Knights Advance Again! Beat East Paulding Raiders 12-5

Schubie had a huge tournament including 2 Doubles and
3 RBI's in the Win over the East Paulding Raiders.

This weekend was a bit of a grind for the Marietta Knights at the East Carrollton Sports Complex. They went 0-2 in pool play. It wasn't bad baseball, but it wasn't great and they didn't seem to get a single break. They played a very good Carrollton Storm team tough and trailed 5-3 after 5. The Storm got their bats going and blew it open with 6 runs in the 6th to make it an ugly 11-3 final. The lone highlight for the Knights was Luke Martin's continued dominance on the mound. Luke threw 2 shutout innings with a strikeout.


The second game wasn't much better as the Knights fell to the Georgia Octane 8-1. The Knights hit
the ball hard throughout the game, but it was always right at the defense and the Octane's defense didn't make any mistakes. This led to a humorous and dubious Knights' first. The Cherokee Black was signed up for the tournament but didn't show up. Instead of calling it a 4 team pool, USSSA ruled that it remained a 5 team pool and that the Black forfeited their 2 games. By rule, that meant the black lost each game 7-0 (1 run per inning of a regulation game). Now the Knights and the Black were both 0-2 in the pool with the tie breaker going to fewest runs allowed. The Knights gave up 8.5 runs per game, while the Black only "gave up" 7. Yes, the Knights finished 5th in the pool behind the 4th place team that never even showed up at the park. This got a lot of laughs around the cages Sunday morning, but the Knights committed to just playing hard against whomever the USSSA told them to play.

George Finishes Last in the Knights Rain Delay Dance Off

That turned out to be the East Paulding Raiders. Marietta made it clear they wouldn't be the butt of the joke for long. Jackson Tysinger opened the game with a single. He stole second and then advanced to 3rd and scored on ground balls from Luke and Gil Hastings to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. Trailing 3-1 in the 2nd, Mason Doyle walked and stole 2B. Hunter Williamson brought Mason home on a single to CF and scored on a huge double from Austin Hansell that tied the game. Garrett Wells singled to push Austin to 3B and a balk brought Austin home and gave the Knights a 4-3 lead. Tied 4-4 with 2 outs in the 3rd, Mason got things started again when he reached on an error and stole 2B and 3B. Hunter hit a hot shot that the Raiders' SS couldn't handle and Mason scored to retake the lead 5-4. East Paulding answered again and tied it at 5 in the bottom of the 3rd.

The Knights gave the ball to Austin Hansell and he was awesome. Austin closed out the game with 4 shutout innings and 4 strikeouts. At one point Austin retired 8 straight Raiders and he twice stranded runners at 2B and 3B. While Austin was shutting down East Paulding, the fired up Knights offense was putting the game on ice with 5 runs over the final 2 innings to secure the 11-5 bracket victory. Austin Schubert was the offensive hero with 2 doubles and 3 RBI's. Gil Hastings, Hunter and Austin also had 2 hits and Gil scored twice, Hunter had 2 RBI's and Austin had a double. Jackson closed out the game defensively by making 2 straight great catches in CF for the final 2 outs of the game. It was huge bracket win for the Knights to advance them into the Semi finals of the Silver Bracket.

Presley Field holds a Raider close to 1B.

The win matched the Knights up with the West Georgia Rebels who had just knocked off the East Marietta Spikes. The semi final was an epic battle the saw several lead changes and was locked in a 7-7 tie with 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th. A 2 out, 3 run double gave the Rebels a 10-7 lead that the Knights couldn't match. It was a thrilling game and the boys were down after the final out. But they recognized that they'd played in a thriller and played some very good baseball to finish a strong day. It was a good day and the Knights once again improved and grew as a baseball team. Luke threw another 1 2/3 scoreless innings to finish the weekend unscored upon. Luke also went 2 for 4 with a double, 2 RBI's and 2 runs. Gil, Schubie, Hunter and Presley also each had 2 hits and an RBI.

Knights Closeout Season Series with the Spikes with 11-7 win

The Marietta Knights relax in the Larry Bell grandstand after a big 11-7 victory

The Marietta Knights closed out their season series with the East Marietta Spikes with one of their most complete games of the year in an 11-7 victory on Monday at Larry Bell Park.

The teams were tied 0-0 after 1. Mason Doyle led off the 2nd with a single and then stole 2nd and 3rd and took home on a passed ball to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. Hunter Williamson started on the mound for the Knights and threw 2 solid innings only allowing 1 unearned run. The Knights preserved a 1-1 tie in the 2nd with the first of 2 Defensive Plays of the Game. With 1 out, 2 Spikes reached on errors and were on 2nd and 3rd when one of their teammates hit a flyball to LF. Austin Schubert made the catch in LF for the 2nd out and fired towards the plate. The runner on 2nd tagged and headed for 3rd on the throw, but Hunter cut the throw and fired to Austin Hansell at 3B who tagged out the runner to end the inning.

