Oxford Falls To Kentucky

It was not the kind of start the Oxford 12 year Babe Ruth team envision or for that matter, wanted. Oxford opened up the Cal Ripkin Major/60 World Series tournament on Thursday afternoon with a 10 – 0 loss to West Lexington Kentucky in North Carolina.

The game was ended by the mercy rule after 4 ½ innings.

As a team, we didn’t make the plays and they hit the ball,” Oxford manager Greg Baktis said. We were tired going into the game from the travel and the unexpected heat, but no excuses, they deserved it.”

Poor fielding cost Oxford. The team made three physical errors and four mental errors on defense (even though those four plays weren’t technically errors but poor decisions by the fielders helped West Lexington).

Oxford loaded the bases with one out in the first inning with Dale Keller and Gunner Fay both hitting singles and a teammate reached on an error. However, the inning ended with Tim Stordy hitting into a double play.

Also hitting singles for Oxford were Adam Batkis, Alex Rushworth and Oliver Diaz with Diaz accomplishing it with a bunt. Righty Matt Morelli was Oxford’s third pitcher and hurled two scoreless innings. Morelli allowed one hit, walked two and struck out two.

Oxford next plays on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The team needs to finish in third place in its division in order to make it to the next round.

It may have been first-game jitters but I’m confident we’ll be ready to play on Saturday,” Greg Batkis said. 

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