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IN BRIEF: The Builders were on the road but weren't far from home. The Apprentice School Builders and the Stratford Cardinals met for the 5th time this season. Paul Jones made his 9th start of the year and the Builders were looking to build on their 18 game win streak. The Builders did just that as they defeated Stratford University by a score of 14 to 3.
The Builders went down quietly in the 1st and 2nd innings but broke through to take a 1 to 0 lead in the top half of the 3rd. Braden Lambert would get things started on a leadoff single. Lambert would quickly advance to second on a balk from the Cardinals pitcher. Lou Picolo would turn in a productive at bat and advance Lambert to third on a groundout to 1st base. Lambert would come around the score on the 2 out single from Maxwell Burcham.
The Builders would add to their lead in the top of the 4th. Brent Byrum led off the inning with a single to center. Thomas Packert would come to the plate and hit a ground ball to shortstop. The Cardinal shortstop attempted to turn two on the play but an error would put Byrum and Packert on second and third base with nobody out. With one out in the inning, back to back singles from Brian Fritzinger and Braden Lambert would extend the Builder lead to 3 to 0. Crafty baserunning would advance Lambert to second and Fritzinger to third. Lou Picolo then laced a ball to left field, good enough for a sac fly. The Builders led by a score of 4 to 0 after 4 innings of play.
In the 5th, the Builders would stretch their lead to 6 to 0. The Cardinals reliever struggled to find the zone and walked in a run. Dalton Dye would also hit a sac fly in the inning and the Builders began to take a commanding lead of the game. The Builders would blow open the game in the later innings and crusied to a 14 to 3 victory. Thomas Packert hit a 2 RBI double in the 6th, and Gevin Nixon hit an RBI single in the single in the 7th.
Paul Jones dominated on the mound for his 8th win of the season. Jones pitched 6 innings, gave up 3 hits, and struck out 7 batters on the day. The Cardinals would scratch across three runs against the Builders bullpen, but Tyler Winegrad and Thomas Packert would pitch a clean 8th and 9th innings. Packert struck out all three batters he faced.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE:
- Thomas Packert was 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs
- Maxwell Burcham was 4 for 5 with 3 RBIs
- Braden Lambert was 3 for 4 with 1 RBI
UP NEXT: The Builders meet up with Paul D Camp CC on Wednesday May 1st at 3:00 pm.