Frederick Hustlers

The Frederick Hustlers found themselves in a good ballgame trailing 5-3 going into the bottom of the 5th inning last evening at Olney Park. Unfortunately for the Hustlers, the Pirates found another gear and scored six runs on three uncharacteristic walks and five hits and sent the Hustlers up Interstate 70 with an 11-3 loss. The Hustlers got a gutsy three innings of pitching from Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) who limited the Pirates to just three runs (only one earned). Ropp picked off two base runners but the Hustlers failed to complete the run downs. Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown) had another strong game behind the plate and has proven to be one of the best catchers in the Crab League. The Hustlers struggled to get much going offensively. JT Sachar (Green Valley) led off the 4th by getting hit-by-the-pitch. He stole second and third and scored on Mikhai Evan’s (North Frederick) RBI single. Evans then stole second before scoring on a nice line drive by Matt Cunningham (Green Valley). Cunningham finished with a 2-2 day (double, single) while Evans and Andrew McElwain (St. Johns) recorded the only other Hustler hits. Isanogle drove in the 3rd Hustler run with a nice SAC fly to left.

The Frederick Hustlers 10Us came away with a round-robin sweep on a beautiful afternoon for baseball at the Yellow Springs Baseball Complex. The Hustlers beat a scrappy Catoctin Baseball squad 13-5 in game one and held a very solid Hickory Hornets team in check in game two and won 11-4. Pitching and defense was the story of the day as the first-year Hustler team continues to put together an impressive spring. Catoctin’s starting pitching had trouble finding the plate in the opener when the Huslters scored five in the first and three in the second. The big blows in those rallies were a triple from leadoff man JT Sachar (Green Valley) and a double from three-hitter Justin Ropp (Walkersville). Sachar ended up going 2-2 with a walk and three runs scored and Ropp was 2-2 with a walk and two RBIs. Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown) caught a stellar game and added a single, and Joseph Pippin (Oakdale) reached twice and scored two runs. Matt Cunningham (Green Valley), Pippin and Brandon Buschman shared the pitching duties. Cunningham had three strikeouts.

The Hustlers put it all together in game two against Hickory. The black and gold got great outings from Ropp and Andrew McElwain (St Johns), played superb defense and brought the lumber to the plate. Sachar was at it again leading the Hustlers off in the first with a single followed by a missle to right center by Mikhai Evans (North Frederick). Ropp got hit-by-the-pitch and Cunningham followed with a one-hop bomb to the fence in left for a standup double. After a fielder’s choice by McElwain, Pippin laced a single and it was game on. The Hustlers kept their foot on the pedal in inning two and scored four more. Zach Rutter (Middletown) and Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) drew walks before Sachar singled and Ropp ripped a shot to right center. Meanwhile the Hustlers defense made believers out of many as they turned two more double plays – literally killing Hickory rallies in the 2nd and 3rd innings. Ropp and McElwain turned in phenomenal performances on the mound, and Ryan Bennett (St Johns) and Isanogle continued to provide leadership and solid play behind the plate. Sachar, Cunningham and Pippin each had two hits; Sachar and Cunningham scored two runs. Ropp also had a hit and scored two runs and Evans finished with one hit and a run scored.

The Hustlers are back in action Thursday evening against the Olney Pirates at Olney Manor Park.

The 10U Hustlers broke open a close ball game with five runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to take a 13-4 win against the LOUYAA Bears.  The Hustlers finished with 13 hits but the key to the game was pitching and defense.  Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) pitched three strong innings allowing only one run and the young Hustlers turned three double plays -- the final one a game-ender.  Dustin "Ice" Isanogle (Lewistown) was red hot at the plate going 3-3 with a double and two runs scored, JT Sachar (Green Valley) went 2-3 with a double, and Brandon Buschman went 2-3 with a run scored.  Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) and Zach Rutter (Middletown) had two of the bigger hits driving in runs in key situations; Donovan's was a triple.  Mikhai Evans (North Frederick), Ropp, Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) and Andrew McElwain (St. Johns) also contributed a hit.  Isanogle was once again a force behind the plate.

The Hustlers are back in action Saturday, April 26, for a DH against the same Bears at Utica Park.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00pm.

