With a combined shutout and a reach on an error, Y-D moved past Orleans in Round 1 of the playoffs Tuesday. Y-D pitchers Carson Ballard, Sean Youngerman and Aiven Cabral all threw multiple scoreless innings to hold the Firebirds from crossing the plate.
Carson Ballard started the game off for Y-D on the mound, recording his fourth start of the season. The right-hander out of Georgia Tech pitched 4 1/3 innings and collected three strikeouts on Orleans. He allowed three hits but gave up no runs to the Firebirds, setting a strong tone on defense for Y-D.
The starter said although he felt nervous, he was also excited and ready to set the team up for a win. He added that he has pitched in high-pressure situations, like his high school championship game, but this game had the highest stakes.
“I've been around pressure before,” Ballard said. “But this game was definitely up there as one of the highest. I'm happy I did well and I was happy to start us off with a win.”
Sean Youngerman came in to relieve Ballard on the mound in the top of the fifth. The recent Oklahoma State transfer threw for 2 2/3 innings and picked up his first win of the season. He only allowed one hit and helped maintain Y-D’s combined shutout.
Typically a starting pitcher for Y-D, the right-hander said coming out of the bullpen for relief was a familiar feeling for him but still a little bit different from starting on the mound.
“Freshman year of college I was out of the pen and it's a little bit different,” Youngerman said. “It’s kind of that mentality where you got to get ready quick and go in, and might get hot once or twice, but at some point you'll be in there.”
While the total strikeout count for Y-D’s pitchers was only three, the Sox’s defense played clean — only allowing five hits to Orleans. Youngerman said he had trust in the team’s defense when he was out on the bump.
“Honestly, the defense was just playing really well tonight,” Youngerman said. “I mean, our guys were making great plays, so when they [Orleans] put the ball in play, and I trusted that we were going to get it done.”
Aiven Cabral closed out the win for Y-D on the mound in the eighth and ninth. He allowed one hit and solidified Y-D’s combined shutout, letting up no runs and picking up his first save of the season. He said that in these high-pressure situations, he just takes a deep breath and tries to be himself out there.
“It was a great feeling getting out of that,” Cabral said. “It was a tight game and they played us well. In a playoff game with a one-and-done situation, we kind of had to leave it all out there. And I think that's exactly what we did.”
With the win over Orleans, Y-D will gear up to take on the Harwich Mariners in a best-of-three series for the second round of the playoffs. Ballard said that he is confident in the Y-D bullpen and their preparation for making a deep postseason run.
“We are pretty well prepared,” Ballard said. “We've kept our pitch counts down to where we if we go further into the playoffs, we'll be able to pitch again. I trust my guys and I think we’ve got a really good pitching staff.”
Photo by Sophie Solarino
