Legends take home win against Bercovich

This game was the boost in morale that the Menlo Park Legends desperately needed.

Coming home after a week of traveling through Southern California, the Menlo Park Legends dominated 11-6 against the Bercovich Gold.

Traveling did not seem to suit the team after they went 3-6 in the three series on the road. The Legends looked for a win in their first game back home in hopes of getting back into their old rhythm.

“With us being where we are, we did what we should do to a team like that [especially] coming off a tough road trip,” general manager David Klein said. “I think the guys needed it.”

Starting pitcher Troy Nelson got the win after commanding the strike zone for five solid innings. Despite giving up one run in the second, Nelson kept batters on their heels with mixed pitching—punching out six Golds.

Bats were flying in the fifth as the Legends scored seven runs to cap the inning. Looking for a fastball low and away, offensive star John Montgomery hit a two RBI double to bring in Tobias Moreno and Kyle Zirbes to give the Legends a three-run lead.

“I talked to the hitting coach [Mitch] Wolfe and he told me to be aggressive,” Montgomery said. “Luckily I was able to get three hits off that and one of them was a home run.”

Montgomery would go 3-5 with the two RBI double and home run  in the bottom of the sixth. This would be his fourth home run of the season.

Kyle Barret continued the offensive outburst with a three RBI triple to cap the fifth with seven runs over the Gold. The Legends have not seen this many consecutive runs in one inning since their opening game against the San Mateos Rounders when they scored eleven runs in the second.

“I was looking for a fastball because [the pitcher] threw a slider before, so I got the pitch that I was looking for and put a good swing on it,” Barret said.

Justin Gubser has been on a hot streak for the past couple games. Gubser has been making adjustments that have resulted in big hits and scoring runs on offense. His strong performance last night helped the Legends score two runs against the Bercovich Gold.

“I’ve been able to put my foot down early and just drive the ball where the ball has been pitched rather than pull it off like how I’ve been doing before.”

The Legends are looking to continue their home winning streak against the West Coast Kings, July 8.