Benjamin Turns Tables On Oxbridge, 10-0

Matt Ellmyer shut down a potent Oxbridge offense.

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The Benjamin Buccaneers enjoyed a solid start to the 2015 season last week, jumping out to a 3-1 start while competing in the Santaluces SLAM. Since then they have enjoyed a long weekend off, but there was no rust to speak of when they returned to action on Wednesday afternoon by hosting Oxbridge Academy. The Bucs were firing on all cylinders during a convincing 10-0 victory over the previously unbeaten Thunderwolves.

A young but talented team, the Buccaneers’ lineup often includes four to five freshman, and Manager Brian Kaplan credits those youngsters for much of the team’s early-season success.

“I think we came out of the gate playing really well and we’ve had a really huge impact from our freshman,” explained Kaplan. “They’re all pushing each other, really trying to make an impact and find their role on the team.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Paul Lanoce became the latest freshman to come up big for the Bucs. The left fielder had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate, scored two runs and drove in two more.

“It’s really fun but the standards are really high,” commented Lanoce about the pressure of playing varsity ball at such a young age. “So, you have to play up to what the seniors really want you to play like. I enjoy it, it’s a pleasure to be on varsity as a freshman.”

As impressive as his performance was, it all may have been for naught if starting pitcher Matt Ellmyer had not found a way to silence the previously booming bats of the Thunderwolves.

Prior to Wednesday’s game, Oxbridge had been plowing through their opponents thanks to a powerful offense that racked up 49 runs during their 3-0 start to the season. In that span, they had averaged two home runs and four doubles per game, but Ellmyer allowed them just two base hits in his five innings of work and held them scoreless to earn the win.

“Matt Ellmyer is the definition of efficiency,” said Kaplan. “I mean, he goes out there and he throws a lot of strikes. He challenges hitters, he goes right after them, and he’s got a really fast tempo.”

Oxbridge Manager Juan Bustabad noticed the same thing about Ellmyer.

“Their pitcher was aggressive,” said Bustabad. “He went after our hitters and it seemed like we hit a lot of fly balls, and in this field here you can’t hit fly balls because the ball doesn’t really carry.”

It took the junior pitcher just 34 pitches to work his way through the first four innings, facing just one over the minimum in the process.

“I feel like I came out pretty good, hit my spots and was confident with my pitches.” said Ellmyer. “Me and Logan Taplett worked well together behind the plate and the defense played really well behind me. That helped a lot.”

For the first two innings, Thunderwolves starter Teddy Benda did his best to keep pace with Ellmyer. He set the side down in order in each of his first two trips to the mound but an unfortunate, two-base outfield error to kick off the third made Parker Quinn the first Benjamin base runner of the night. A daring squeeze play by Lanoce two at-bats later brought him around to open the scoring. RBI singles by Baylen Sparks and Zach Zientarski later in the inning expanded the lead to 4-0.

Paul Lanoce is one of several freshman making an impact for the Buccaneers.

Zientarski came up big again in the fourth frame, plopping a two-run double down the left-field line to plate three of Benjamin’s four runs in the inning. After Quinn drew a walk and Zach Mazur reached on a base hit to start the inning, Lanoce recorded his second RBI of the night. He hit a ground ball to third base where it was fielded by Tarik Latchmansingh who collided with shortstop Jordan Bustabad in the process, preventing a throw and allowing Quinn to score. Latchmansingh left the game later in the inning due to an injury suffered during the play and did not return. His status was still unknown after the game.

After that play, Ellmyer walked to load the bases and set up Zientarski’s big hit.

“I had guys in scoring position,” recalled Zientarski, “Second and third with less than two out, I just tried to put something in there and drive it through the infield.”

Down 8-0 in the top of the fifth, Oxbridge made a push to get back in it. It put two runners on base together for the first time all afternoon when Zach Chivers led of with a walk and Benda followed him with a ground ball past the first baseman for a single. Ellmyer, who had struck out just one batter thus far, fanned the next two he faced and then induced a soft grounder back to the mound. Ellmyer’s ensuing throw to first pulled the first baseman Quinn of the bag, but he was still able to apply the tag on Borjas to keep the shutout intact.

The Buccaneers closed out the game by scoring two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Zientarski was hit by a pitch, Isaiah Thomas, another of Benjamin’s freshman, drove him in with a single into left field. Taplett then scored on a throwing error to run the lead to 10 and end the game via the mercy rule.

The Buccaneers will look to continue their hot start when they travel to John I. Leonard on Thursday night in a game that will pit them against Doug Magaw, the ex-Manager of their arch-nemesis, Kings Academy.

Meanwhile, Oxbridge will look to regroup as they face off against district opponent Highlands Christian.

“The key tomorrow is: How do we bounce back?” said Bustabad. “That’ll be the key.”

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