On a night where the top two finishers in the MLB Draft League First Half season squared off, it would be the first half champion Cutters downing the Thunder in emphatic fashion with 16 hits in the victory.

“We swung the bat and had pretty good pitching overall,” discussed Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “And if you watch us, we are still running hard, still hustling, and we carried that right over from the first half.”

After a scoreless first inning, the Crosscutters would put pressure at the plate against Trenton starter Hayden Lewis, loading the bases on three straight singles from James McCoy, Ehi Okoojie, and Owen Prince. Attempting to sacrifice a run for two outs on a Matthew Williams grounder, Trenton second baseman Zev Moore would misplay a throw to first after getting the forceout at second. The ensuing error would lead to two runs coming across for an early Crosscutter lead.

The Cutters would load the bases later on in the frame, juicing them up with two outs on back to back singles from Sam DeCarlo and Chris Stanfield. The Cutters would continue the carousal at-bat later with Nicholas Romano, who was struck by a pitch to make it 3-0.

Owen Prince of the Crosscutters celebrates after scoring in the 2nd inning against Trenton at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The rally would complete itself in fortunate fashion at-bat later. With three hole hitter Brodey Acres at the plate, the right handed batter would slap a routine grounder to third, only for the ball to take a wicked deflection off the lip of the infield grass over the head of the third baseman for a single that brought in two more for a 5-0 score after two.

A pair of extra base hits would extend Williamsport’s lead in the third inning. With one out, center fielder Owen Prince uncorked a drive to left that one hopped off the wall for a sliding triple. Not to be outdone, Matthew Williams would net his second RBI of the game in similar fashion when he one hopped a drive off the right field wall for a double that brought in Prince.

Thunder starter Hayden Lewis’s night would not get any easier, conceding two runners in scoring position in the fourth off a Nicholas Romano single and Brodey Acres double before being relieved. Lewis would end up conceding eight runs on his debut with 10 hits and two strikeouts.

The latter two runs on Lewis’s docket would score with the starter in the dugout. After an intentional walk to James McCoy loaded the bases, Ehi Okojie would make that decision the wrong one when he drove a two run double down the left field line. The Cutters would make it 9-0 a batter later on an Owen Prince groundout that scored McCoy.

Looking to add pop for the visitors, Trenton outfielder Cy Turner would burst the goose egg to start the fifth with a deep drive that cleared the right field wall. Turner’s solo shot was his first home run on debut with Trenton and his 13th of the calendar year.

Sam DeCarlo of the Crosscutters singles during the second inning against Trenton at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Williamsport starter Evan Grimes would work through the rest of the fifth before being relieved. In his third start of the season and first of the second half, the left hander would concede one run on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.

After two outs started the bottom of the sixth inning, Williamsport would again load the bases on three straight walks to Ehi Okojie, Owen Prince, and Matthew Williams. Jake Zitella would be the one that sent the Cutters into double figures a batter later, smacking an RBI single up the middle for a 10-1 ballgame.

A Thunder pitching change wouldn’t stop the damage, as Sam DeCarlo continued the rally with a blooper two run single to right field that scored Prince and Williams.

A second solo shot home run would add another mark for Trenton courtesy of AJ Swader, who began the eighth inning with a 351 foot shot that narrowly stayed fair down the right field line. Overall, of the last three runs conceded by Williamsport pitching, all three have come from solo shot home runs.

The win moved Williamsport to 2-1 in the second half season and 22-8 overall. The tally also marks Williamsport’s first win against the Thunder this season after having been swept at Trenton in early June.

Jake Zitella of the Crosscutters is tagged out to end the bottom of the 3rd inning by Dean O’Neill of Trenton at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“Ya know, they all field good,” joked Thomas. “Their coach is a good guy and a good friend. Ya know he told me at home late tonight ‘I’ve never seen a runaway train like you had at the end of the first half.”

The Cutters will look to make it three in a row Saturday night, with Williamsport hosting the Thunder at 6:35 p.m. at Bowman Field.

Chris Stanfield of the Crosscutters celebrates with team mates after he scored in the 2nd inning on a single by Brodey Acres against Trenton at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Crosscutters celebrate by pointing to Brodey Acres after he hit an RBI single in the 2nd inning that scored Chris Stanfield against Trenton at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Chris Stanfield of the Crosscutters celebrates getting a single in the second inning against Trenton at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Chris Stanfield of the Crosscutters singles in the second inning against Trenton at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Owen Prince of the Crosscutters singles as James McCoy slides safely into third base (in background) against Trenton during the second inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Starting pitcher Evan Grimes of the Crosscutters throws in the first inning against Trenton at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette