Fans pack Optimist Park for youth-league games

By SHELIA MADER
Published: April 29, 2008

The atmosphere at Optimist Park Friday night could have easily been mistaken for the seventh game of the 2002 World Series between the then Anaheim Angels and the New York Mets. The stands were filled to capacity and the fans could be heard upon entering the parking lot, each section cheering for their team’s every defensive play and every at bat.

In actuality, it was the 4-0 Dixie Youth AA Cubs squad taking on the Yankees with the game going down to the final inning before a winner could be declared.
The visiting Cubs went on offense first and wasted no time putting two runs on the board. Leading off was Aryan Charles who was on the base a single.

Turner Seay came up to bat in the second spot, hitting into a fielder’s choice right at shortstop Ryley Lipford who proudly executed his baseball knowledge by tagging second to get the lead runner. Slugger Pender Johnson came up to the plate and with all the intensity of the “Babe” sent one to fence scoring two. With two outs, Lane Roberts hit one down the first base line but Austin Livingston made a heads-up play to tag the bag and retire the Cubs with no further damage. The Yankees came to the plate determined to get back the two runs they gave up and they didn’t disappoint the die-hard fans. Christian Johnson tried to get things started for the Yankees with a hit up the middle but Turner Seay snagged the ball and with an accurate throw to Pender Johnson at first, robbed Johnson of a hit. Austin Livingston put his name in the home run books with a solo shot to the fence in right field.

With two outs, Ryley Lipford proved he had it on offensively and defensively as he singled to right and moved to third on a single by Dalton Smith. Wesley Pippen joined the hit parade singling home two runs and Max Olds beat out a throw to reach first and score the final run of the inning, giving the 0-4 Yankees a 4-2 lead.

In the second inning, Sabino Pacheco had a solo homerun with one out to make it a 4-3 game. Chrishawn Dozier took advantage of a misplayed ball to reach first but the 42-mile-per-hour machine got the next two batters on strikes.

Keoni Brown singled to get tings started for the Yankees in their half of the inning but two quick strikeouts and a ground out to Johnson at first ended the inning with no runs crossing the plate.

In the top of the third, the Cubs retook the lead plating three runs. Seth Corbin was the first Cubbie up to bat, and the youngest on the squad, and after a bunt attempt on the third strike was called out. The teammates rallied with Aryan Charles beating out a throw from second and moved to third on a single by Turner Seay. Leftie Pender Johnson then pulled another one to the fence in right field to clear the bases for the final runs of the inning.

The Yankees would take on the seriousness of the “Pinstripers” themselves batting back in the bottom of the third inning with a run of their own. Tyrus Dudley provided the offense for the Yanks with a home run.

In the top of the fourth inning, it was Sabino Pacheco with a one-out single. Chrishawn Dozier was robbed of a sure-fire double with a leaping catch by Tyrus Dudley. David Solomon sent one up the middle by a snag by Lipford got Pacheco at second to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, it was Dudley on the other side of the picture making it around the bases on a hit up the middle to put the Yankees on top 7-6.

The Cubs battled back in the top of the fifth inning with two runs to take the lead 8-7. Aryan Charles beat out a throw to first and scored on a single by Turner Seay. Pender Johnson drove in Seay on a single to the right side.

The Yankees had opportunity in the bottom half of the frame but could not execute a run. Christian Johnson singled and moved to second on a single by Austin Livingston. With one two outs, Ryley Lipford hit a shot to Turner Seay at short who tag teamed with Pender Johnson at first for the last out of the inning.

With a few minutes of time remaining, the two teams took it to six innings. The Cubs added an insurance run with a lead off single by Lane Roberts. With two outs, it was Chrishawn Dozier and David Solomon with back-to-back singles to plate the extra run.

Again in the bottom of the inning, the Yankees attempted a rally. Dalton Smith singled but a strike out followed. A ground out to the pitcher made it two outs. The final play of the game was a replay of the Seay-Johnson play in the fifth inning to end the game.

The Cubs have little time to bask in their 5-0 start with a scheduled game Monday at 5:30 against the Devil Rays. Results of that game were not available at press time.

The Yankees will have to regroup today and get ready to pick up a win when they take on the Dodgers at 5:30.