Mustangs rally for a spectacular comeback victory.
Fast balls and hard-hitting performances were on display at Marks Park, as the Mustangs fought tooth and nail to snatch a dramatic 16–14 triumph over the Japanese Express.
The Mustangs Marks Park faced off against the Japanese Express (JE) in a baseball match on Sunday. Despite the challenging weather conditions and the dangers it poses for the pitchers, both teams put up a strong fight.
The Mustangs had a good start, getting three quick outs in the first inning and preventing the Japanese Express from scoring any runs.
Read more: The best of the best baseball teams battle it out at Marks Park
However, JE quickly answered back in the second inning. Pitcher Haine Kurihara made two strikeouts and got an out on the first base, showcasing his fast pitching skills.
In the third inning, the Japanese Express loaded all the bases three times, putting pressure on the Mustangs’ defense. They managed to score their first run when a foul ball was hit making Taichi Maeda advanced to home base and secured their first run to make it 1–0.
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The Mustangs pitcher, Yaqeen Schroeder, struggled on the mound, giving away three walks and allowing players to advance to the bases. With two outs, JE made several runs, taking the lead to 5–0.
Recognising the need for a change, Mustangs coach Allan McCabe made a tactical decision to replace Schroeder with Dhevan Bergman as the pitcher. This change completely changed the grip into the Mustangs favour to regain control.
The wet ball is a problem for a pitcher because he cannot get a good firm grip on the ball. It makes it difficult to control
The game was intense, with both teams fighting for the lead. In the sixth inning, the Mustangs had an 11–10 lead, but the JE managed to come back and take a 14–11 lead.
Japanese Express coach Yosuke Koide mentioned that injuries played a significant role in their lineup and faced challenges they could not overcome. However, he expressed their determination to win the next game.
However, the Mustangs showed great determination and fought back in the last inning, ultimately winning the game with a score of 16–14.
Mustangs coach Allan McCabe acknowledged that his team batted very well throughout the last three innings of where they managed to score seven runs. “I was extremely happy with the performance of the boys; this is a young team and this was our first game that we won, and hopefully we’ll win more games.”
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