The annual Crosstown Boys Kickball Classic, between the Grant-White Eagles and Field-Stevenson Sharks, took place on Monday after school at The Park. This game serves as the intramural finale, a single match between the Forest Park third- through fifth-grade boys from both sides of the Eisenhower.
The Eagles, led by Coach Moroni and Coach Ali, scored the first run, kicked by Taylor Banks, after loading the bases. The run went unanswered by the Sharks, led by Coach Mills and Coach Petrey, as Eagles pitcher Danny Quiros thwarted the Sharks in their half of the first.
The pitching duel continued in the top of the second, when Shark pitcher Javeon French stopped the Eagles from adding to their lead. Then the Sharks ignited in the bottom of the second and made their move. After loading the bases, the Sharks drove in Zayvion Rubio and Andy Fausto to take the lead.
The Eagles responded in the third, with Carter Leonard driving in Zyion Lewis, before being slowed down by Shark Anthony Washington, who plucked a pop-up from the Eagles.
The 2-2 tie didn’t last long, as the Sharks came up in the bottom of the inning and scored a run. The Sharks kicked to load the bases, but the Eagles shut down the inning with Tylor Bank’s diving catch of a scorching line drive by Quinten Thomas down the third-base line.
In the fourth inning, the Eagles, now down by one, found their rhythm and added a run to tie the game. But Field Stevenson answered by adding to their lead when hitter Aiden Ross drove in runs. The Sharks used their defensive skills to hold the Eagles to 3 runs in the fifth, with an inning-closing flyball catch by David Show.
The Eagles couldn’t quite convert runs in the fifth and sixth, but the Sharks kept kicking, scoring the final runners, Antonio Gasse and Zayvion Rubio, to take the lead 6-3.
The Eagles did not give up in the top of the seventh, and with two outs, gained some momentum with a baserunner. But the Shark infielders were on their game, and made the final out with a play at second, as Sam Peterson tagged the base to end the game.
Grant White, the Kickball Champions of 2016, graciously congratulated the Sharks on their victory. This Wednesday, the girl’s intramural teams will meet at the Middle School Gym for a volleyball match. The North Side and South Side boys will have the opportunity to face off again in early 2018 for the intramural basketball meet.
Jill Wagner
