On Friday morning, the Kingsmen traveled to Boca de Chavon to play a local village team made up of players from different age groups. The game, which was played on a field that looked like it belonged in “The Sandlot,” was an opportunity for the boys to be kids again and enjoy the game. After a long day yesterday helping our translator, Kike, lay the concrete roof on his new home, the team was in need of a game like this.
Following a quiet first inning for both teams, the first three Kingsmen batters singled in the second to load the bases with nobody out. After consecutive bases loaded walks, Matthew Gross singled home two runs to give the Kingsmen a 4-0 advantage. In the bottom half of the inning, starting pitcher Mikah Conner allowed one to reach on a single but struck out two in the inning to keep Boca de Chavon scoreless.
After the Kingsmen failed to score in the top of the third, Boca de Chavon was able to push a run across in the bottom of the inning as a result of three walks and multiple stolen bases. Entering the fourth inning, the Kingsmen held just a three run lead.
The fourth and fifth innings would prove to be fruitful for the Kingsmen as they scored three times in the fourth and added two more in the fifth. In the two innings, the Kingsmen had just one hit while walking six times as they went station-to-station en route to establishing an eight run lead.
Nick George pitched a scoreless fourth inning for the Kingsmen while player-coach Tyler Baker needed just five pitches to send Boca de Chavon down one-two-three in the fifth. The game would end at the conclusion of the fifth inning as the Kingsmen picked up their second win in the Dominican Republic, 9-1.
Following the game, the two teams met in front of the pitcher’s mound to share in a moment of prayer. Third baseman Bryce Frederick then shared his testimony before the Kingsmen distributed New Testaments to Boca de Chavon. It was a fun day of baseball surrounded by good people from a variety of backgrounds.
Stay tuned for more Kingsmen Baseball news and updates throughout their Dominican missionary trip.
Matthew Gross Postgame Interview:
Coach Joe Hudak Postgame Interview:
