Only the Outlaws can beat the Outlaws

Michael Sebby broke a 0 - 0 tie in the 5th inning with a 335 foot blast to the wall to score Isiah Paul-Emile on the Cinco de Mayo double header featuring the Oakbrook Outlaws and Top Tier. The Outlaws traveled to the beautiful field at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Illinois. The wonderful sound system, the great weather, and the excited parents added to the already exciting moment. The Outlaws had their whole team for the first time this season as Jabari Morris returned to them at the end of his high school season. Lucas Gould was back from his trip to Israel, and Nathanial Segura returned from a dislocated finger to play against his former team.

In game one, the pitching of Justin Vivar was superb.  He pitched five scoreless innings and left the game with a one run lead.  Unfortunately for Vivar, the Outlaws did not support him with runs.  Isiah Paul-Emile could have scored the first run early but failed to tag at third base on Matthew Pizur’s fly ball to center. Last year the offensive success of the Outlaws was virtually determined by Jabari Morris’ ability to get on base at the top of the order.  In the first at bat of his return, Morris went down on three pitches.  Sub sequentially, the next three at bats were with runners on base and although Morris reached successfully each time after the strike out, he was unable to run the bases as someone was in front of him.  In all, the Outlaws left eight men on base – five in scoring position and they failed to get a timely hit with the bases juiced and one out. 

When disaster hit in the seventh inning, the Outlaws lead 2 – 1; the sun came from behind the cloud cover and Morris could not see the fly ball in center field.  Brad Huth was there to help on the second fly ball as he made the catch on an angle coming from right field. A two out single to right field off Sebby tied the game and a ground ball to Scott Cappis at short gave the appearance that the game would go to the eighth, but Cappis, after a clean catch, a shuffle once then twice, throws the ball in the dirt that the first baseman was unable to field and the winning run scores for Top Tier. 

Game two was much different.  Nathaniel Segura pitched five scoreless innings against his former team and Matthew Pizur finished them off with another two scoreless innings, including sixth inning masterful display when he struck out the side after Top Tier placed runners at third and second with no outs.  In game two, the Outlaws scored in nearly every inning and left very few men on base. When this happens, it is very tough to beat them as their pitching staff is better than it was last year.  In game two, the Outlaws won 6 – 0 giving up one earned run in 14 innings of play against a team that will do very well in tournament play this summer. 

The Outlaws will have their first major challege during the Mother Day tournament where they join the Illinois Sparks, Illinois Flames, and other powerhouse teams.