'Major' Orioles win slugfest over Dodgers

The heat was on in a pressure-filled semifinal game between the Central Amherst "Major" Dodgers and Orioles on a sweltering Tuesday night.

The high-powered Dodgers jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first inning on hits by Colin Tenney, Ryan Byrne and Eddie Doherty.

After a scoreless second inning, the Oriole bats came alive in the top of the third on hits by CJ Westcott and a bases-clearing triple by Nick Hillebrand, enabling the Orioles to take a 6-4 lead.

The Orioles plated four more runs in the fourth on hits by John Barden, Tom Springer, Westcott and Hillebrand. "AAA" call-up Julia Blujus scored her first run at the "Major" level in the inning.

The Dodgers answered with three in the home half of the inning on a Ryan Byrne double.

Clinging to a 12-11 lead in the top of the sixth, a two-run RBI single by Tom Springer gave the Orioles the insurance runs they needed. Closer Eric Ruh retired the Dodgers in order with a couple of nice defensive plays by Andrew Pierino to seal the 14-11 win.

CJ Westcott went 4 for 4 at the plate. The Orioles also got multiple hits from Hillebrand, Ruh, Barden and Springer. Airic Thornton and Colin Gibson also contributed in this total team effort. Ryan Byrne led the Dodgers offense with three doubles along with two hits by Tenney and Doherty.