First-inning rally proves to be key for Napa Valley Baseball Club 19s as they beat Community Project of Crushers 19U

By Kyle Foster

kfost91197@gmail.com

Twitter/X: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews

Yountville-While a game can be close, it takes just one strong inning to win a game. That’s why winning the inning is a term used so often. 

In a local summer ball matchup, this is what the Napa Valley Baseball Club 19-and-under team did as they beat Community Projects of Napa Crushers 19U, 5-1, on Tuesday night at Cleve Borman Field. 

The key rally in the game came in the first inning for NVBC (11-4), where they immediately scored four runs to take control of the game. The first run of the game came when Tommy Malloy walked and then scored on a triple into the right-center gap by Braeden Butler. A sacrifice fly to left field to score Butler. After singling, Henry Meyers scored on a double to left-center by John Bullock. The final run of the inning came when Peter Trvich singled in Bullock. 

This rally was fueled by the top of the lineup all getting on. With some other players missing due to other summer obligations, Butler slid up to the second spot in the order and was able to shine in the role he was pushed into for the contest. 

“Braeden’s been hitting lower in the lineup,” Napa Valley Baseball Club manager Gary Newman explained. “We moved him up to the two spots tonight, and he hit a ball in the gap right away. So he’s a great hitter. He just needs to get opportunities up the title top of the lineup, and the guys from Justin, obviously, swing it a little bit.”

The NVBC scored their only other run in the game in the fourth when Trovich walked and stole second, and then got to third on an errant throw to second. He then scored on a wild pitch. 

Leading the offensive attack in the game for NVBC were Bullock (1-for-2 double, walk,  run, RBI), Malloy (1-for-2, stolen base, walk, run), Meyers (1-for-2, stolen base, walk, run), Butler (1-for-3 triple, run, RBI), and Trovich (1-for-1, walk, stolen base, run, RBI).   

Meanwhile, the Community Projects of Crushers 19U (3-7) scored their lone run of the game in the fourth inning. After Joey Payne singled, he scored when Edwin Lauritsen doubled to left-center and was thrown out at third. 

Throughout the rest of the game, the Crushers had plenty of other base runners but weren’t able to muster anything more on the scoreboard. In the game, they were 1-for-8 when batting with runners in scoring position. 

“We missed a couple of signs,” Community Projects of Crushers manager Andy Griffin explained. We were going to try to get a little small ball today. Just didn’t happen. Situations didn’t come through. Sometimes we just don’t get the hits when we need them.” 

Those leading the offensive attack for the Crushers in the game were Lauritsen (2-for-3, double, RBI), Sumner Eakins (2-for-3, Payne (1-for-3, run), and Jake O’Roark (1-for-2). 

So far, the Crushers have been in pretty much every game they’ve played, even if the results haven’t gone their way. This is due to having a lot of returning guys who have been in the program for a while now. 

“I say the record might not be where we would like it,” Griffin added. “I think our record is where it should be. We’re about .500 give or take, but way better than we used to be. We’re way more competitive, and we’re more competitive with the better teams, even like tonight, we’re one half inning, and it’s a 1-1 game. So that’s where I can see our improvement is, we are way more competitive with a little bit of the older guys too, with the experience.”  

Pitching the first three innings and getting the win on the bump for NVBC was Rozalski. Rozalski struck out 5 and walked 1 in 60 pitches. The right-hander also allowed 3 hits and hit a batter in the contest. 

He was able to use his fastball to jump ahead of hitters and force weak contact, which helped him get through three innings with ease despite the pitch count being a little higher than you would want it to be. 

“He’s had some arm issues going on that were trying to be really thoughtful on his pitch counts and where he’s at,” Newman said. “He’s finally coming into shape, hopefully, and can eat up some innings here moving forward.”

Taking the loss despite pitching well in the game was Jack Herlax. He gave his team a chance to win the game and settled in after a tough start to the game. In the game, the right-hander worked 4 innings, where he struck out 6 and walked 2. He gave up 5 hits and 5 runs, 4 of which were earned, on 76 pitches. 

“The one thing I’ve noticed since last year to this year, even now, is a little bit more maturity,” Griffin said of Herlax. “He’s pitching more mature. He put a little bit better focus on the mound. He doesn’t get too distracted.”  

Paul Heil worked the final two innings in relief. He struck out 2 and walked 2 while allowing no hits on just 25 pitches. 

Both teams should be busy with games over the weekend. NVBC will host a 19-and-under tournament Thursday through Sunday.