URA Rookie League action game of the week By Dave Conard Sports Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com
Iron Pigs Connor Ladd reacts to scoring the tying run in the bottom of the sixth
EAST MARLBOROUGH—Sometimes it takes extreme circumstances for people to get a chance to see a players true meta lno matter what age said player may be.
Such was the case in this weekend’s Rookie League “Battle Royale” between the Iron Pigs and the Blue Claws, as the Blue Claws rallied in the bottom half of the sixth inning to claim a 4-3 win on a walk off single by Sam Klingenberg, who responded to the pressure situation with flying colors.
Fueled by a great pitching effort early on by right-hander Tucker Opdahl, the Iron Pigs remained in striking distance of the Claws through the first four frames, and as they came to bat in the visitor’s half of the sixth inning, the Iron Pigs needed one run to tie.
Blue Claws righty Jack Potts got things started in the home sixth, by rapping a single, Potts later scored the game winner
After two up two down and the Pigs clinging to their final hope, Connor Ladd dug in at the plate and ripped a two-out single, then promptly stole second and third base setting the stage for Christopher Ash.
South paw Sam Klingenberg drives in the winning run with a walk off single
After waiting out his perfect pitch, Ash drilled a ball back up the middles, scoring Ladd which knotted the tilt at three apiece as the home team came to bat.
Jack Potts (2-for-3 on the day) led off the top of the sixth for the Blue Claws with a shot down the third base line, then did his best Shane Victorino impression stealing second then advancing to third on a fielder’s choice.
With one strike on him, left- hander Sam Kilngenberg poked a ball through the hole between first and second allowing Potts to ramble home with the game winning run.
Iron Pigs 0 2 0 0 0 1 -3
Blue Claws 0 1 2 0 0 1 -4
Iron Pigs hurler Tucker Opdahl battled for three innings keeping his squad in the thick of it.
