EAGLE i: Yankees knock off Red Sox for second win

Brian Kocak / Eagle i

Jay Vanderjagt readies to deliver pitcher in Marco Optimist ball game. Vanderjagt and other pitchers tossed from a tenporary mound as the Winterberry Park field only has a softball mound and not at the same distance as used for the baseball league.

Brian Kocak / Eagle i

Yankees standouts, from left, Howard Jordan, Brian Kocak and Jay Vanderjagt, helped their team to a win in the Optimist baseball league.

Here are Minor Division results in the Marco Island Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth Baseball League.

Yankees, 16, Red Sox 11

The Yankees and Red Sox provided a great show for their fans.

The Yankees and Red sox were scoreless in the first inning, with good pitching, but in the second inning Howie Jordan got things started for the Yankees with his second home run of the season. Bon Deese scored next on a clutch RBI hit by Gianna Rose to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. The Red Sox got one run back in the second to make it 2-1.

In the third inning Jay Vanderjagt, Brian Kocak, Zack West and Tanner Prange all hit singles to get on base. After two walks, home runs by Bon Deese and Sam Rafferty rallied the Yankees to a 9-1 lead. In the bottom of the Inning the Red Sox responded with a rally of its own to cut the Yankees lead to 9-8. In the fifth the Yankees added to their lead with Zack West, Colton Couture, Jay Vanderjagt, Brian Kocak, Tanner Prange, Howie Jordan, and Bon Deese all scoring to give the Yankees its 16 runs.

The Red Sox responded with three more runs, but came up short to bring the game to a final score: of Yankees 16, Red Sox 11. It was a very competitive game and there was a lot of action. We can see improvement in the players with each practice and each game played. We look forward to our next battle with the Red Sox.

The coach of the Red Sox did not provide information.

Estero came to Marco for a double header. It downed the Marco Island Royals, 14-4 and the Marco Island Cardinals, 16-8. No further information was reported.

Rookie league games

Braves, 11, Marlins, 2

Braves Coach Howard Jordan said the Braves toppled the Marlins, 11-2, in a windy Saturday afternoon game. Oliver Wasem belted his first home run of the season to put the Braves on top 1-0. The game remained close for the first four innings, with great defensive plays by Avery Anderson and Billy McMann of the Marlins. In the fourth inning the Braves broke the game open. Bryce Ehlen, Michael LaCava and Logan Fisher each had three hits. The player of the game was Hunter Krohn who smacked two three-run home runs. Zachary Hurdis homered for the Marlins as they tried to rally in the bottom of the fifth.

Braves, 8, Rays 2

The Braves topped the Rays, 8-2, with six hits in the bottom of the first inning, leading to four early runs. Max Ruffat, Cameron Foss and Bryce Ehlen led the Braves with two hits each. Mark Lopez broke open the game with a two-run double in the fourth. The Rays were led offensively by Zeke Morris and Dustin Noel. Desiree Noel made several outstanding plays at second base for the Rays.

No other Rookie League games were reported.