NC: Patriots & Imps in a Wild One

PBR was at Cary HS on Tuesday for a Southwest Wake 4A Conference matchup featuring Apex Friendship and the Imps.  A wild game saw the Patriots battle back from two substantial deficits to earn the win in 8 innings.  

Down 4-0 after 3 innings of play, the Patriots scored 3 in the 5th and 1 in the top of the 6th to tie the game.  Cary would answer in the bottom of the 6th with 5 runs, paced by a 2 RBI triple from Connor Harris.

The Patriots did not blink as they quickly tied the game again with a 5 spot of their own in the top of the 7th.  A 2 out bases clearing double from Ryan Puschak scored Collins Black, Connor Wong, and Caden Christman to knot the game at 9-9. The Imps would load the bases with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th but Zack Ostrander got a big strikeout to end the threat.

Apex Friendship continued its scoring barrage in the top of the 8th, plating three.  Jared Deshazor walked to open the frame and moved to 2B on a 1 out walk.  A single from Jack Litt put the Patriots ahead 10-9, scoring Deshazor.  Wong then squeezed AJ Ciaccio home to push the lead to 2 runs.  With 2 outs, Litt moved to 3B and then scored on 2 passed balls.  

Cary did not go quietly in their half of the 8th, trailing 12-9.  Gavin Turner opened the frame with a double and advanced to 3B on a 1 out error.  Black scored Turner with an RBI single and represented the tying run.  Ostrander then induced two ground balls to quell the rally, leaving the tying run at 1B.

These two will meet on Friday to finalize their 2 game series.  With the win, Apex Friendship moved to 9-9 on the year and 5-4 in conference.  Cary is now 9-6 overall, 4-4 in conference.

Apex Friendship HS Stats
+ Jared Deshazor, 2-4, 2 runs, 2RBI
+ AJ Ciaccio, 1-3, 2R, 2BB

+ Jack Litt, 4-5, 1 run, 2 rbi.
+ Connor Wong, 0-3, 2R, 2RBI
+ Shane Vulpis, 1-3, 1R

+ Ryan Puschak, 3-4, 2B, 1 run, 4 rbi.
+ Trey Gooch, 1-4, 1RBI
+ Cam Williams - ND in start, 5.1IP, 10H, 6R, 6ER, 1BB, 8K
+ Zack Ostrander - Win, 2.2IP, 8H, 5R, 4ER, 1BB, 2K 

Cary HS Stats
+ Shane Thorson, 1-3, 2R, 1RBI, 2BB
+ Kyle Peters, 4-5, 3 runs
+ Gavin Turner, 3-5, 1 run, 2 doubles, 1RBI
+ Chavis, 2-5, 1R, 2B, 3RBI

+ Collins Black, 2-5, 3RBI

+ Keir Fulcher, 2-5,
+ Dan McCabe, 2-5
+ Harris, 2-3, 3B, 1R, 1RBI
+ Travis Dalness - ND in start, 5IP, 7H, 3R, 2ER, 0BB, 6K
+ Sears - 1.2IP, 3H, 6R, 6ER, 2BB, 3K
+ Manuel - Loss, 1.1IP, 2H, 3R, 1ER, 1BB, 2K 

SCOUT BLOG

AJ Ciaccio, SS, Apex Friendship, 2023
Average frame with some length.  5-foot-11, 165 pounds. 

*Log in or subscribe to see the full scout blog, with video, on players from each club.