Knightline Embroidery loses opener in California

SANTA CLARA, CALIF. — Uncharacteristically shaky defense was the main culprit as Knightline Embroidery dropped its opening game in the PONY Palomino World Series on Thursday.

Knightline committed five errors — including four in the infield — in a 10-3 loss to Caguas, Puerto Rico in a first-round game.

The game was tied at 3 in the fifth and Knightline had a chance to escape a jam, but an error on a ground ball to short let two runs score and led to a five-run inning.

“It was one of the worst games we’ve played in weeks,” Knightline manager Tommy Otto said. “We just didn’t catch it today.”

Pitcher Michael Massucci took the loss despite giving up only one earned run. He left in the fifth with runners on second and third and one out. Reliever Hank Clegg then got a strikeout and had a chance to get out of the inning before the error.

“The floodgates just opened after that,” Oto said.

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