Ports Show No Mercy Against Faith Assembly

Ports Show No Mercy Against Faith Assembly
Ports make opponents fall on knees in 11-7 victory

STOCKTON, Calif.--With another late-inning surge, the Ports Softball (2-0) squad put the Faith Assembly of God (0-4) on their knees en route to an 11-7 victory on Tuesday night at Louis Park.

The Ports showed marked improvement in the field, committing just one error.  The seven runs allowed were the fewest surrendered this season by the Ports.  The combination of quality defense and timely hitting helped propel the Ports to their second straight victory.

The Ports surged ahead to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.  Outfielder John Watts walked to start the game.  Zack Mennie, in his final game with the Ports, then reached on a fielder's choice.  The Faith Assembly shortstop tried to put out Watts at second, but committed an error, which allowed Watts to reach second and advance to third safely.  Outfielder Luke Reiff singled to bring home both runners.  Team player/manager Mark Mendes singled to second to score Reiff.  Ethan Bagen singled to put runners on first and second with one out, but the next two batters hit into fielder's choice plays to end the frame.

In the bottom of the first, Faith Assembly made it 3-2 on two RBI singles.  The Ports collected the third out on a play at the plate.  Catcher Kyle Osgood caught a good throw from Watts, squared up in front of the plate and tagged the advancing runner. 

Faith Assembly silenced the Ports bats from the second through fourth innings, holding them hitless.  But while the Ports offense was quiet, Faith Assembly's offense roared to life.  Faith Assembly pulled ahead, 4-3, in the second off a two-run home run to center field, and another solo shot off a tree in left field made it 5-3. 

The Ports cut the lead in half by adding a run in the fifth.  Stockton regained the lead for good in the sixth inning, adding four runs.  Reiff led off the inning with a single to left-center field.  Shortstop Kyle DeWitt then doubled to right field to put two runners in scoring position with no out.  Mendes grounded out to the pitcher, but Reiff scored on the play.  Bagen knocked an RBI single to make it 6-5.   After right fielder Sam Harold struck out, first baseman Tim Pasisz singled.   Third baseman Zach Sharkey added to the hit parade with his second single of the evening, allowing Bagen to score.  Osgood followed with his own RBI single to score Pasisz for the eighth Ports run.  Pitcher Justin Gray hit into a fielder's choice which put out Osgood at second to end the frame.

With two outs in the sixth, Faith Assembly walked in a run in the sixth.  But they left the bases loaded as a great catch by Mennie in center-right field ended the inning.

The Ports added three more runs in the top of the seventh to subjugate Faith Assembly.   Watts led off the final inning with a single, and moved to second as Mennie reached on an error by the first baseman.  Reiff collected his third single and third RBI of the game next.  DeWitt and Mendes followed with a pair of singles to bring home the runners.

Faith Assembly collected their last run of the game in the seventh, but the Ports strong defense kept them from scoring further.

The Ports will take on Keith Lund at 6:00 p.m. at Louis Park on Tuesday, September 29.