In the first game Sunday, the Dodgers tried everything they could to hand the game to the Richmond Chuckers.  Indeed, the Dodgers in blue gave the visiting squad a 7 run cushion and made countless running and mental errors before seeming to wake up in the later innings.  Neither team seemed interested in playing sound defense and the two starting pitchers were largely left out to dry.  John Lipp started and went 4 innings for the home squad and kept his team in the game before reaching his pitch limit and handing the ball off to Matthew Selinger.  On offense, the Dodger bats kept up their pace from the day before.  Scrambling back from a large deficit, the Dodgers scored multiple runs in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th innings.  The  2 runs scored in the bottom of the 6th were all the Dodgers would need as Matthew "Sellie" Selinger stranded the tying run at 3rd base and gave up only 1 earned run over the last 3 innings and to earn the Win. Jaron Jeske also starred as he was pressed into unexpected service behind the plate and showed good progress.  On offense Jeske went 3 for 5, with a double and 2 singles.  Other big hits in the game were provided by John Lipp (2 doubles), Ethan Kano McGregor (a triple), Matt Selinger (a triple), Bailey Roope (2 hits), and Yi-Fan Pan (another triple).  Also notable in the first game, was Cole Cantelon who showed why he is in the leadoff position.  He earned the first 3 of the 5 base on balls he would end up with on the day.  The final score was 14-13.

Unfortunately, the Dodgers tried a little harder to give the game away in the second half of the double header. This time they spotted the visitors 8 runs before starting to play and it proved to be enough.  Bailey Roope was on the mound to start the game, but couldn't be blamed for the 8 runs against as a series of errors and mental mistakes by his teammates sealed his fate.  In the bottom of the third the Dodgers scored 2, including a run on a triple by Jaron Jeske (he scored on the play due to a Richmond throwing error), and it looked like the Dodgers were mounting another big comeback, but the hole was too deep and the weekend too long.  Further errors in the top of the 5th inning doomed the home team to a 13-3, five inning loss.  

Although the Dodgers could have won all four games, they were forced to settle for a pair of weekend splits.  However, there were a great many positives the team could take from the games, not the least of which is the knowledge that they can score runs in big bunches, and come back from almost any deficit, as long as they stay focussed and aggressive at the plate.  

Overall the coaches were pleased with the attitude, effort and greater emphasis on teamwork throughout the weekend.  If the team can eliminate the mental errors that have crept into their game over the past few contests, they need not fear any opponent.

Up Next: Cross town rival Abby Angels visit beautiful Devon's Diamond for a pair of games, one Wednesday evening and one at noon on Saturday.