a couple hits, and a walk to score a couple to tie the game when a big 2 RBI, double off the bat of Jimmy Herold put the Boars on top 4 to 2 in the 2nd. Pletsch seem to settle getting the first batter he faced in the bottom of the 2nd to strike out, but a walk to Boykin and a HPB to lead off batter Cusick and again a walk to Ryan loaded the bases. Pletsch got Cvetkovich to strike out, and long fly ball from Nick Marshon stayed in the park and was caught by the Boars Center fielder stranding the base runners with NO damage. Boars still led 4 to 2 after 2.

In the 3rd the Boars pulled out another run, when Pletsch doubled and scored off the RBI single by Thomas Troy,  and the Boars lead increased to 5 to 2. Pletsch settled and retired the Cardinals hitters 1,2,3 in the 3rd. 

In the top of the 4th Boars DH Joe Cantrell led off with single, and made it as far as 2nd when a sharp hit ball to the pitcher forced Cantrell at 3rd.  Sully Minner collected his 1st of 2 doubles on the day and collected the 2 RBI's , Pletsch drew a walk and Thomas Troy got his 2nd hit of the day and collected 2 more RBI's bringing home Minner and Pletsch as the Boars pulled out to an 8 to 2 Lead. The bottom of the 4th Pletsch gave up 2 more runs to the Cardinals.  Holley had a single as did Cusick both were brought home by Cvetcovich's single and the Boars lead was cut to 4,   Boars 8, Cardinals 4.

The Boars unloaded in the 5th after J.R. Nixon struck out, KJ Jimison and Joe Cantrell singled the next 2 batters walked scoring Jimison. and Cantrell scored when Jimmy Herold was HBP .  A SAC fly by Minner scored Markus Hall, and Dylan Pletsch singled home an RBI with Herold scoring and the Boars had crossed the plate 5 times to increase the lead to 13. Sully Minner was brought in to relieve Pletsch in the bottom of the 5th and retired the Cardinals in 5 hitters but 0 runs.  Boars lead after 5 was  13 to 4.

Boars pushed 2 more across in the 6th when North and Jimison crossed home plate after Markus Hall doubled collecting the RBI's. The Cardinals threatened with another runner on 3rd after leadoff hitter Brandon Cusick sent the ball to the fence and pulled in to 3rd with a stand up triple, But the threat was short, as the next 3 batters were retired and the runner left at 3rd. after the 6th the Boars lead was 15 to 4.

Sully Minner continued to be hot as he helped himself with his 2nd double on the day and after a walk to Pletsch, Thomas Troy hit a double driving in his 3rd RBI. Gary North a waiting list prospect added to the Boars a few weeks back locked in on a Curve ball and drove it over the center field fence and completing the boars scoring for the day. The Cardinals sent 5 hitters to the plate in the bottom of the 7th but unfortunately came away with nothing as the Boars defense held on to win.  Boars 19 Cardinals 4.

Boars Offensive Player of the game from game 1 was Sully Minner going 3 for 4 with 3 RBI's 

HM goes to Gary North for a Home Run and Thomas Troy for 3 for 5 with 3 RBI's 

Boars Defensive Player of the game from game 1 goes to Jimmy Herold working with 2 Pitchers keeping both on track hanging on with 8 K's for 2 Pitchers 

Dylan Pletsch takes the win and Sully Minner gets the save his first on the year.

In the late game at Oak Grove the Boars switched to the  home team and sent Sully Minner to the mound for his 1st start in a Boars uniform.  The Cardinals jumped out early when a triple by the 2 hole hitter was singled in off the bat of Nathan Duncan and the Cards led in the visiting half of the 1st. The Boars in the bottom half of the 1st went down without scoring and the Cardinals led 1 to 0 after 1.

Minner retired the Cardinals in order in the 2nd, striking out the 1st and 3rd batters he faced bringing the Boars back up. The Boars wasted little time Troy and Minner walked, North singled in, and Nixon drove in 2 to help the Boars  take a 2 to 1 lead, after a double play left North at 3rd and 2 down Joe Cantrell sliced a single down the left field line that was just fare to drive in North and collect the RBI and put the Boars up 3 to 1  in the bottom of the 2nd inning. 

Both teams remained quiet in the 3rd, Brandon Cusick managed a double. but the next batter struck out and then a long fly ball from Mershon snagged in center, and the next batter struck out stranding Cusick. The Boars managed to get some walks in the home half of the 2nd but just never got a run across. The Boars lead was still 3 to 1.

The Cardinals tied the game off Minner in the 4th with singles by Duncan and Theis and a big hit triple from Malachi Holley cleared the bases leaving him at 3rd. but the 2nd strike out of the inning and a ground out 4-3 left Holley stranded. However the tie was short as Gary North drew a opening walk advanced on 2, Mershon wild pitches and scored when JR Nixon reached base on a error, a dropped ball in right field. Boars lead 4 to 3. 

Gary North was brought in to hold the lead,  and though he started rocky found his footing as he and his catcher KJ Jimison were on the same page. after giving up a double to the leadoff hitter North got Mershon to fly to right, struck out Duncan and popped Valdez to Jimmy Herold now at 3rd.  Boars shortstop Markus Hall led off with a walk advanced on a WP stole 3rd and scored on the next single. Pletsch was HBP and Troy singled Sully Minner had a sac fly to right and Gary North hit his 2nd career MVABL Home Run. As the dust settled the Boars had added 5 runs and led 9 to 3.

North hit his stride striking out the next 2 batters and adding a circus style catch that  he dove for to get the 3rd out retiring the Cardinals in order. Mershon matched the feet by retiring the Boars in order with 2 K's and a flyout to right. Boars still led 9 to 3.

Cusick led off with a single but was retired at 2nd when Markus Hall fielded the ground ball, but the Boars failed to turn 2 with the Cardinals base runner getting quickly up the line to beat the throw. But the 2nd time was the charm as Nick Mershon grounded sharply to Hall who fed it to Thomas Troy who went to Nixon at first to complete the 6-4-3 double play and end the game. Boars 9 the Cardinals 3.

Boars Offensive Player of the game Gary North who was 2 for 2 with a BB and 3 runs scored 

Defensive Player of the game was Markus Hall who made 3 ESPN highlight stops and started  the game ending double play.

Sully Minner gets Boars win #1 and a save on the day.

Gary North gets the save in game 2.

Next up for the Boars is a Sunday single game with the Rangers at Carleton Davidson Stadium at 4:00 pm