Louisville Leopards at Dover Tornadoes Baseball Highlights 2013
By Leopard Nation
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Published
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Dover 5, Louisville 4, 9 Innings
Dover scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. That’s where Kyle Abel hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to lift the host Tornadoes past the Leopards 5-4 Saturday afternoon at Dover City Park.
Dover got on the scoreboard first in the bottom half of the opening inning when Josh Zucal doubled in Cory Contini. However, Louisville struck back in their following at-bat with two runs of their own without tallying a single hit. Riley Groves, Jordan Hughes, and Pavin Parks each walked to start the inning and load the bases. With one out, Jeremy McQuilkin grounded to second into what could have been a disastrous inning-ending double play. However, the relay throw to first went wide left allowing both Groves and Hughes to cross the plate safely.
The Leopards again loaded the bases in the fourth inning without recording a single hit. At first base, McQuilkin took a leisurely lead gaining the attention of the pitcher who began to run at him. The pitcher then flipped the ball to second base, which allowed Parks to spring for home. The throw was late and misfielded, allowing Parks to put the Leps up 3-1.
In the seventh inning, Louisville’s bats came alive. Garrett Yoder and Joey Duckworth banged through back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Then Groves crushed a double to deep center bringing home Yoder to put the Leps ahead 4-1. The Tornadoes issued another Leopards walk to load the bases, but got out of the jam when a triple steal attempt failed with a tag out at home.
Dover would do the unthinkable in the last of the seventh in scoring three runs to send the game into extra frames. Mason Mamarella tripled to start the inning for Dover and they would go on to load the bases. The Tornadoes drew a bases loaded walk after that to cut the deficit to 4-2. An Abel sac fly scored Justin Crone to make it 4-3 and then Blake Blair’s fielder’s choice allowed Zucal to score, knotting the game at 4-4.
After a scoreless inning and a half, Abel needed just two pitches in the bottom of the ninth to end the ball game. The 6-4, 180-pound Sophomore rocketed the ball way beyond the right field fence giving Dover a 5-4 opening day victory.
UP NEXT: The Leopards will next host the Lake Blue Streaks in the Home Opener on Monday, April 1 at 5:00 PM. JV and Freshman will travel to Lake to take on the Blue Streaks at the same time.
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JV: Louisville 11, Dover 8
Trailing 5-0, the Leopards produced 8 runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. The key hit to get the rally started was a bases clearing 3-run double by Alex Hewitt.
Dalton Deckerd also smashed a 2-run double later on in the inning to give Louisville their first lead of the contest. Deckerd finished the afternoon with 2 of the Leopards 7 hits.
The Tornadoes produced three runs in the top of the sixth to knot the game back up at 8-8. However, the Leps matched their score in the bottom half of the inning and eventually took the game 11-8.
the attention of the pitcher who began to run at him. The pitcher then flipped the ball to second base, which allowed Parks to spring for home. The throw was late and misfielded, allowing Parks to put the Leps up 3-1.
