A Round up of all the action from Week 4 at Dubai Little League.
Junior Softball:
Gators 20 - 13 Ducks
Ducks fell behind early and couldn’t come back in a 20-13 loss to the Gators despite an infield home run hit by Ducks’ Aliza in the first inning. Aliza, Sasha, Tasia, Norah, Joelle and Zeynep each collected one hit. Although the Ducks collected six hits in the high-scoring affair, Gators had 17 hits on the way to victory. Gators defensive skills showed today with two double plays in the game. Berrak went 4-for-4 at the plate to lead Gators in hits. Anna, Baila, Berrak, Marcela, Malak and Reese all hit doubles today to help keep Gators in the lead.
Aggies 19 - 7 Ducks
Early lead for Aggies sealed the win over the Ducks today during an action packed game. Ducks scored five runs in the third inning. The big inning for Ducks came thanks to a single by Joelle and Aliza and a double by Sasha. Tasia was on the rubber for Ducks striking out two. Hanna kept the defense alive when she caught a fly ball at the top of the 1st. First baseman Nida wouldn’t let a ball pass her as she grounded out a runner at the top of the 4th. Although the Ducks had impressive defensive plays in the game, Aggies still managed to pull out the victory with 16 hits that started with a single by Quilia, double by Ariana and a single by Maren in the first inning. Key outs made by Aggies second baseman Ilze when she stopped a ground ball and threw to first grounding out the batter at the top of the 2nd. Abigail secured the last out of the 3rd inning when she caught a hard line drive. Ariana was in the circle for the Aggies. The right-hander lasted two innings, allowing zero hits and zero runs while striking out five and walking zero.
Subway Player of the Week: Joelle Narch (Ducks) - Joelle displayed leadership on the field by effectively communicating with teammates. She made great stops and heads up plays behind the plate and at shortstop. In her double header game she appeared at the plate 5 times with 1 walk and 2 base hits totalling 3 RBI for the Ducks. Joelle is in 6th grade at SISD. Joelle is Lebanese American and she was born in Minnesota. She has been at DLL since she was 4 years old playing T-ball. This is Joelle’s third year in softball. Congratulations Joelle!
Senior Softball:
Crimson 13 - 14 Huskies
Scorekeepers were kept busy today during a high-scoring contest between the Huskies and the Crimson. Bethlyn Whitehead pitched the Huskies to victory allowing one hit and one run over three innings, striking out four and walking one. The Huskies racked up 15 hits on the day. Bethlyn Whitehead, Katie Claver, Ashya Scott, Aaliyah Haider, Ainsley Whitehead, and Mia Mroueh all collected multiple hits. Zoya Merchant added a double. The Crimson tallied nine hits on the day. Clara Rice, Emily Rice, and Mila Looten all had multiple hits (including doubles by Looten and C. Rice).
Tigers 8 - 9 Huskies
Even though Huskies Seniors gave up five runs in the second inning, they came back to win in extra innings against the Tigers 9-8 on Friday. Bethlyn Whitehead earned the victory for the Huskies surrendering zero runs on zero hits over four innings, striking out seven and walking one. The Huskies racked up eight hits. B. Whitehead, Mia Mroueh, and Ainsley Whitehead each had multiple hits for the Huskies. Mroueh and Mackenzie Render each belted a triple. Mroueh led the Huskies with five stolen bases. The Tigers combined for six hits on the day. Kima Sepic went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Tigers in hits. Bella Boson and Emma Sadeghi led the Tigers in RBI - each driving in two runs.
Subway Player of the Week: Mia Mroueh (Huskies) - Mia was a standout in both games of the double header - going 4-for-5 at the plate with 5 runs scored, 2 RBI, 5 stolen bases and a triple. Mia also made key defensive plays at first base and catcher. Mia is a Junior at The International School of Choueifat-Dubai and has been playing softball at DLL for the past four years.
