Legends Get Bounce-Back Win Against Legacy 7-4
Saratoga, Calif. – After a much-needed off day, the Menlo Park Legends were back to work at Lee Hancock Field on the campus of Saratoga High School. They faced an unfamiliar foe in the South Bay Legacy, a team similar in nature to the Pacific Union Financial Capitalists in that they are comprised of high school recruits. Nonetheless, the Legends were able to get ahead and stay ahead of the Legacy and get their first win since Friday by a final of 7-4. Menlo Park improved to 13-7-1 on the summer in advance of their first conference game against Healdsburg.
The first run of the game actually belonged to the Legacy as they scored a run on a strikeout. Yes, you read that correctly, a strikeout. Elijah Saunders got the start for the Legends and got the second out of the second inning with a strikeout, but the problem was the pitch was in the dirt and went all the way to the backstop, and the runner on third came around to score. It would be the only run Saunders would allow in six strong innings. While he did not have a single one-two-three inning in the ballgame, he was able to induce a pair of double plays and bear down to throw his best baseball when runners were on base. He finished up those six frames allowing six hits, walking three, and striking out two.
Saunders was aided by a pair of innings in which the Legends scored multiple runs. After allowing the single run in the second, the Legends came right back and scored two of their own in the top of third. Five consecutive Legends singled to open up the frame, and the third hit brought home the first run. Steven McLean singled to right-center field, and the ball was bobbled by the Legacy centerfielder, allowing Ryan McCarthy to come home and score. Turner Bishop would add the second run with a single that scored McLean, and the Legends would not look back in the game. Three more runs came home in the top of the fourth, and it was the top of the order driving home runs once again. McLean smoked a double that scored Ryan Rosa, and then Justin Jacobs plated a pair with a double of his own. 5-1 Legends out in front after four innings.
With Saunders out of the game after six, the Legacy would make things very interesting against the first reliever out of the ‘pen, Alexander Hernandez. With the bases loaded and just one out, the ninth place hitter in the lineup drove home two runs with a double to left-center field, making it a 5-3 game. After getting the second out, a second single would bring home the fourth run of the game and third of the inning for South Bay. Fortunately for Hernandez and the Legends, a caught stealing would end the seventh without any more damage being done.
Menlo Park added two more runs for a little breathing room in the top of the ninth. Chandler Bengston pinch hit with the bases loaded and brought home a run with a fielder’s choice. Next up was Lane Robinette, who already had two hits in the game. He hit a groundball to the Legacy third baseman who botched the easy roller and allowed another run to score. With a three-run lead and Hernandez having already thrown the seventh and eighth innings, Kevin Hahn was summoned to get the save. Despite allowing the first two runners of the inning on base, he was able to shut the door without any runs coming across and give Menlo a much-needed bounce back victory.
The first meeting of the summer against the Healdsburg Prune Packers comes on Wednesday in Healdsburg. First pitch for the big CCL game is at 5:30 PM and the game will be broadcasted live on the Legends Radio Network.
