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Saturday |
Athletes Corner |
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GAME SUMMARY
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BallCharts.com/athletescorner |
Attendance:
Longview, WA
WA
USA
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Date:
Thu, May 10/07, 6:00pm
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Location:
RM - B1
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| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | R | H | E | |
| RSG | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | - | - |
| Athletes Corner | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | - | - |
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Game
Notes:
ATHLETE'S CORNER SWEEPS RSG Longview: After a thrilling 10-0 mercy rule defeat of RSG by Athletes Corner on Wednesday May 8, thoughts of revenge floated through the air at Roy Morse Park on Thursday. RSG was confident. After all, their top pitcher, Cody Molner was taking the mound. And their roster of seasoned veterans had expectations of topping last year's Longview Babe Ruth Second Place trophy. AC struck rapidly, though, as leadoff hitter Scotty Kirkpatrick blasted Molner's 2nd pitch over the center fielder's head for a triple. Austin Wegdahl's bunt single plated the first run. Sean Atkins singled in Wegdahl, who had stolen 2nd base. Atkins later scored on a hit by Taylor Beck. In the 4th,Zac McDonald plated AC's 4th run on a triple by Nam Le. The lead of 4-0 could have been more, as twice, AC loaded the bases with no outs, but grounded into multiple force outs created by perfectly placed pitches by Molner. Meanwhile, Eli Lovingfoss was keeping the RSG bats quiet, aided by catcher Sean Atkins picking two runners off first base. Finally, in the bottom of the 3rd, RSG's Stephen Hannon scored their first run in 8 innings against AC pitchers. Molner scored in the 4th, and when he stepped on home plate in the 6th, RSG players regained their confidence. They were down by only one, 4-3, heading into the 7th, and AC scheduled closer Wegdahl was barely able to throw a ball, after taking an inside fastball on his right wrist. When set up man Taylor Beck tired and walked RSG 3rd baseman Daniel Feeney, the stage was set for some real heroics. Untested rookie reliever Zac McDonald was brought from his perch in center field, to face the 9th and 10th hitters, followed by leadoff hitter and league batting champ Nate Tansman. With two outs, Tansman stroked a screaming line drive into deap left down the line. Sprinter Nam Le's full extension dive couldn't quite reach the ball, and Tansman had a double, and Feeney had scored the tying run. Moments later, when Tansman scored on a single by Shane Oliva, RSG took the lead at 5-4 and the RSG dugout erupted with glee. Revenge! But McDonald put out the side, stranding Oliva and Molner. Coach Krieger was smiling as he noted that AC was at the bottom of its batting order. But Michael Bartel lined a rifleshot into left center field. Lars Ertolacci smashed a hard grounder up the middle, which was spectacularly gloved by Oliva, whose throw to 2nd baseman Hanson Pitts nipped Bartel. But Ertolacci, safe at first, advanced to second when leadoff hitter Scotty Kirkpatrick walked. The drama was only beginning. For, second hitter Wegdahl could barely hold the bat. Would the umpire agree to the league's policy that an injured/absent player could be skipped in the batting order without suffering an out? Would Baseball's universal rule (that a player batting out of turn is out) prevail??? All Star Atkins was waiting in the on deck circle, salivating at the thought of knocking in the tying and winning runs. In the end, manager Rich Kirkpatrick instructed Wegdahl to crowd the plate, hoping to get hit (again) or to walk, or if all else failed, try to bunt. Molner's first pitch caromed off Wegdahl's bat for a foul on a bunt attempt. But the second pitch was in the dirt, eluding catcher Tanzman. Ertolacci at 3rd and Kirkpatrick at 2nd, represented the tying and winning runs. Tension mounted as Sean Atkins, in the on deck circle, smiled confidently. But the umpire called a balk, when Molner abruptly altered his delivery. Ertolacci's score tied the game. On the next pitch, somehow, Our hero Wegdahl put aside the pain, gripped the bat tight, and laced a liner into left center. Kirkpatrick scored and AC had won its second game in a row. Offensive stars of the game included McDonald, Beck, Wegdahl, Atkins, and Kirkpatrick, who each had 100% on base percentage, and Le and Kirkpatrick for their triples. Every AC player got on base at least once. Eli Lovingfoss, Beck and McDonald held the RSG team to a mere 4 hits. On defense, Atkins for two picked runners and Le made an impossible catch in left field. Branick Herold threw out a runner at home, and Alex Lovingfoss made a fine play at second. Rookies Bartel and Ertolacci batted like veterans in the bottom of the 7th. The team credited former player and current assistant coach Jake Welch with inspiring them. Before Jake left due to a conflict, the AC team had outscored its opponents 13-0 while he was coaching 3rd base. Next action, with perhaps another hero, is next week against Cascade Natural gas, coached by the personable Joe Benson and his sidekick, league president Jamie Williams. Back to back games are set for 6pm on Wednesday May 15 and Thursday May 16. |
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