Senior Baseball:
Men's Dodgers 12 - 2 Senior Dodgers
The Men's Dodgers team keeps rolling with their third consecutive victory this time defeating the Senior Dodgers who suffered their first loss of the season. Both teams now stand at 3-1 and are tied for first place. 10 unearned runs led to a messy game for the younger Dodgers but hope to learn from their mistakes. Ollie Duthie and Collin Bianchi pitched well for the Seniors but couldn't survive their team's defensive miscues. "I had to suck it up and grind it out for the team," said Bianchi. "This team fought until the end and never quit. We'll learn from this and we'll be stronger for it". The lone offensive bright spot at the plate for the boys, was Jacob Essick who continues to wield a hot bat going 2-2.
On the men's side commendable performances from all players in the lineup. It was visible that the Men team was ready to compete this week.
Astros 15 - 3 Giants
The Astros got their first win of the season 15-3 over the Giants. The Astros put together a fine performance both offensively and defensively, with solid pitching from Mattia Sparacino, Kai Chapleski and Jack Chapleski holding the Giants to just 3 hits thru 5 innings. The Astros also had several hot bats, led by Jack Chapleski with 4 hits. He started with a double in the first, doubled in the second, and singled in both the 3rd and 4th innings. Mattia Sparacino and Clara Rice both had 2 hits for the Astros. The Astros woke up this week and we will see if they can carry their fine form, as they are going to play against the Men's Dodgers team next week.
Subway Player of the Week: Jack Chapleski (Astros) - He led his team with four hits, two of them doubles, Jack in addition pitched three innings to shut down the opponents and got his first victory of the season.
Majors Baseball:
Dodgers 5 - 2 Athletics
Nathaniel Anderson got things started in the first inning hitting a bases loaded triple, scoring three runs. Zach Durben led the Dodgers to victory on the pitcher's mound. The ace surrendered zero runs on two hits over three innings, striking out six. Billy Fordyce and Anderson entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief. Kima Sepic toed the rubber for the Athletics. The hurler went three innings, allowing five runs on four hits and striking out seven. Will Brawn and Coehn Miller entered the game as relief, throwing two innings and one inning respectively. Anderson went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Dodgers in hits. The Athletics tallied eight hits on the day. Sepic, Ayan Chaudhary, and Miller each collected multiple hits for the Athletics.
Red Sox 6 - 3 Braves
The Red Sox fired up the offense in the first inning scoring two runs when Dorian Fredrick laced an opposite field homer to the left field corner against a heavily shifted outfield. Jacob Claver was on the pitcher's mound for the Red Sox. The left-hander lasted three innings, allowing two hits and zero runs while striking out seven and walking none. Matthew Yeh started the game for the Braves. The hurler allowed six hits and five runs over four innings, striking out ten. Zachary Swartz threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. Fredrick led the Red Sox with three hits in three at bats. Swartz went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Braves in hits.
Subway Player of the Week: Zachary Swartz (Braves)
Minors Baseball:
Yankees 9 - 11 Royals
Royals hold off the Yankees as 5 run deficit was nearly erased. Royals scored 6 runs in the first 2 innings but the Yankees came back scoring 5 in the top of the 3rd, but Royals scored back 5 runs at the bottom of the 3rd, Yankees scored 3 runs in the last 2 innings but barely missed catching up. For the Royals, Taiga Hayashi hit 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs, while relief pitcher Hide Katsuda managed to hold the Yankees to 3 runs in 2.2 innings. And for the Yankees, Ben Audi hit 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs and Diego Ghosh also hit 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs.
Dodgers 3 - 4 Braves
Dodgers defeated for the first time this season in a close match against the Braves. Dodgers had a good start scoring a run in the 1st inning from a hit by Owen Greene, but Braves scored back 3 runs with 5 hits at the bottom of the 1st. While Braves were holding the lead, Dodgers added a run in the 2nd inning as well but gave a way a crucial decisive run to the Braves in the 4thinning on BB with bases loaded. Dodgers pitcher Owen Rakai pitched 2 innings without giving away a run while Nicolas Vijande who showed performance in catching, pitching as a closer, fielding a double play and an RBI.
Subway Player of the Week: Taiga Hayashi (Royals) - Hitting a double in 2 consecutive games earning 4 RBIs in total to help the Royals pick up their second win of the season.