It was a family affair, as Levron Sarauw coached his junior and Howard "Tommy" McCoy coached his son Bryan in Interscholastic Athletic Association varsity baseball action Monday evening at the Kirwin Terrence Ballpark. The game between the All Saints Vikings and Ivanna Eudora Kean Devil Rays was a nail biter, going into extra innings with each team holding off the other's charge, until the Devil Rays clinched it, 11-10, in the ninth.
All Saints pitcher Kenneth Arthur stuck out 16 Devil Rays batters. The Vikings took an early lead of 3 runs after 2 ½ innings, knocking out Devil Ray starting pitcher Keith LaMotta. However, in the bottom half of the inning, the Devil Rays hit back-to-back home runs, a two-run by Leroy Thomas III and a solo by Saruaw Jr. to tie the game at 3-3.
New Devil Rays pitcher Kiba Martin and Arthur retired their opponents 1-2-3 in the fourth inning, each recording two strikeouts. In the fifth, the Vikings scored twice on back-to- back doubles by Alberto Callwood and McCoy scoring Arthur and Vikings first baseman Jose Carrillo, respectively. Although Arthur stuck out the side in the bottom of the inning, he committed three costly errors, allowing the Devil Rays 6 unearned runs.
Each team scored one run in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, with the Devil Rays leading, 10-6, McCoy rallied the Vikings, who answered well. Second baseman Brian Trotman led off with single, which was followed by a line drive home run over the left field fence by Carrillo. The next two Vikings walked, putting the game-tying run on first base. Devil Rays interim manager Sarauw Sr. called his son from centerfield to extinguish the Vikings' fire, and Sarauw Jr. struck out the next two batters. Then came deja vu as an error allowed Callwood to score.
McCoy redeemed himself for one of the errors in the fifth by practically stealing home to tie the ballgame at 10-10. Sarauw then struck out Arthur to retire the Vikings. Arthur subsiquently struck out three Devil Ray, amidst a walk and an error in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the eighth, Sarauw struck out two in retiring the Vikings. In the bottom half, the Devil Rays had two runners in scoring position with Kyle Hendricks, grandson of Baltimore Orioles bullpen coach Elrod Hendricks, at the plate. Vikings catcher Callwood called his infield in and his outfield shallow. Hendricks lined a one-and-one pitch into the outstretched hand of Vikings third baseman McCoy, who held onto it and then stepped on third base, doubling off Devil Ray Rhudel Huyghue to end the inning.
In the ninth, Sarauw once again set the Vikings down in order. However, Arthur was not to destined for the same fate. After a brief rain delay, the Devil Rays once again had two runners in scoring position with one out and leadoff hitter Jeremy Cumbermock at the plate. Cumbermock drilled a one-and-one pitch for the game-winning base hit between McCoy and Vikings shortstop Robert Clouden, scoring LaMotta to end the game.
Editor's note: Reporter Steve Parris was also the home plate umpire for the game.
