On a beautiful Sunday evening, the Alexandria Aces faced the South County Braves in a friendly scrimmage two days before the start of the 2022 regular season at Frank Mann Field.
While the Braves won 9-5, the score was not important. The scrimmage served as a test run, where both teams could experiment and figure out what did and didn’t work before opening day. Thus, everyone was relaxed. Innings were called before teams recorded three outs if they went on too long, and pitchers typically lasted one frame.
“I like this squad, I really do,” manager Chris Berset said. “We got some arms that were really good, really surprising seeing some of them. Most of these guys haven’t played in a little bit, so for them to get out here and get some swings in, get some innings in, it’s perfect. I’m very happy.”
The first three innings followed a certain pattern. Whenever the Braves went ahead, Alexandria would immediately equalize.
In the first, South County scored three runs to open the day. With two on, Garis hit a groundball right through the infield gap to put the Braves up by one. Moments later, Adam drove in a pair of runs with a double to center field.
Alexandria quickly responded, though, with three runs of its own in the bottom of the first. After a string of hits loaded the bases, the Aces got on the board after Mike Eze was hit by a pitch. Matt Wolfe’s sacrifice fly and Corey Taylor’s RBI single tied the game at three.
After a scoreless second inning, the Braves tacked on a pair of runs in the third to retake the lead, 5-3. Yet again, the Aces answered, as Taylor recorded his second RBI of the day with a single to left field. Brandon Harrity’s sacrifice fly with the bases loaded then scored the tying run.
Deadlocked at five, the fourth saw South County score three more, but Alexandria didn’t respond this time. By the fifth, the Aces’ lineup started to change, and both offenses went quiet. The next run wasn’t scored until the seventh, when the Braves extended their lead to 9-5, which would be the final score.
“I haven’t seen any of these boys, so being able to put them out there and see what they got … I’m very happy,” manager Chris Berset said after the game. “I think we’re going to have a pretty good, solid season. I know these boys work hard, and they play hard, which is all you can ask for in the summer season.”
The Aces begin their 2022 campaign on June 7 at Frank Mann Field against the Olney Cropdusters, who are making their debut in the Cal Ripken League. First pitch is at 6:30.