The Miramar Canes 9U won their 4^th in a row in a battle against Renteria Academy 9U in a 7 - 4 game.  The Renteria Academy entered their first game of the season against the undefeated Miramar Canes 9U at Norman Jean Reach Park Thursday evening.  The game began with the Canes bringing their ace pitcher Kevin Mc Cready to the mound whom after walking the first batter struck out two but not before Renteria’s Yadel Abreu scored in a sacrifice fly by David Vasquez.   The Canes came to the plate the same first inning with Charles “Trey” Taliaferro getting a quick hit to reach first, followed by a monster triple by Jordan “JP” Mercado that drove Tre in for their first score.  With JP at third the Canes Slugger Jonathan Diaz approached the plate and soon reached a full count. The full count was all that was needed by Jonathan who got the pitch he was looking for and with his sweet swing hit a base clearing Home Run to give the Canes another two runs. Team Renteria’s pitcher settled down and struck out the next two batters and pitched the next batter into an inning ending fielder’s choice. 

 

The Canes returned to the plate in the second inning with Kevin Mc Cready reaching on an error. The following two batters were stopped by Renteria’s defense although the Canes Charles “Tre” Taliaferro brought Mc Cready in for a score with laser shot to left field. The Canes scoring threat unexpectedly ended when Tre was gunned down attempting to reach third by Renteria’s outfield.  The second inning brought more action for team Renteria with two quick scores from Sean Dieppa and Stephen Garcia on errors by the Canes defense.  The Canes defense settled down and the inning ended for team Renteria.  

 

The scoring in the third inning dried up for the Canes with great pitching and defense from the Renteria squad who; although faced a single by Jonathan Diaz; shut down the rest of the Canes sluggers with solid defensive play.  The inning was no different for team Renteria with continued great pitching from the Canes Kevin Mc Cready and a defense that stopped their erroring ways leaving them scoreless and the games still in the Canes hands to win. 

 

The Canes fourth inning started with the middle of the line up and a quick score after Kevin Rodriguez single (2^nd of the game) that lead to a score through an error by Renteria’s defense. The fourth inning for Renteria Academy was fruitless with the cannon arm of the Canes Al Ortiz who faced four batters striking out three with the only batter reaching on an error. 

 

The fifth inning for the Canes began with their top f the order coming to the plate.  Their first batter (Trey Taliaferro) stroked another laser shot to left field although another exceptional defensive play by Renteria’s outfield took a great at bat from the Canes leadoff hitter.  Unfortunately for team Renteria the following two batters; Jordan “JP” Mercado and Jonathan Diaz; hit back to back triples bring in Mercado.  Then came Al Ortiz who drove in Diaz on a sacrifice before the final out came on a well-hit fly ball by the Canes Lucas Farno ending the Canes at bat. 

Team Renteria came to the plate trailing 7 to 3 and still facing the Canes cannon arm of Al Ortiz.   “Big Al” tore through the first batter with a strike out but lost a tough battle with their second batter (Anthony Paulino) who reached on a full count walk.  Big Al settled down and struck out the next better but not before Paulino scored on a well hit single by Renteria’s Michael Diaz.  After another walk by Big Al, the Canes then decided to bring in their secret pitching weapon Charles “Trey” Taliaferro who closed the inning with a solid pitching performance and strike of the top of the order ending the game,  Canes would win 7 to 4.