Last Wednesday the shootout between the North Tahoe Little League rookies' teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Rays, began.
Without delay D-Backs center fielder Chris Cojoc led the hitting, ripping a single. He was followed by shortstop Tiler Knight, who split the defense and drove in Cojoc. The bats kept singing as Jack Reber and Jack Morrison both got on base and were driven home by Calvin Burau's slamming double. The D-Backs took their momentum into the defensive with Jack Harrell leading the team with two outs to end the first inning.
In the top of the second, the Rays were looking at some great fielding when Jake Harrell doubled and Cojoc followed that with another double. It was looking tough when Rays infielder Brayden Hock made a diving stop and chased down Cojoc for the third out.
Inspired by Hock's play, the Rays' bats came alive, as Isaih Cardiel began with a solid hit through the infield for a single. Following up, Laura Flynn made it to first and Isaih got to third on an error.
At the top of the third, left fielder Emerson Fleming wowed the spectators with a great play and held Carey to a single on what should have been at least a double. Carey would end up scoring on hard drive by Burau. Tommy Ornburg would end it for the D-Backs by snagging a drive and a dashing third out at second base. Rays went down one-two-three .
In the top of the fourth, the D-Backs' bats were still strong, but a lightning throw from pitcher Gage Pierce to Hock at first slowed down their bats. Christian Schmenk continued to shut down the D-Backs with a quick snag at third base. With the Rays up, the D'Backs' Reber snagged a blazing hit down third base line by Hock. Still in it to win it Gage Pierce sent the ball to the opposite field down the first base line for a double.
Beginning the fifth Mason Grant hit what might have been the longest ball of the day into center for a double. From the crowd you could hear the excitement and the comment that, “Mason has gone from a golf swing to a big hitter.”
With their last chance to turn the tide in the bottom of the fifth and time running out, the Rays were not able to break through the strong defense of the D Backs. With a pop-up caught by Knight, a first base snag by Morrison, and the game ending out 1/3 Chase Corman to first baseman Morrison, the D'Backs jumped for joy.
D'Backs coach Jeff Harrell said his goal was met, as he, “just wanted the players to have fun.” And assistant coach to the Rays, Dave Schmenk, was pleased because, “the team is young and improving every play.”
