D'Orazio's Three Hits Propels Soddies To One-Run Victory

Soddies Bunt Thrice to Secure 9-7 Decision Over Midland

September 17, 2025

AMARILLO, TX (September 13, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (71-66) defeated the Midland RockHounds (65-72), 9-8, on Saturday night at HODGETOWN. After 10 combined first-inning runs, the Soddies used small ball to hold off Midland. Both sides traded five-run frames in the first inning this evening. Midland used four

AMARILLO, TX (September 13, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (71-66) defeated the Midland RockHounds (65-72), 9-8, on Saturday night at HODGETOWN. After 10 combined first-inning runs, the Soddies used small ball to hold off Midland.

Both sides traded five-run frames in the first inning this evening. Midland used four homers to accumulate their total, including back-to-back jacks from Leo De Vries and Brennan Milone. Clark Elliott collected a two-run blast and Brayan Buelvas capped the first inning scoring for Midland with a solo blast.

Manuel Pena kicked off the five-run bottom half with a single and scored on LuJames Groover’s double. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Gavin Conticello and a Jose Fernandez RBI single added two more. With two away in the inning, J.J. D’Orazio launched a two-run blast to tie the game at five.

The home squad took the lead in the third on Jack Hurley’s seventh longball of the season to make it 7-5 Soddies. Amarillo used small ball to add insurance in the sixth. D’Orazio doubled to lead off the frame before Gavin Logan laid down a sacrifice bunt. Jean Walters cashed in the run with a single into left to push the Sod Poodles’ advantage to 8-5.

Midland got two runs back in the seventh, courtesy of consecutive RBI hits from De Vries and Milone to cut the score to 8-7. Amarillo once again added insurance with small ball in the eighth, thanks to Walters’ squeeze bunt. D’Orazio scored after advancing on his first career Double-A steal and another sacrifice bunt from Logan.

Landon Sims entered for the ninth. Despite a De Vries RBI double, the righty secured a save and finished the one-run win.

The regular season concludes tomorrow afternoon with RHP Alec Baker (3-4, 5.79) as the only announced starter.

POSTGAME NOTES

SWEET BABY LUJAMES: With a 3-for-3 night, LuJames Groover is up to 145 hits in the 2025 campaign...he needs two hits in the regular season finale to tie Owen Miller (147, 2019) for the single-season record in Sod Poodles history.

ROCK ON: The Sod Poodles have defeated Midland 16 times over 23 matchups this season...a win tomorrow will tie the most wins Amarillo has had against the RockHounds in a single season (2019).