Express Notes:
The NOLL AAA Express fell to the host SOLL AAA Bulls on Saturday morning 6-3, in a game dominated early by Express pitcher Tyler J and dominated late by Bulls pitcher Jack H. In the end, the difference was that the Toros were able to convert on their chances with runners on base, while the Locomotives could not; the Express left six runners on base over the last three innings.

Tyler J. was the story early on, as the Diesels starter kept the Bulls in check through the first three innings. Tyler retired the first five Bulls he faced and strike out four in all. He needed just 30 pitches to get through the first three frames, throwing 23 of them for strikes. The only hit he gave up was an infield ground ball that third baseman Cole E. could not quite get out of his glove in time to make the throw.

Over the last two games, Tyler has thrown five straight shut-out innings and has allowed just two base-runners.

Tyler got a lot of help from his defense. On the first pitch of the game, catcher Sam W-S made a nice catch on a pop-up bunt. In the second, Tyler got help from right fielder John S., who caught a towering fly ball off the bat of Aiden, and Cole who made a nice catch behind third base on a foul ball off the bat of Jack H. In the third, second baseman Kiran K dug out a hard hit ball by Eli and made the throw to get the out at first.

While Tyler was holding the Bulls scoreless, the Express got on the board in top of the second. A lead-off single by Tyler, followed by walks to Liam D. and Sommers D-N, loaded the bases. With two outs, John S lined a sharp single down the left field line, scoring Tyler for the 1-0 lead.

The Express added two more in the third. With one out, Cole E lined a sharp ground ball to center field, scoring Aidan D and Alex N. to make it 3-0, Locomotives. Cole went two-for-three on the day, with two RBI.

The Bulls tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth on RBI singles by Aiden and Marco off of the Freight Train's Aiden D. The damage could have been worse, but Sam W-S came on in relief and struck out the last two Bulls with the bases loaded.

In top of the fifth, the Express threatened to re-take the lead, loading the bases before Jack H retired Liam D on a comebacker to the mound.

The Bulls took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, getting a two-run bases-loaded double from Aiden. After allowing three runs, the Express's defense tightened up retiring the Bulls on an infield pop up and a fly-out to deep center field.

Trailing 6-3 going into the top of the sixth, the Express put lead-off batter Sommers D-N on base on a walk but could not mount a comeback, as the Bulls got two strike-outs to go with a caught-stealing to end the game. In all, the Bulls' Jack H. allowed seven base runners but did not surrender a run over three frames, aided by six strike-outs.

'They are a very good team,' said Coach Brook after the game, 'but I thought we played very well and hung with them all the way. We just didn't get the timely hits we needed. We had two on in the fourth, the bases loaded in the fifth, and runners on in the sixth - we just couldn't convert. We're on to the Timber-Rattlers tomorrow!'