The Stealers exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on Tuesday to defeat the Cartel by way of the 10-run mercy rule, 21-11, in game two of the Bob Owens Slow Pitch Softball League action at the D.C. Canegata ballpark. The Cartel, who trailed 14-3 at one point of the contest, rallied to get to within three at 13-10, but would only score one more run for the remainder of the game.
Batting first the Cartel scored two runs on a solo home run off the bat of Daren Lewis and an RBI single by Ian Lewis to take the early 2-0 lead. The Stealers responded with three runs on a solo home run by Steve Simmonds Jr. and a costly Cartel error to take a 3-2 lead at the end of one.
A solo shot by the Cartel’s Lebeus Gittens briefly tied the game at three in the top of the second; however, the Stealers responded with 10 runs in their half of the inning to take a commanding 13-3 lead. The Stealers scored on three-run homeruns by Simmonds and Eric Flynn, a two-run homerun by Enrique Soto and four Cartel errors.
After the Cartel failed to score in the top of the third, the Stealers extended their lead to 14-3 on a solo homerun by Soto.
The Cartel then had their best inning in the top of the fourth, rallying for seven runs that closed to gap to 14-10. They scored seven runs on a two-run homerun by Ian Lewis, solo shots from Daren Lewis and Lebeus Gittens, a two-run double by Nigel Atwell, and an RBI triple by Reginald Pigott. The Stealers had no answer.
The Cartel would then score their final run in the top of the fifth on Darren Lewis’ third homer of the contest to then trail 14-11. The Stealers came back with one run in the bottom of the fifth on Simmonds third homerun, before putting the game away by erupting for six more in the bottom of the sixth on two-run doubles by Sam Ramos and Ronald Schjang Jr. and a two-run single by Guido Schjang for a final score of 21-11.
Ramos got the win on the hill for the Stealers, while Ian Lewis got the loss. Top batters for the winners were Simmonds (4 for 5 with three homeruns and five RBIs), Soto (3 for 4 with two homeruns and three RBIs), and Flynn (3 for 4 with a homerun and three RBIs).
For the Cartel, Daren Lewis was 3 for 3 with three homeruns and three RBIs, Gittens, 2 for 3 with two homeruns and two RBIs, and Ian Lewis, 2 for 3 with a homerun and two RBIs.
In the night’s other games, it was the National Guard Hummers hammering Softball Inc., 19-7, while the Wyatt Coolers blasted Anchor Dive, 19-9.
