By: Tyler Stephan

HOLMDEL, N.J. -- Obsessed Baseball entered their contest on Thursday, June 15, against Frazier Baseball in search of their first win of the season. Frazier Baseball had other plans, continuing their solid start to the year with a dominant 15-2 victory, capped by a 12-run seventh inning.

Connor Baksh started on the mound for Obsessed Baseball, giving up a leadoff single to Aidan Casey of Frazier Baseball in the top of the first inning. Casey was later brought in by Nick Vaughn on a line drive into left field, giving Frazier Baseball a 1-0 lead. Frazier Baseball pitcher Aidan Folsom allowed a single to Obsessed Baseball’s left fielder Robert Mannino and walked catcher Enrique Beltra before escaping the bottom of the first inning unscathed on a nice over-the-shoulder catch by second baseman Anthony Diaz.

Both Connor Baksh of Obsessed Baseball and Aidan Folsom of Frazier Baseball consistently allowed base runners throughout the early innings, leaving most of the base runners stranded. 

In the bottom of the second inning, Folsom loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter. With two outs and the bases loaded, Obsessed Baseball’s leadoff hitter, Kyle Gruver, hit a high pop-up between third base and home plate. Frazier Baseball was unable to make the play on what appeared to be a routine pop-up. Gruver, however, did not run hard out of the box, and Folsom picked up the ball and threw him out, preventing any runs from scoring on the play. 

Frazier Baseball added a second run in the top of the third inning as Ryan Turner hit a line drive over the shortstop’s head to bring in Aidan Casey. In the bottom of the inning, Folsom stranded two more before settling in and completing two straight one-two-three innings to end his night. In the end, Folsom allowed two hits and walked four batters while striking out four over a scoreless five innings. 

Obsessed Baseball kept the game close over the middle innings as Sean Wodell made a spectacular diving catch in right field in the top of the fourth inning to prevent two runs from scoring. Frazier Baseball stretched their lead to 3-0 on a single by catcher Mike Gallaro in the top of the fifth, but Obsessed Baseball responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Jack Kern and Giovanni Sive led the charge in the bottom of the sixth, each hitting a double and plating a runner.

RJ Shreve replaced Connor Baksh in the top of the seventh inning, with Frazier Baseball clinging to a 3-2 lead. Baksh ended the night giving up nine hits, one walk, and three earned runs while striking out four batters in six innings of work. 

The bats came alive for Frazier Baseball in the top of the seventh as the team hit four singles and two sac flies off Shreve. Shreve allowed 10 runs (five earned), walking five batters to go along with the four hits. He was replaced by Rick Trapanese, who allowed two runs (zero earned). The 12-run inning was capped off by a line drive grand slam over the left field wall by Nick Vaughn, who ended the night with two hits and five RBIs.

The game ended after seven innings due to the mercy rule. Obsessed Baseball dropped to 0-9 on the season, while Frazier Baseball improved to 6-3.