Long Ball Powers Legends to 10-6 Opening Day Win
By: Brian Brownfield
Redwood City, Calif. – The Menlo Park Legends wasted no time exciting the home fans at Canada College, using four homeruns to power their way to a 10-6 victory of the San Mateo Rounders on Opening Day. Chandler Bengston, Cristopher Castillo, Turner Bishop, and Philip Caulfield all hit towering homeruns in the effort while the Legends got solid pitching outings from four different arms. The Rounders fell to 0-3 on the season while the Legends improved to 1-0.
The scoring began in the second inning for the Legends after Ryan Rosa was hit by a pitch and stole second. Chandler Bengston stepped into the box and uncorked a no-doubter shot to right-center field for the first two runs of the game. After adding on a single run in the fourth, the Legends blew the game wide open in the bottom of the fifth. Castillo led off the inning with a solo homerun to right field, and two batters later Bishop deposited one into the exact same spot for a two-run blast, knocking out the Rounders starting pitcher Mike Castillo. The Legends continued to pour it on with an RBI-single from Patrick McColl and a two-run double from Caulfield.
Tanner Disibio got the Opening Day start for the Legends and looked very good for his two innings of work. Disibio allowed just one hit and struck out three batters, showing very good command of his fastball and secondary pitches. Sheldon McClelland relieved Disibio of his duties and pitched three innings, allowing a pair of runs in his final inning of work and officially getting the win.
San Mateo would make things interesting in the later innings, scoring a pair of runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, and three more in the top of the seventh. Highlighted by a two-run single from Matt Peterson, the Rounders cut the deficit to 9-6 before Sean Watkins came on in relief for the Legends. Watkins relieved Matt Bergandi and came on with two runners aboard and one out in the seventh. Watkins made quick work of the Rounders, getting a pair of strikeouts to end the threat and keep it a three run game. Caulfield added a solo homerun to leadoff the eighth inning for good measure, and Watkins pitched the final 2 2/3 innings to shut the door and give the Legends win number one.
The Legends return to action tomorrow as they take on the Rally Factory Rockhounds for an away game scheduled to start at 1:00 PM. Stay up to date on all things Menlo Park Legends at www.menloparklegends.com.
