RAMIL, TURK LEAD KNIGHTS PAST BLAZERS

They might have been playing at Little Fenway, but nothing was miniature about the impact of Dominik Ramil, who was once again the straw that stirred the drink for the Fort Lauderdale Knights. The second baseman led off the game with a walk, then would be brought around to score after the Knights posted runners on 2nd and 3rd. Tim Jean hit a solid grounder hard to second, which looked as if it was going to be easy pickings for the Blazers infielder Sam Faith, but the ball careened off a divot in the dirt and zipped through his wickets and into right field, scoring a run. The play was very Buckner esk, watching the ball whizz past an infielder in perfect position, with his glove low to the ground.

The high energy infielder that he is, Ramil made a dazzling play in the 3rd inning, ranging to his left on the run going behind the bag at 2nd to cut off a would be base hit up the middle, making a backhand snag and threw a strike on a jump throw to Tim Jean at 1st base for the put-out. He later added an RBI on a groundout in the 7th inning with bases loaded, once again finding himself in the thick of the action. Ramil is often in complete control of the strikezone, and when he’s locked in at the plate, how he goes often determines how the offense goes. He was credited with 2 runs scored and one RBI. Tonight, he led the opening rally, but a few teammates on this night would share the spotlight.

Justin Turk, the speedy

centerfielder, would rise to

the occasion of defending

with the sword and the

shield for the Knights in the

1st and 4th innings. Turk

wrapped an RBI single to

center in that opening salvo

in the first, taking the pitch

right back from where it

came and drove in the 2nd

run of the inning. He was

just getting started

however.

In the 4th inning, the Knights outfielder hit a slow chopper backto the mound. There was just one problem for the Blazers right handed pitcher Jake Dannenburg who fielded the ball. He had gravely miscalculated Turk’s greatest asset; his speed. When the Blazers pitcher picked up the ball, he rushed the throw to first baseman Jake Alfaro. His throw arrived late, and it sailed on by the Blazers first baseman, allowing Turk an extra base. Turk beat the throw for the infield single on a ground ball that was maybe hit 40 feet in front of home plate. “He makes things happen with his feet. I may be partial to [Justin] because I like the way he plays his game [but] he was able to steal a couple bases and create opportunities for us” Coach Martin said after the Knights concluded the evening at Little Fenway with a 10–2 victory.

Turk was hardly finished. After taking 2nd and forcing an errantthrow in that 4th inning, Turk broke for third base on the very next pitcher. The Boca Raton Blazers catcher Daniel Labrador’s

throw was a howitzer, but his throw was also slightly up the third base line — and behind his third baseman, who leaped in vain as the ball passed between his glove and Turk’s head first

dive. The ball skittered down the left field line, allowing Turk to come home for the 4th Knights run of the game. Justin Turk frankly could’ve waltzed home. He drove himself in using his sprinters speed and ability to make even the best fielders tryingto tag him out appear slow. That’s the mark of a good player.

With runners in scoring position in the Knights half the 8th, up 4- 0, they put the game away. Gino Bellatoni, who had subbed in for Kristian Amaro in the 7th inning, in his first at bat of the game, slugged a 2 run double to right that looked as if it might carry out of the ballpark. Instead, it short-hopped the right field fence and 2 runs crossed the plate. The Knights had scored half a dozen runs. They would not look back. 8 walks would help their cause from the Blazers pitching staff, specifically from Steve Broko in his third inning of relief. He was out of gas by the time the next two runs would come across against him, both on bases loaded walks. In the shadow of the 37 foot green monster that seemingly looms over a pitcher’s shoulder, the Knights in total grabbed 6 runs between the 8th and 9th innings; 3 in each inning respectively as the team got back on track after their three game losing streak.

Left fielder Ryland Brown also notched a hit, singling with runners on the corners in the 9th, to put the Knights into double digits for 2nd time this season, first time since opening nigh vs the Pokers in which the offense scored 16 runs. Brown also made the final out in front of the Green Monster in left field, and the replica ballpark helped the Knights replicate their offensive approach and relentless attack since Opening Night. How fitting.

Other notables: Kristian Amaro threw a runner out trying to steal second in the 5th inning.

Brad Skinner. #11 the sidearm lefty fired 3 scoreless, hitless innings. The pitching staff altogether held the Blazers to 2 runs on 4 hits.