Knights Notch Another Win Against Sandy Springs Expos

The Knights are prepared for battle in the vistors' dugout at Morgan Falls Sports Complex

On another gorgeous day for baseball, the Marietta Knights travelled across the top end perimeter to Morgan Falls Sports Complex to take on the Sandy Springs Expos in a Sunday double header. The Knights were the "home" team for game 1 and the visiting team for game 2.

After a leadoff strikeout, the Expos flexed their muscles early with a 2B to deep center and a HR to left (that Garrett Wells almost robbed) to grab a 2-0 lead. After the Knights went 3 up 3 down in their half of the 1st, it looked like it might be a long day for Marietta.

Birthday Bomb - Gil Hastings celebrated his birthday
with a deep HR over the RF fence.

Gil Hastings celebrated his birthday in the best way possible. In the 2nd inning, He took a 1-0 fastball and launched a missile over the RF fence that left the yard in record time for an awesome birthday dinger. The Knights then tied the game on Alex Beaullieu's 2 out, RBI single. An error on the Expos' 1B allowed Garrett Wells to score and gave Marietta a 3-2 lead. Jackson Tysinger settled in and had a great outing on the mound shutting out Sandy Springs in the 2nd and 3rd.

The Expos put together 2 singles in the 4th to tie the game at 3, but a great defensive play kept them from taking a lead. With a runner on 2nd Jackson fielded a grounder at the mound, looked the runner back and threw to Gil at 1B for out #1. The runner broke on the throw and Gil fired across the field to Austin Hansell who applied the tag as the runner tried to slide into 3B for a double play. Jackson struck out the next batter and the threat was over.

Marietta left the bases loaded in the 4th and allowed the Expos to take 4-3 lead in the 5th on their only error of the game. But these guys just expect to win regardless of the score and always play hard. The Knights loaded the bases again in the 5th with singles from Austin and Nathan Brooks and a walk to Garrett. Still trailing by a run, Luke Martin changed the course of the game when he hammered a 3 run double to CF. After a single by Alex, Luke scored when the Expos had to throw to 1B on a dropped 3rd strike. Hunter Williamson made it 8-4 with a 2 out RBI single. Gil followed with a single which brought on the GREAT Hustle Play of the Day. With 2 outs and Gil and Hunter 2B & 3B, Austin hit a routine ground ball that carried the Expos second baseman towards 2B. He fielded and threw to 1B to try to end the inning. Despite the routine nature of the play, Austin went hard out of the box and sprinted down the line towards first. The throw pulled the 1B off the bag where he caught the ball and quickly turned at the last second to tag the hustling Austin. As Austin ran through the tag and hit the bag, the ball flew out of the 1B's mitt and landed in the dirt. Austin was safe and both Hunter and Gil scored. 2 big runs thanks to Austin finishing the play and the Knights led 10-4.

This had to be good.



Jackson got one more out in the 6th to finish his day with 5 1/3 innings, 5 K's and only 1 BB to get the win. Jack Vargo came in a closed it out in just 6 pitches. He used a hard fastball and filthy curve for 1 K and a soft pop up that he handled himself at the mound. Final score, Marietta 10 Sandy Springs 4. It was another complete win for the Knights over a very good team. The Knights out hit the Expos 12-6 and committed only 1 error.

The Expos got the better of the Knights in game 2 of the DH. Neither team could get much going offensively with just 3 hits apiece, but walks and few untimely errors did the Knights in and Sandy Springs won it 6-2. Despite the outcome, the Knights had several defensive highlights including 2 more double plays. With the bases loaded in the first, the batter hit a looping liner towards Hunter at 3B. The runner on 3rd froze as Hunter charged and caught the ball on a hop. He tagged the runner out and threw back to Jackson who tagged out the runner heading from

The Hansells at 1B after Austin's big 2 RBI hit.

2nd to 3rd. In the 3rd, Hunter made one of the best plays of the season so far. From his 3B position, he dove completely flat and stabbed a hard grounder that was headed down the LF line. From flat on the ground and facing away from 1B, he jumped up threw a laser across the diamond that Gil caught on a stretch just ahead of the Expos base runner. Later that inning, Luke used a quick transition and beautiful power throw from behind the plate to gun an Expos' runner trying to steal second. In the 4th, Marietta executed a perfect textbook 4-6-3 (Jack-Jackson-Gil) double play to end the inning.

On a beautiful Sunny Sunday, the Knights got a victory, hit a dinger and a 3 run double and recorded 3 double plays. Definitely a good day.

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