Tuesday night, the Freedom Patriots traveled to Sickles High School to play against the Gryphons. The Gryphons (ranked the ninth best team in Tampa Bay) provided the Patriots with a difficult challenge as they looked to improve to 6-6 on the season.

Kyle Lanphere, 12, was on the mound for the Patriots and was faced with an early 3-0 Gryphons lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Patriots, however, would respond with a run of their own in the second inning.

A leadoff walk by Andrew Wise, 12, and a booming double off the bat of Brendan Abel, 12, lead to an RBI groundout by Lanphere himself. The Patriots recorded six total hits, including two from senior David Friedman, but could only muster a lone run against Gryphons pitcher Michael Lojacono, 12.

Later, in the 4^th inning, Brendan Abel, 12, pitched in relief for the Patriots and thwarted the Gryphons from building on their 5-1 lead. The Gryphons eventually scored two more runs on an error and won the game by a final score of 7-1.

The Patriots look to rebound with a win on the road against district rivals Strawberry Crest this Thursday at 7 pm.