Deerfield Lions Get First Tournament Win, Top Colonels 11-0

Behind both a solid offensive and defensive performance, the Deerfield Lions beat the Colonels 11-0 Thursday night to stay alive in Bracket D.

The bats came alive again for the Lions and they backed it up with solid pitching and defensive play. Starting pitcher Alex Ernstine went four innings, striking out seven while allowing only three hits and not surrendering a walk or run.

“I felt that I was locating my fastball well and my secondary pitches were very good and I was throwing my curve ball for strikes, and that’s all I could ask for,” Ernstine said.

Offensively, the Lions’ bats were on fire as they scored seven runs in the first inning and four in the second. Coach Mike Dobre attributed the offensive power to being more aggressive at the plate.

“We were a lot more aggressive,” he said. “We were seeing the ball better and had a different approach tonight.”

On top of his stellar pitching performance, Ernstine also helped himself out at the plate. He recorded the game’s first RBI in the first inning as the Lions batted around with all nine batters reaching base safely before recording an out. His RBI was the first of four straight in the inning. The second inning saw RBIs from center fielder Nick Vazquez, catcher Johnny Menedez and second baseman Manny Rojas as the Lions put four more runs on the board.

Vazquez and Mendez both led the team offensively going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs each while JR Meneses went 3-for-4 with a double, two singles and an RBI.

“As a group, we played as one. No one thought about themselves they all thought about the team only,” Vazquez said. “That’s what’s going to make us win. We all come together as a team. It’s not about just you, it’s about all of us.”

Colonels starting pitcher RJ Henle got off to a rough start in the first two innings but managed to right the ship, allowing no runs and only two hits in the final three innings, but for coach Neil Andreoli it was too little too late.

“We got behind early,” Andreoli said. “When you give up seven runs in the first inning, you’re in the hole, and it’s hard to dig out of.”

Colonels third baseman Sam Reich went 1-for-2 on the night with a single and a stolen base to lead the team offensively.

Both teams return to the field on Saturday. The Lions (1-1) try to keep their tournament hopes alive when they take on the Suns while the Colonels look for a win against the Hollywood Lions (2-0).

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