Milleteers Strike First In Extras

History has shown that when these two team meet up in the playoffs that it was going to be a dramatic hard fought series, and game one did not disappoint. Steve Pahl got the start for the Milleteers, as he had been almost unhittable in his last two starts, but the Bardo hitters proved to be a much tougher challenge as they worked counts and had tough at bats against the big right hander and were able to scratch out runs in third on a Mike Leclaire single and in the sixth on a suicide squeeze from Ray Lehman.

It looked like one or two runs was all that starter Ray Lehman would need as he kept the Milleteers off balance at the plate and when they managed to get on base, as the Milleteers went 1 for 3 on the base paths, normally a stat they dominate. The Milleteers kept chipping away as they finally got a run in the fifth as nine hole hitter Greg Zilkie hit a two out single and then promptly stole second. He was then driven in by Trevor Pahl.

After the Athletics took back the lead in the sixth, they turned to their closer, PBL Hall of Famer Donny Oslund. With one out first baseman Murray Doyle chopped one to third, but an over throw allowed him to not only get on base, but to make it to second. Doyle was pinch run for by speedster Adam Pahl. Then Greg Zilkie again came thru as he hit a single, and then on another overthrow advanced all the way to third. With the top of the order due up the Milleteers looked primed to complete the comeback, but Zilkie got overzealous and tried to score on a passed ball that did not travel far enough, and the threat ended.

After the Milleteers brought in closer Jon Anstey to pitch a scoreless top of the eighth catcher Shane Gerein led off with a bloop single and the Milleteers were in business. He tried to steal second on the first pitch, but was gunned out by a pitchout as Bardo guessed right and the threat seemed to be over. Then Anstey hit a sharp ball to third, but third baseman Ken Braggett made his third throwing error of the game and allowed Anstey to scurry all the way to third. After an intentional walk to cleanup hitter Steve Pahl to set up the double play Kevin Doyle stepped into the box and drove a 2-0 fastball for a walk off single and a series lead for the Milleteers. Just as the teams finished shaking hands a hail storm started, a fitting end to a back and forth struggle. Game two goes in Bardo on Tuesday.

Posted on July 23, 2010 by Steven Pahl