The Saskatoon Amigos managed to stave off elimination by defeating the Maui Mashers 7-1. Saskatoon had control of this game the entire time, putting up two runs in the top of the first. They added another one in the second and three in the third, leading 6-1 after three innings. Emilio Romero pitched 8.1 innings of seven hit ball for the victory as William Lawrence was shelled for the loss.
The Hickory Huskers had a chance to come away with a victory in their playoff series against Seattle. They were ahead 8-5 with two out, two-strikes in the ninth, but couldn't hold on. With two out and a runner (Anderson) on first, John Hukill singled off of Huskers' reliever Anson Shearing. Steve Jones then singled to load the bases. Terry Hubbard then came up, fouled off two two-strike pitches and singled to left, bringing home Anderson and Hukill to make it a one-run game. Bas Bijkerk then doubled to right, bringing home Jones, tying up the game. With the score tied, the Huskers brought in Donald Castanon to stop the bleeding and save the season. With runners on second and third, he got Tyler Thomas to fly out on the first pitch to keep the game (and season) alive. Hickory failed to score in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game to extra innings.
The Huskers had a chance to win in the 10th when, with two outs, Kareem King reached on an infield single. With Tony Reyes (28SB at AAA) pinch running, Carlos Pais hit a fly ball to deep left-center. Reyes rounded third and headed for home, but the throw beat him and he was thrown out to end the inning.
Hickory had another chance in the 13th when, facing Bong-Ok Ch'on, with one out, Pais doubled down the right side. After Joel Riojas sacrificed him to third, Manuel Cardona came up but struck out swinging.
The Monarchs finally managed to push a run across in the top of the 14th on an sacrifice fly by Jonathan Anderson. Hickory had yet another chance to keep the season alive in the bottom of the inning when, against Mike Campbell, switch-hitter Richard Campion led off the inning with a double to left and went to third on a groundout. But Campbell shut the Huskers down by getting LaBarre to ground out and striking out Paul Shunk looking, advancing the Monarchs to the Cecil Cup series.
Game 5 of the Maui/Saskatoon series Tuesday night
Zev
Frank, congratulations on another division title. The first goal of every team (well, at least the first goal of my team every year) is to win the division. And, despite losing one of the best players in the game due to injury, Hickory accomplished that goal.
ReplyDeleteSo even though it was a bit of an unusual path, congratulations on a good year.
Now, if Eric and Matt can just beat each other senseless for three more games, with game seven going about 23 innings, we'll really be getting somewhere.