Express Notes:
Defense was the difference on Sunday morning at Back Caldecott, as the NOLL AAA Express fell to the host SOLL AAA Dragons 9-3.

Despite hitting the ball hard all game, the Express could not mount an offensive charge against the Dragons as the home team recorded seven outs on fly balls or line drives and threw two Express runners out on the base paths.

Through the first 2 1/2 frames, it was a tight contest as the teams matched defensive plays and strong pitching performances. In the top of the first with Sam W-S on first, the Express's Tyler J. smoked a ball to right field, only to find the Dragon's right fielder perfectly positioned to make the catch.

In the bottom of the first, the Diesels returned the favor getting a 1-6-3 out at first on a comebacker that bounced off of pitcher Sam W-S's glove to SS Aiden D who threw to 1B Alex N for the out.

In the top of the second, Alex N. singled sharply down the third base line, but was caught stealing at third several batters later to end the inning. The Express returned the favor in the bottom of the second, as C Tyler J threw to 3B Sommers D-N to nab a streaking Dragon to end the inning, but not before the Dragons pushed the first run across the plate. Pitcher Sam W-S finished the first two frames giving up just one run and striking out two.

In the top of the third, it was more of the same for the Dragons. With Kiran K on first, Liam D hit a ball to shallow left field, only to see the Dragons left fielder make a sliding grab to record the first out. The inning ended two plays later on a strike 'em out, throw 'em double play, as Kiran K was tagged out a third after Sommers D-N went down swinging.

The tide turned in the third inning as the Dragons knocked in five runs on a couple of ground balls that got through the infield, a pair of walks, and a pair of well hit balls to the outfield. Still, Coach Brook complimented pitcher Alex N after the game. 'Just like last outing, Alex came out and threw strikes for the most part. Unlike last game, though, he didn't get as much help from our defense. I am still happy with how he pitched.'

Down the 6-0, the Express did not give up. In the top of the fourth, the Locomotives plated three runs. Alex drove in Tyler and Aiden on a hard hit ball that handcuffed the Dragons' second baseman, and Cole E drove in Alex on shot up the middle that went off the Dragons' pitcher's glove.

From that point on, however, the Express could not pull any closer as the Dragons' pitching and defense was too much. The Dragons struck out the next two Express players and then retired six of the seven Express players to the come to the plate in the 5th and 6th innings, four of which were retired on line drives and pop ups.

Despite taking the loss, Coach Brook emphasized the positives to his team after the game. 'There were some things we did well. In particular, I liked how we defended against the steal - we only threw one guy out, but overall our defense against the running game was a lot better. I also liked how hard we were hitting the ball. That said, we still need to work on out defense - too many balls getting passed the infield and two many singles turning into doubles. For now, we're on to the Owlz.'