Mel Ott 'AAA' Cardinals double up Red Sox

In "AAA" championship playoff action, the Mel Ott Cardinals knocked off the previously unbeaten Red Sox, 6-3 on Thursday, July 12.

The Cardinals combined excellent pitching, a sparkling defense and some timely hitting to hand the Red Sox their first loss of the season.

Cardinal pitchers Taylor Sutherland, Brock Prizel and Andrew White held the Red Sox to four hits while striking out nine.

The Cardinals scored a run in the first inning only to see the Red Sox score a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. They took the lead for good with three runs in the third on a walk by Evan Wysocki, a single by Matt Novo, a hit batter and a two-run single by White. Sam Cimato scored on a passed ball to cap the scoring in the inning.

The Cardinals added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth as a Prizel single was followed by a clutch home run down the right field line by Cimato.

Trevor Wilson stroked a double with Noah DiPasquale and McQuaid Smythe also chipping in with hits. The Cardinals had eight hits and only struck out four times.

Ryan Burns made the final two put outs in the second inning to keep things close before their three-run rally in the third. The defense also ended Red Sox threats in the third and in the fifth as they gunned down runners at the plate in both innings.

Junior baseball - Tigers 1, Twins 0

Steven Stapleton pitched a 78-pitch no-hitter, walking only two batters and striking out six to keep the Junior Tigers undefeated with a record of 12-0-1.

Matt Daddario hit a triple in the second inning. He was driven in with a sacrifice RBI by Mitchell Kopacz to score the only run of the game.