Rams topple Pirates 11-7 in SWCL play

Rams winning pitcher, Adam Darling. More photos follow.

Photos and text by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY - The Shepherd Hill Rams exploded for ten runs in the first two innings and held on to deal the Oxford Pirates their first defeat of the season Friday (April 13) at Shepherd Hill 11-7.
The Rams wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Chris Daniels homered deep to center off Pirates senior right-hander Nick Bruzios to give the Rams a quick 2-0 lead.

The Pirates battled back to tie the game in the top of the second inning. Senior second baseman Mike Cicero doubled with one out and was knocked in by Nick Bates. Cody Stone drove home Tyler Barrie to make it 2-0 but Bruzios lined hard into a double play to end the Pirates rally.

The roof completely caved in on Bruzios in the bottom of the second inning as the Rams batted around and scored eight times. Matt Vertucci and Drew Ravenelle supplied the big hits that knocked Bruzios out of the game after only 1 1/3 innings.

Nick Lemay hit a two-run homer and the Pirates scored four runs in the top of the seventh but it was too little too late for the visitors, who suffered their first loss of the season and fell to 4-1 on the season.

Rams starting pitcher Adam Darling pitched six strong innings to get the win against a strong-hitting Pirates lineup. Darling also singled a run home to help his own effort.

The Rams are now 3-1, 3-0 in SWCL play.  They play Leominster on Saturday, April 21, and Grafton on Monday, April 23, and will meet the Pirates in a rematch at Oxford on April 27.

The Pirates, who fell to 4-1, have key tilts upcoming against Hopedale and Millbury before they get another shot at the Rams.

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Rams Bench looks on

Pirates Nick Bruzios