The Patriot Blue American Legion baseball team, comprised entirely of Heritage High School ballplayers, took on the Wolverines last Thursday afternoon. Patriot Blue scored single runs in the first and second innings, but Antioch-Deer Valley continued to hit the ball well and capitalize on several defensive miscues to come from behind and win the game 6-2.

Wolverine starter Jordan Thull faced just five batters, struggling mightily to find the strike zone. He walked the first two batters of the game on eight straight pitches, struck out No. 3 hitter Colton Robinson on three straight pitches, then walked cleanup batter Chad Radelich on six pitches.

Timothy Maldonado came on in relief of Thull with the bases juiced and nobody out, having inherited a 1-0 count to Patriot Blue first baseman Kevin Harrity. After Maldonado got Harrity to ground into a fielder's choice at home plate, Patriot Blue capitalized on the three Thull walks and some shaky defense by the Wolverines, scoring on a bobbled grounder by shortstop Christopher Riel to take a 1-0 lead.

The Wolverines got that run right back in the bottom of the first thanks to back-to-back-to-back singles. Centerfielder Martell Esteenm led things off with a sharp single back up the middle and scored after a pair of beautiful bunt singles by Riel and Chris Carvajal.

Right fielder Stephen Zeiler led off the second inning with a walk, then stole second base, setting up a go-ahead RBI single by starting pitcher Sean Packard.

Packard made the 2-1 Patriot Blue lead hold up until the third inning, when Antioch-Deer Valley pulled ahead for good. A leadoff walk, followed by an Esteenm single into left field with a throwing error on the play that allowed both runners to advance, set the table for Riel.

The incoming senior made up for his fielding error in the first inning with a bomb deep to right field that went for a ground-rule double and two RBIs, and gave the Wolverines a 3-2 lead.

Three Patriot Blue errors led to three insurance runs for the Wolverines, one in the fourth and two more in the sixth, and Carvajal threw a scoreless seventh inning to pick up the save.

Packard pitched a strong game for Patriot Blue, despite what a quick glance at his line might suggest. He allowed eight hits, but just three runs and only two earned. He also struck out three versus only two walks, and limiting the Wolverines to just one extra-base hit. Packard also had a fine day at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.

Second baseman Kris Hagar doubled down the right field line in the fourth and Connor Applegate legged out an infield single in the seventh inning, as Patriot Blue's was limited to just three hits in the game.