Newport Harbor Baseball Association: Mud Hens come up in clutch

again

The Mud Hens staged another come-from-behind victory when they

defeated the Corona del Mar Athletics, 9-8, in Newport Harbor Baseball

Association Pony Division action.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, with the score tied, 8-8, Nathan

Cramer slammed a double to plate his Mud Hen teammate Brice Stillman for

the winning run in a close play at home base. Stillman got aboard on a

single.

The Mud Hens had tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the

sixth, when Nick Frazier pounded out a triple that brought in Andrew

Skjonsby and Brendon Salisbury. Both Skjonsby and Salisbury reached on

base hits.

Sailsbury and Cramer handled the pitching duties. They combined to

strike out nine batters and walked two, while scattering seven hits.

Jose Gutierrez, who went 2 for 3 with two stolen bases, and Cody

McDonald, who earned two RBIs and clubbed a two-out double that sparked a

five-run second inning, contributed to the victory. Tim Cramer also

helped the Mud Hens’ cause with a 2-for-3 performance that came with one

runs scored and one walk.

For the A’s, Brett Crowley tagged a triple and a home run, while Jaik

Ballback slugged a homer and a double.

In NHBA Bronco Division action:

Braves 5, Reds 4 - In a battle of top contenders, the Braves made the

most out of of only four hits. Justin Jones led the Braves’ offense with

a 2-for-3 effort that came with two runs scored. Niko Hernandez scored

what proved to be the winning run in the third inning, on a single from

Spencer Smith.

The Braves pitching rotation of Smith, Ned Lyon, Jones and Hernandez

held the Reds to only four hits and one earned run.

Arturo Vasquez assisted in two double plays for the Braves, while

Smith, as a catcher, threw out two runners attempting to steal second

base.

Nick Svendsen pitched three scoreless innings and struck out five to

lead the Reds.