6/19/2022
The Crackers swept the series on the road in Oxford Alabama this weekend, scoring late in both games to beat the Choccolocco Monsters 12-6 and 14-5.
Weekend breakdown
Hitting
The Cracker bats came alive late in both games scoring five runs in the ninth on Friday night and eight in the ninth on Saturday. The team pounded out 30 hits and scored 26 runs over two games. Offensive highlights of the weekend include first baseman Cam Suto going 5 for 9 with 3 RBI and Colson Lawrence going 4 for 9 with 2 homers.
Crackers First Base Coach Gil Navarro; “The boys hit with authority this weekend, several standup doubles. It’s great to see some of the work we have been doing in the cages come together. Still have some work to do but I saw them be much more disciplined on pitch selection”.
Pitching
15 different pitchers would strikeout 20 batters, walk only 4 and scatter 24 hits over 18 innings for the weekend. Ryan Suppa appeared in both games, striking out 7 Monster hitters in a row. Pitching coach Steve Autry; “ I like that our guys were aggressive and threw strikes this weekend. It’s something we’ve been trying to work on as the walks have become a bit of an issue over the past few games. Walks are easy ways to create problems. I told the guys that three things happen when you throw strikes and two of them are good. Hitting is hard. Lets not make it easier. We were able to minimize any situations we got into, allowing just 1 or 2 (runs) when we could’ve allowed 4 or 5. We did much better. Gotta build on that. And how about Supp? (Ryan Suppa). He just attacked. Seven K’s in a row out of the pen. Just a great weekend for him.”
Fielding
The teams glaring low point this weekend was in committing 8 errors. Manager Kevin Meistickle; “We missed a few balls and made some errant throws that were easy plays. You have to make the routine plays to win ballgames. We did throw a runner out at the plate and execute a few rundowns near perfectly. We’ll be fine but we have to make the routine plays to win”.
On Coming to Choccolocco Park for the weekend.
Coach Steve Autry– “Such great crowds both nights and the hospitality shown for us by the staff of the Monsters and Steve (Gillespie) has been great. They’ve got something special here and I really hope the community continues to get behind the team here in Oxford. This complex and field is just great and the enthusiastic crowds make it fun for the guys. Manager Kevin Meistickle adds; “We also have lots of friends that live, work and even coach in this part of Alabama that came by to say hi. People are excited to have collegiate summer baseball here in Oxford and we love the excitement. We are for anything that grows baseball.”
The Crackers return to action Wednesday night playing the Brookhaven Bucks at Oglethorpe University. First pitch slated for 6:35pm. – Cracker Baseball
Cracker Baseball 