Oilers down Blue Jays
By Tom Dodge
The American Legion season was a split for bragging rights between the Oilers and the Blue Jays with each team winning at the opposing park.
The Blue Jays won the first match-up 4-1 on June 17, while the Oilers returned the favor Tuesday night with an identical 4-1 score.
With the win, the Oilers finished District Seven East play at 6-4, while the Blue jays close out at 4-6.
In the early going it was a pitcher’s duel between Blue Jay starter Wesley Richard and the Oilers’ ace Austin Young.
Richard allowed two singles and a walk in the first four innings, but Blue Jay catcher Taylor Eval nailed two steal attempts as Richard recorded four strikeouts.
Young gave up a single and a walk to the first three batters but then settled down to retire 10 in a row over the first four frames including five straight strike outs.
The Oilers finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning when Brett Baldwin walked and pinch runner Ethan Moser scored on an errant throw on Tyler Fontenot’s hit.
The Oilers pushed ahead 2-0 in the top of the sixth when Kaleb Deshotel singled to left field and scored on a sacrifice by Stuart Turner.
The Oilers added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of two hitbatsmen and a walk to load the bases.
Mitchell Fuselier hit a sacrifice off reliever Trevor Hargroder to score Kendall Sam, while Turner followed with a single to plate Jacob Fontenot for a 4-0 advantage.
The Blue Jays avoided the shutout when Tyler Rodriguez singled to right field and pinch runner Taylor Wallett scored on a two-out single from Mac Manuel.
Young recorded the complete-game win as he scattered four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.