As so often happens, the big defensive play carried over and got the Knights' bats going. George Krivsky continued his power hitting tear with a 2 run double. Mason singled again and came home on an RBI single by Schubie to give the Knights a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the 3rd the Spikes cut the lead to 4-2 and had the bases loaded with 1 out when the Knights delivered the 2nd Defensive Play of the Game. Luke Martin took the mound with the bases load and got a hot comebacker that he grabbed and quickly threw to Will Nelson at the plate for one and Will turned and fired to Presley Field at 1B  to complete the 1-2-3 double play and end the inning.

Again the excitement carried to the Knights' at bat. Austin Hansell led off with a single and scored on Will's single. Jackson Tysinger walked and Luke reached on an error to load the bases. George grounded to 2nd and the Spikes got the out at 2nd, but George beat the double play attempt allowing Will and Jackson to score and push the Knights lead to 7-2.

Luke shutdown the Spikes 3 up/3 down in the 5th and the Knights put it out of reach in the 6th. Hunter, Schubie, Garrett Wells and Will each got hits as the Knights put up 4 more and led 11-2. The Spikes fought back hard and started scoring in the 6th but the Knights stayed calm and concentrated on getting outs. With the score 11-7, Hunter fielded a grounder at 2nd and threw on to Presley for the final out. It was the 7th time this season Hunter closed out a win with a putout or assist and he closed one out offensively with a run rule walk off homer.

There's nothing more fun than watching this team play to their potential and they did it Monday night in beating a very good East Marietta Spikes team. The Knights return to USSSA action this weekend in Carrollton, Georgia.

Errors Doom Knights in 10-9 loss to East Marietta Spikes

The Marietta Knights defense that has been so strong for weeks finally had an off night. Somehow they kept the game close but their 7 errors as well as a few base running blunders prevented a win and the Spikes held on 10-9.

The Knights out hit the Spikes 12 to 9. Mason Doyle hit a triple and laid down a gorgeous bunt down the 3B line for a hit. Gil Hastings hit a 2 run triple and walked 3 times. Garrett Wells and Will Nelson each had 2 hits and scored twice. Austin Schubert struck out 3 in 2 innings of work.

Knights Edge Past Scrappy East Marietta Rattlers 11-5 to Complete Season Series Sweep

Luke Martin pitched 2 3 up/3 down innings
with 2 K's and hit a triple and scored twice.

The Marietta Knights pulled away late for an 11-5 win and season series sweep over the much improved East Marietta Rattlers Tuesday night at Larry Bell Park. Marietta had to overcome a great game by the Rattlers #7 who made several big league plays in the field including twice throwing out Knights batters from deep behind 3B. #7 also went 2 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI's. Luckily the Knights found enough offense in the 1st and 5th to take the win.

Luke Martin started on the mound and threw 2 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts. The Knights took a 1-0 lead after 1 without a hit thanks to the wheels of Mason Doyle. Mason walked, went to 3rd on a ground out to 2nd and scored on a ground out to 1B. Marietta's big bats got going in the second. Luke bombed a triple to LCF. Hunter singled him in and scored on a double by Austin Schubert. Presley Field singled next and then Garrett Wells singled in Schubie. Presley scored on an error and George Krivsky smashed a double to CF that scored Garrett and gave the Knights a 6-0 lead. The Knights added 1 in the 3rd for a 7-0 lead but were shut out in the 4th.

Meanwhile the Rattlers manufactured a run in the 4th and took advantage of several walks and the big 2 run double by #7 to claw back into the game. At 7-5 it was suddenly a dog fight. Mason led off the 5th with a single and promptly stole 2nd and 3rd and came home when Luke reached on an error. George and Gil walked and all 3 guys took home on wild pitches to close out the win at 11-5. It was a great test for the Knights and they answered by taking care of business. The Knights players and staff were impressed with the great improvement made by the Rattlers over the course of the season.

Knights Split with Newnan Taters, Advance to Semifinals for 2nd Week in a Row.

Austin Hansell had 5 RBI's in the Knights 3 games

The Marietta Knights turned a close game against the Newnan Taters into a blowout for their 3rd straight win and a spot in the USSSA NIT Semifinals at Mt. Tabor Park in Dallas, Georgia. Newnan took an early 2-0 lead after the first. But in the 2nd, Mason Doyle singled to start a rally. After walks to Luke Martin and Presley Field loaded the bases, Mason and Luke both scored on wild pitches to tie the game. Will Nelson grounded out behind the runners to score Presley and give Marietta a 3-2 lead.

After a 2 base error, Newnan tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 2nd and shut the Knights out in the 3rd. Hunter Williamson came on to pitch in the bottom of the 3rd and threw a much needed shutout inning with a strikeout and pop outs to C Austin Schubert and SS Mason Doyle. The game went to the 4th knotted at 3-3.

