Front Royal Cardinals bounce back big

The Front Royal Cardinals offense claimed a big win tonight against the Woodstock River Bandits, scoring 14 runs on 15 hits. The action started early, when Cardinals’ Patrick Baggett scored in the first inning on Steve Grober’s sacrifice fly. Carson Bell followed with a two-run homerun, and the Cardinals had three runs on the board in the first. Levi Leisenring gave the Redbirds another run in the second. The Cardinals were able to hold the lead throughout the remainder of the game.

Cardinals’ starting pitcher Trey Fields held the River Bandits to three runs through the first four innings. In the fourth inning, Leisenring smacked a single, then Will Ahrens and Baggett each worked a walk to load the bases. Unfortunately, Ahrens was picked off at first base, but Dylan Menhennett’s subsequent double, scored one. Three batters later, Derek Orndorff’s grand slam, his second homerun of the season, scored four more. Not yet satisfied, David Willis, Leisenring and Menhennet scored in the fifth, making the score 12-3 in favor of the Cardinals in the middle of the fifth inning.

The Front Royal Cardinals made a pitching change in the bottom of the fifth, bringing in Henri Pratt, with two River Bandits on base, and one out. Pratt was able to handle the pressure, and got two quick outs to end the inning. The River Bandit’s threatened again in the seventh inning, when Pratt gave up a couple of walks and a single that allowed the River Bandits to score one on a sacrifice fly. Then, Woodstock’s Aidan Nagle took a 2-1 count for a grand slam home run, cutting the Cardinals lead to 14 to 9. Pratt was able to get out of the inning, preserving the Redbird lead.
“The bats came out hot tonight, and we needed every bit of it,” said Coach Hurla, “It’s great to get another big road win. The guys continue to impress me with how they show up willing to work hard each and every day, no matter the outcome from the night before.”

The Cardinals’ bats were led tonight by Dylan Menhennett, who went 3-4 on the night, and is batting .370 on the season. Two Cardinals went yard tonight; Carson Bell had his first homerun of the season and Derek Orndorff hit his second of the season. Cardinal pitcher Henri Pratt earned the win, supported by Trey Fields, who struck out five River Bandits in 4.1 innings, and Peter Schuldt, who fanned two in his two innings of work.

The Cardinals are still searching for their first home win, and have another opportunity Saturday, June 8th, when they take on the New Market Rebels at Bing Crosby Stadium at 7:00 pm.