While Thursday night’s matchup may have not gone exactly the way the Firebirds may have wanted, for Elijah Ickes (Hawaii), there was something about the matchup that was far more special than just the score.
His grandparents traveled over 5,000 miles from Hawaii to watch what any baseball fan wants to see — a home run. However, this time, his grandparents got to witness their grandson score a home run right before their own eyes.
“It’s pretty amazing being able to do that in front of my grandparents traveling this far,” Ickes said. “Being able to do something special for them is pretty awesome.”
Even though the Firebirds fell to Yarmouth-Dennis, 4-2, for the second time this season, Ickes was able to deliver the Birds their first and only home run of the game in a rather special fashion.
“It felt pretty good coming off the bat,” Ickes said. “I was just trying to put the ball into play with two strikes and stick to my approach, and that’s how it happened.”
What started as a silent first inning soon turned into the exact opposite.
After an Alex Hernandez (Georgia Tech) single, it seemed like something may have started to click for the Y-D Red Sox in the top of the second.
Standing on the mound to start the matchup, Sebastian Gonzalez (Hawaii) locked eyes with Will Baker (Georgia Tech). Once Gonzalez released the ball, Baker winded up and nailed the ball past the Birds’ outfielders and over the fence — giving the Red Sox a 2-0 edge over Orleans.
It didn’t take long for the Red Sox to continue their momentum during the matchup at Eldredge Park.
Dean Carpentier (Southern California), the following batter, singled on a line drive to left field. Unfortunately for the Birds, Yomar Carreras (Rutgers) was able to come away with a double — increasing the Red Sox’s lead to three runs.
The bottom of the third is when things started to look better for the Birds.
Having two outs and Cody New (California Baptist) on the mound for the Red Sox, Jaden Bastian (Jacksonville) walked. Michael O’Shaughnessy (Georgia) would soon follow after being hit by the pitch. With Bastian on second and O’Shaughnessy on first, Michael Crossland (UC San Diego) was the next to walk.
As the bases were now loaded, all Orleans needed was simply a decent hit. However, they earned a Robbie Lavey (George Washington) walk instead, as the Birds attempted to chip away at the Red Sox’s lead.
That seemed out of reach for Orleans by the top of the sixth.
After Cider Canon (Davidson) was hit by a pitch, the Red Sox were back on base. After Canon managed to steal second, Hernandez responded with a single of his own.
Despite Baker striking out, after an Orleans throwing error, Canon was able to make it back home, as Hernandez stole second.
However, a glimpse of hope reappeared in the top of the sixth, thanks to Ickes.
Off an Ickes home run, the Birds cut the Red Sox’s lead in half.
“Elijah Ickes is a really good hitter, and it was just a matter of time before he turned and burned a home run,” manager Kelly Nicholson said. “I’m super happy for him, and extremely happy when good things happen to good people. Elijah Ickes is a really good human being so we were all happy for him.”
Orleans was not able to convert, though, as that marked the last run of the game. Compared to the Red Sox’s nine hits on the night, the Birds had just two.
Eventually, after a quiet eighth and ninth from both squads, the Birds were handed their second loss against the Red Sox.