In the top of the 4th, the Knights offense absolutely exploded. Luke Martin started the onslaught with a single. Schubie, Presley, Hunter and Will made it 5 straight singles and the Knights held a 6-3 lead. With 1 out, George Krivsky singled and Gil Hastings walked. Austin Hansell hit a 2 RBI single and Mason reached on a error by the RF that scored 2 more runs and the Knights held a commanding 10-3 lead. Luke came up again and hit his second single of the inning, this time bringing home a run. Schubie walked this time around, but Presley and Hunter each added RBI hits. 2 more runs scored on a fielder's choice and an error and the stunned crowd looked up to find Marietta leading 15-3.



Hunter threw 6 2/3 innings without an earned run in 2
appearances and had 4 hits and 3 RBI's in the tourney 

Presley came on to pitch in the 4th and got a groundout to Hunter at 2nd base. The next out came on the Defensive Play of the Game with a looping line drive down the 3B line. 3rd baseman Luke Martin laid out and made a beautiful diving catch with the ball just an inch from the ground. With a runner on 3rd, Presley got another slow grounder to Hunter at 2nd that he threw on to Gil at first to seal the run rule victory.

The win put the Knights into the Semifinals for the 2nd week in a row. The 12 runs scored in the 4th set a franchise record for most runs scored in an inning. Austin, Hunter and Will each had 2 RBI's for the Knights and George, Luke, Presley and Hunter each had 2 hits in the game.

After a win over 5 Tool Baseball, the Taters earned a rematch with the Knights in the semifinal. The Knights led most of the game and Hunter threw a great game on the mound going 5 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run. But errors proved to be the Knights undoing and Newnan took the lead with 3 runs in the 6th and held the Knights scoreless in the bottom of the inning to advance to the Finals with a 7-6 win. George was 3 for 3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored, Will was 2 for 3, Austin had 2 RBI's and Mason added a triple.

Presley Field is having a monster season at 1B and threw
a shutout inning to close out the win against Newnan

Hastings Pitches Knights past South Paulding Spartans

Gil struck out 4 in 5 2/3 for the win and singled and scored a run.

Gil Hastings pitched a gem on Saturday in his longest outing of the season as the Knights opened the
USSSA NIT in Dallas with 7-4 win over the South Paulding Spartans. Gil went 5 2/3 innings with 4 strikeouts and only allowed 1 earned run. Jackson Tysinger led the offense going 2 for 4 with a double, 2 RBI's and a run scored.

The Knights took the lead in the 2nd after Austin Hansell led off with a single. George Krivsky ripped a triple to the fence in RCF that scored Austin all the way from first. Luke Martin followed up with a line drive single to left that brought home George and gave the Knights a 2-0 lead. Jackson led off the 3rd with a single and stole 2nd and 3rd allowing him to score on a 2 out single by Austin to push the lead to 3-0.




George Krivsky blasted an RBI Triple.

Luke led off the 4th with a double and went to 3rd on a single by Austin Schubert and Presley Field walked to load the bases. On an 0-2 count, Hunter Williamson choked up and put the ball in play that scored Luke and pushed Presley and Schubie to 2nd and 3rd as Hunter was thrown out at 1st. After a pop out, Jackson smashed a 2 out, 2 run double to left field. The Knights lead was now 6-0. Gil singled in the 5th, stole 2nd and scored on an error to score the final Knights run and give the Knights a 7-0 lead.

At that point, the boys started taking the win for granted and a triple and 3 straight errors suddenly closed the gap to 7-4. With time expired in the 6th, a walk, a single and another error loaded the bases for the Spartans with one out. Schubie came on to try to save it for the Knights. On his fourth pitch, the Spartans cleanup hitter hit a sky high flyball between 2nd and SS. The ump immediately called the Infield Fly rule and the batter was out. The ball dropped causing the runner on first to break for second even though he didn't have to. Hunter picked up the ball and threw to Presley at first who made the tag as the runner bowled over Presley at 1B for a wild double play to end the game.

It was a beautiful weekend at Mt. Tabor Park in Dallas and, as always, the Marietta Knights brought the prettiest fan club

Knights Cruise Past Rattlers 15-2

Mason got things started with an RBI triple to straight away CF

Coach Steven Hansell guided the Knights to a 15-2 victory over the East Marietta Rattlers at Larry Bell Park. Mason Doyle got things started with a big RBI triple and George Krivsky, Presley Field and Gil Hastings were practically unhittable as the Knights cruised to the win.

Gil doubled and scored 3 times and Austin Hansell singled and scored 3 times. Austin Schubert knocked in 3 RBI's and Presley Field and Hunter Williamson added 2 RBI's each. Presley was 3 for 3 on the night with a triple and George and Hunter had 2 hits apiece.


George struck out the side in his inning on the mound, Presley struck out 3 in 2 innings and Gil struck out 2 in the final inning to close out the win. In the Defensive Play of the Game, Hunter caught a foul flyball against the Rattlers dugout from his 1B position for the final out of the game.

Gil had a big game with 3 runs scored and he struck out 2.

It was a great game for the Knights as they went out and simply took care of business offensively,
defensively and on the mound. Special thanks to Coach Steven for a great job at the helm and to Coach Robert for allowing Coach Rob to enjoy the game via the magic of Iscorecast.