Amador Valley Dons JV Baseball Defeats Foothill 11 - 3

The Dons JV baseball team defeated the cross town rival Foothill Falcons 11 - 3 on Friday, May 18, during the last game of the EBAL season. 

The standing-room-only crowd was treated to a very exciting and entertaining game. The Dons had excellent pitching from Jordan Ott, clutch hitting from Sean Thomas, Jordan Ott, Jack Moroney, Jacob Kinney, Steve Nice, Willie Stafford and Alex Zwingle to lead the team to victory. 

The Dons pounded out 15 hits and scored their most runs in a league game this year. Ott pitched 6 solid innings and held the Falcons to just two earned runs.  The Dons also had excellent team defense turning two double plays, as well as several other great defensive gems.

For the Dons offense, Sean Thomas had two doubles and a single, scored two runs and had 3 RBI.  Jordan Ott had two singles, a sacrifice fly, scored two runs and had 2 RBI. Jack Moroney had two singles and an RBI. Jacob Kinney walked, doubled, scored two runs and had one RBI. Steve Nice had a double and a single and scored a run. Willie Stafford doubled, was hit by a pitch and scored two runs, and Alex Zwingle doubled and drove in a run.

To recap the game: The Falcons scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1 – 0 lead.

In the top of the third inning the Dons got on the board. Jacob Kinney led of the inning with a walk. Parker Newman also walked to put runners on first and second. Sean Thomas then hit a booming double all the way to the left center field fence driving in Kinney and Newman, and the Dons took the lead 2 to 1.

In the bottom of the third inning the Falcons answered with two of their own to retake the lead 3 to 2. In the same inning the Dons made one of their many great defensive plays to shut down the Falcons. With Falcon runners on second and third, and no outs, they tried a safety squeeze.

Dons’ pitcher Jordan Ott bounced off the mound to field the bunt on the left side.  Ott turned to check the runners and caught the Falcons runner off third base.  As Ott ran the Falcon runner back to the third base, lo' and behold, the runner from second base was also at third and Ott tagged both players, but by rule the runner that had previously occupied the base was called out.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Dons scored two more runs to take a 4 to 3 lead. Jordan Ott led off with a single. Ott stole second base and then Jacob Kinney hit a double over the Falcons right fielder that bounced all the way to the fence. Ott scored to tie the score at 3. Parker Newman then singled up the middle driving in Kinney and the Dons were back on top by a score of 4 – 3.

In the bottom of the fourth inning the Dons pulled off the first of their two double plays. With a Falcon runner on first base and no outs, a Falcon batter hit a hard ground ball to Dons third baseman Steve Nice. Nice snagged the ground ball, threw a laser to Dons second baseman Zach Schmidt who turned the play at second for the first out, and then Schmidt quickly threw to first baseman Sean Thomas for the around the horn 5 – 4 – 3 double play.

In the top of the fifth inning the Dons scored two more runs to add to their lead. Sean Thomas led off with a single to center field. Steve Nice then hit a double to the wall in right field sending Thomas to third base. Will Picket then walked to load the bases. Jordan Ott then hit a sacrifice fly to center field driving in Thomas to make the score Dons 5, Falcons 3. Jack Moroney then singled to right center field to drive in Nice and the Dons were ahead 6 – 3.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, Dons pitcher Jordan Ott struck out the first Falcons batter. The next batter walked but then the Dons pulled off their second double play of the game. Dons second baseman Zach Schmidt fielded a ground ball, fed shortstop Jack Moroney with a perfect throw to force the runner at second base, and then Moroney fired the ball to first baseman Sean Thomas for the 4 – 6 – 3 double play and the Dons were out of the inning.

In the top of the 6th inning, the Dons added three more runs to their lead. Willie Stafford led off the inning with a double to right center field. Sean Thomas then hit a double to left field, his third hit of the day, to drive in Stafford to make the score 7 – 3, Dons. Jordan Ott then lined a single to right center field to drive in Thomas for the Dons’ eighth run.  Jack Moroney then singled to left field with Ott advancing to second. Cory Melton hit a line drive single to left field to drive in Ott to make the score Dons 9, Falcons 3.

In the bottom of the 6th inning, the Dons defense sparkled again. Third baseman Steve Nice turned in two great plays and then Parker Newman made an excellent running catch on a sinking pop up in shallow center field to end the inning.

In the top of the 7th inning the Dons added two more runs. Tyler Staniford led off the inning with a walk. Willie Stafford, Don Camello and Kyle Lawrence were all hit with a pitch, with Lawrence getting an RBI for his plunking when Staniford scored. Alex Zwingle then doubled to left field to drive in Stafford to make the score 11 – 3, Dons.

Keegan Sheehan, who is disabled, entered the game as a pinch runner for Kyle Lawrence.  Sheehan crossed the plate to a throng of cheers from the Amador players and parents, scoring the first run of his high school career – see the video highlight here.

In the bottom of the 7th inning, Max Molz came in to pitch for the Dons. Molz struck out a batter, and then Willie Stafford caught a high fly ball in center field for the second out and then second baseman Jake Dees caught a high pop up to end the game. 

The Dons JV team finished with an overall record of 13 – 13 (5 – 9 in EBAL).  The Dons players are now focused on finishing the school year with their best grades, planning to play more baseball in their summer leagues and to vacation with their families. See you all next year on the baseball diamond.