Field of Dreams
By Rodger M. Wood
Last night at Frederick MD, two teams of young college ballplayers battled it out for nine innings to get the attention of baseball scouts and score big points in their quests to become major league ballplayers. Like most of us ordinary folks, players in the new Major League Draft League do not get paid to play the game, the only stipend they get is a second look and the fun of playing on a minor league baseball field. If they do well, they may show enough talent to be drafted by a major league team in July.
In the fourth game of the inaugural Major League Draft League, the West Virginia Black Bears and Frederick Keys played 6 innings of mostly flawless, scoreless 1- 0 baseball. The second batter up in the top of the 1st, Black Bears catcher, Ranko Stevanovich hit a solo HR to deep right center and the one run held up until the Keys broke open the game in the bottom of the sixth. Learning from their mistakes, Keys pitchers walked the big catcher the next three times he came to the plate.
Ranko Stevanovich Waits for His Pitch
Keys 6'7" RHP from Iowa Western University Payton Zabel and 6'7" LHP Ronan South South Mountain Community College, combined to throw a 7 - inning 1 run game while leaving 10 men on base.
Matching them, Black Bears RHP, Joshua South pitched a perfect 4 inning 2 hit, 2 K shutout .
Joshua South Pitches 4 IP - 2 Hit Shutout
Keys 1B Nick Hernandez hit a 1-run HR and pinch hitter Dominque Collie a 2 -run double to break open the game in the bottom of the 6th to go ahead 5-1.
Nick Hernandez Hit a HR and 2B in game
Payton Zabel Throws a 3-hitter for 4 IP
Ronan Kopp strikes out 7 hitters in 3 IP
Half an inning later In the top of the 8th inning, the Black Bears came right back scoring 2 runs on 18-year old Oakville, Ontario Holy Trinity Catholic HS senior, Eli Hammil's triple and a run on Jeron Williams 's sacrifice fly. Eli has some speed to burn, legging out the triple and covering a wide berth at SS.
Eli Hammill Knocked in 2 RBI with Triple in the 8th
In the top Black Bear 1B Nick Hernandez doubled in the tying run and RHP Michael Hobbs closed the tie 5-5 game with his second scoreless inning in the 9th.
There is a happy family environment at NYMEO Field this season. The players playing on the field and spectators in the stands at this game were having lots of fun.
The higher the level of baseball, the more dog eat dog folks experience. The odds of making the majors are so infinitesimal that you can only hope you have the goods to make the bigs. Now a Major League Draft League venue, the NYMEO Field at Harry Grove Stadium this Thursday night has truly become a field of young players dreams.