This Week in the USPBL – Episode 2

May 30th, 2024

ROCHESTER, Mich. – It was a great Memorial Day Celebration this past weekend at Jimmy John’s Field. Some of the top prospects in the league are starting to shine.

On Friday night, Greg Loukinen would start on the mound for the Beavers, leading the USPBL in strikeouts and looking to secure his second win of the season, but the Mammoths had other plans. Westside found their offense in the middle of the game, starting with an Anthony Skarkas triple to centerfield in the fourth. Player of the week, Dre Wiliams-Nelson, went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.

Beavers Christian Ortega hit a 356-foot home run to left field, which was his first home run of the season. Bramdon Perez recorded a double in the eighth inning to attempt a comeback, but Alex Garbacik would secure the victory with an RBI double.

In game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Eastside Diamond Hoppers won in dramatic fashion, with a walk-off victory against the Unicorns. Noah Marcoux was player of the game, with one run scored, one hit and two walks. Delmuss Russ picked up the win, pitching 1.0 inning out of the bullpen. He had no hits, one run and struck out two.

Game two of the doubleheader was just as exciting! The Unicorns scored six runs on the top of the sixth inning, rallying late to win. Led by Sherman Martin III, who doubled to lead off the inning, the Unicorns rally began. Jared Weber capped the inning with a bases clearing double. Weber would later score himself. 

Pitcher of the week Pierce Banks threw a no-hitter heading into the sixth inning, but eventually gave up a double. Banks tossed 5.0 innings, striking out seven, allowing two hits and three runs and walking only one.