Maui Takes 2-0 Lead In Extra Inning Thriller

The Maui Mashers took a 2-0 in the Cecil Cup series thanks to a 9-7 11 inning victory.

The scoring started in the second inning when Juan Gomez put the Monarchs on the board with a solo home run to right off of starter William Lawrence.  That lead held until the top of the fifth when Seattle starter Ted O'Herlihy served up a long solo home run to Jose Fernandez.

The tie held until the top fo the seventh when Timothy Mendiola put the Mashers ahead with a solo homer.  In the top of the ninth, Seattle brought in closer Robert Riddick to prevent any further damage.  Unfortunately for the Monarchs, however, the normally rock-solid Riddick could not keep the Mashers off the bases.  Leadoff hitter Octavio Cabrales led off with a single.  After retiring the next two batters, Timothy Mendiola doubled, bringing home pinch-runner Ramiro Ramirez.  Jose Fernandez then reached on an error, and pinch-hitter Dan St. John singled bringing home Mendiola.  By the time the inning ended, Riddick was gone and Maui entered the bottom of the ninth with a 5-1 lead. 

Maui brought in Jim Curry to close down the Monarchs.  Jonathan Anderson led off with a solo home run, cutting Maui's lead to three.  Juan Gomez and Terry Hubbard singled, bringing up pinch hitter Ivan Castillo.  Castillo launched a 1-0 pitch to left to tie the game.  However, Seattle could not get another runner on base, and so the game went into extra innngs.

Seattle brought in reliever Mike Campbell (he of the 10-0, 1.65 record) to face the Mashers in the 10th.  Leadoff pinch-hitter Marcel LaBelle singled to center and the next batter, Jason Lefebvre was hit with the first pitch.  Next, pinch hitter Ching-hsia Yuen singled.  LaBelle scored on a close play at the plate and the other runners advanced.  The next batter, Richard Bender singled bringing home Lefebvre, giving Maui a a 7-5 lead.  Maui failed to score for the rest of the inning and took the field in the bottom of the inning to defend a two run lead.

Pitcher Bill Dewall gave up a leadoff double to Lucio Muniz.  A passed ball sent him to third.  Jonathan Anderson then grounded out, bringing home Muniz.  A Norman Kuhn double was immediately followed by a Juan Gomez double, tying up the game again at 7-7.  Maui brought in Manuel Galindo to face Terry Hubbard with a runner on second.  A wild pitch sent him to third and Hubbard walked.  However, the net batter Tanyu Maekawa flew out on the first pitch to end the inning.  After ten, the score was still tied 7-7.

With Campbell still on the mound, the Mashers came to bat in the top of the 11th.   Angel Banuelos led off with a single.  Barney Maxon laid down a sac bunt, sending Banuelos to second.  Marcel LaBelle was then intentionally walked and Jason Lefebvre hit with a pitch to load the bases with no one out.  Ching-hsia Yuen then worked a full count and walked, forcing in a run.  The Monarchs then brought in Carlo Humphrey to face Richard Bender.  Bender then hit a sac fly, bringing home LaBelle.   By the end of the inning, Maui led 9-7.

Seattle came up in the bottom of the eleventh.  Pedro Campos struck out swinging and Toshinobu Mitzutani flew out to right.  Lucio Muniz managed to hit a single, but next batter Steve Jones flied out to left to end the game.

Game 1:  Maui 6, Seattle 1
Game 2:  Maui 9, Seattle 7 (11 innings)
Game 3:  Thursday night.