The 10U Frederick Hustlers took their “A game” for a long ride to Bel Air, MD for a Sunday twinbill against Catoctin Baseball and the Hickory Hornets. The boys from Frederick got an excellent three innings from Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) to start game one and came away with a 17-3 win. Mikhai Evans (North Frederick), Joseph Pippin (Oakdale) and Brandon Buschman (Walkersville) worked the final two frames and provided sound relief in a game shortened by the 12-run rule. JT Sachar (Green Valley) continued his hot summer going 2-2 with a double, single and a walk. The big bats came alive in the 4th with the Hustlers clinging to a 4-1 lead. Cunningham hit a triple over the centerfielder’s head and Andrew McElwain (St. Johns) followed with a deep blast to center for a 2-run home run. Pippin, Dustin Isangole (Lewistown) and Ryan Bennett (St. Johns) followed with base knocks while Buschman and Zach Rutter (Middletown) walked before Sachar singled and the Hustlers were off and running. Sachar, Cunningham, Isanogle and Hayden Bailey (Walkersville) each had two hits. Isanogle was outstanding behind the plate.

Game two could perhaps go down as a defining moment for the young Hustlers season. The Hickory Hornets decided to give their new friends from Frederick a lesson in baseball. The Hornets rapped out six hits in the first inning and coupled with two outfield miscues, took what seemed like a commanding 6-0 lead. The Hustlers would have none of that. JT Sachar led off the bottom of the inning with a sharp single to right and then stole 2nd and 3rd. Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) followed with a single and the Hustlers were on the board with seemingly new life. Ropp went out and slammed the door on the Hornets the next two innings while the Hustlers bats came alive. Pippin, Isanogle, Buschman and Rutter all had base hits in the 2nd as the Hustlers scored three times. The big noise was made in the 4th when Sachar led off with a single, followed by a two-base missile from Evans, and sharp singles from Cunningham, McElwain, Pippin and Isanogle. When the inning was over, the Hustlers had scored five runs for a 9-6 lead. Credit goes out to Hickory because instead of rolling over, they answered with fours runs of their own in the 4th to take a 10-9 lead. The Hustlers went quietly in the fourth but came up big in the fifth as Sachar once again got things going, this time getting hit by the pitch. Evans and Ropp followed with singles and Cunningham doubled and Pippin singled. The Hustlers put four big runs up to take a 13-10 lead. McElwain then went out and slammed the door holding a great hitting team scoreless over the final two innings. Pippin led the way with three hits and two runs. Sachar was again 2-2 with an HBP and scored three runs. Evans, Ropp, and Isanogle each had two hits while McElwain, Buschman, Rutter and Riley Donvan (Tuscarora) each chipped in with one. Ryan Bennett gave the Hustlers a gritty and outstanding effort behind the plate.

The newest addition to Frederick Hustler baseball got its first taste of victory on Saturday in a doubleheader sweep of a very good Backyard University squad from York, PA. The Hustlers answered Backyard's 2-run first with two runs of their own and then seemingly took charge of the game with a 5-run third inning. Backyard University didn't seem fazed as they continued to battle and tack on runs - two in the 3rd, 5th and 6th innings to tie the game going into the bottom of the sixth. The Hustlers answered the bell as Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) drew a one-out walk and stole second and third before being driven in by Andrew McElwain (St. Johns). Leadoff man JT Sachar (Green Valley) was on base all three ABs and scored two runs, Mikhai Evans (Eastern) singled, walked and scored two runs and Joseph Pippin (Oakdale) drove in two runs with a timely single. Cunningham, Pippin and Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) shared the pitching duties and all three were effective; Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown) was great behind the plate.

Game two featured stellar pitching by McElwain and Ropp as they limited a good hitting Backyard ballclub to six hits. The Hustlers also got their bats going as they picked up doubles from Evans, Ropp and McElwain. Leadoff man Sachar was his feisty self as he reached base all three times again and scored two runs. Cunningham and Pippin led the way with two hits a piece. Ryan Bennett (St. Johns) was strong behind the plate. Game two ended with the Hustlers turning a spectacular 6-4-3 (Sachar-Cunningham-Rutter (Middletown)) double play.

The Hustlers are back in action on Tuesday against LOUYAA at Kemptown Elementary School. Game time is 5:30pm - come support your Hustlers!!!!