The Washington Wild Things showed why they are near the top of the Frontier League’s East Division when they went into Normal, Illinois and easily defeated the number one team in the West Division, the Normal Corn Belters. Again, on a spectacular pitching performance, the Wild Things were able to show why they belong atop the leader boards.
Wild Things starter Shawn Sanford pitched an excellent game, only facing thirty batters along the way. On the hill, Sanford only gave up five hits and one lone run that came off of a Matt Wright solo shot in the seventh inning. Sanford only allowed two runners to be stranded on base the entire night, making sure the rest of them had a nice little walk back to the dugout before the inning was over.
Offensively, the Wild Things did something they haven’t done in the past couple of games. Strike early.
In the top of the second with two outs and three men on, Shain Stoner was able to get a base knock and drive in two runs for an early lead.
Washington came back out in the fourth and started off the inning with a leadoff walk, putting Stewart Ijames at first base. Four pitches later, Jim Vahalik blasted a triple to score Ijames. The very next pitch AJ Nunziato drove in Vahalik with a sacrifice fly. With two outs again, Stoner got on base with a single and was later driven in by a Jovan Rosa single to bring the lead to five for the Wild Things.
The Wild Things would only get two hits the rest of the game, but luckily for them Sanford made sure that was enough to get him by on the mound.
Stoner finished 2-5 with two RBI’s. Sanford now moves to 4-0 with a 1.02 ERA for the season.
The two teams will play again tonight at 8:05 pm ET. Anthony Collazo is set to face off against Ryan Demmin of the Corn Belters.
Photo Credit: Pantagraph.com
