Team Easton takes 2-0 lead in GOFL semifinals
from Sam Oliver
UPDATE: Box score now posted: http://ca.geocities.com/fitzroyfastball/box091106.htm
Game 2 of the best of 5 GOFL semi-final was a strange but entertaining contest, that would see two unexpected pitching starts, a pair of homeruns, a power outage and ultimately Team Easton emerging with a 2 games to none lead in the series. The home team Carp I4C Victory must have felt as though the let one slip away.
With Dan Konkle unavailable, Easton was forced into starting apparent “Mr. Utility” Todd Fraser. I4C countered with the up and comer Chad Hargrove, as their ace Neil Cooke is sidelined with a muscle strain.
In the top-half of the first, Hargrove struggled to find the strike zone as Team Easton loaded the bases with one out via a couple of walks and a Kevin Chevrier single. However, I4C was able to escape without surrendering a run as Hargrove was able to induce ground ball outs from the next two Easton batters.
This defensive stand seemed to rally the I4C side. Mike Money lead off the bottom half of the first with a hard liner that was misplayed in the Easton outfield. After Money had advanced to second on a passed ball, Victory right fielder Trevor Wood drew a walk which put runners on first and second with no one out. Standing on second base, Money must have felt as though he had caught Easton napping as he attempted a delayed steal of third base. Although the attempt appeared successful (uncontested), veteran umpire Teddy Metcalfe ruled that Money had left the bag when the Easton pitcher was in the circle with the ball and therefore Money was out for a lead off.* Naturally, this spilled the wind from the Victory sails, and the next to batters were retired in order.
Hargrove, seemed to settle in after the first inning, striking out the side in the 2nd, and fanning two more in the third. For his efforts, he would eventually be rewarded with a 3 run lead.
For Easton, Fraser continued to struggle. In the second, he retired the first two batters, but then gave up back to back singles to Brooks Paziuk and Duane Bromley, and issued a free pass to Russ Mitchell to load the bases. Fortunately, he was able to get lead off man, Mike Money to pop up and once again end the threat without damage.
In the third inning, Fraser’s luck would run out. I4C shortstop Kevin McGuire reached via the free pass. He would score as clean up hitter Matt McNish hammered the next Fraser offering to deep left center field, a 2 run homerun. GOFL veteran Tim Power, followed the home run with a single, and promptly stole second to put himself in scoring position. Victory batter Peter Petit hit a sharp ground ball that seemed to eat up the Easton 2nd baseman Chevrier, and Power scored on the error. However, that would be it for the I4C scoring, as Fraser stepped up his play after that, only allowing 2 more base runners over the next 4 innings whicle collecting 7 of his 8 strikeouts on the night.
As is indicative of good ball clubs, the defending GOFL champions would not roll over. In the top of the 4th with one out, back to back to back singles by Johnny Peck, Scott Marion, and Pat O’Connor (RBI) would score the first Easton run. Easton catcher Al Read, flied out to left, and Dave Tubman drew a walk to load the bases. However, Marion was cut down attempting to score on a passed ball to end the inning.
Easton would tie the game in the 5th, on the strength of a two run blast by Todd Fraser, scoring Chevrier who had reached on an error.
The score would remain tied until the 7th inning. In the top half, with one out, Fraser singled and stole second, and advanced to third on a passed ball. The always dangerous Randy Peck drew his second walk of the night putting runners on the corners. Easton right fielder Cory Morrison, singled scoring Fraser and advancing Peck to third. Morrison moved to second uncontested putting two runners into scoring position. John Peck hit a ground ball to the normally sure handed I4C shortstop, however McGuire couldn’t field the ball cleanly allowing Randy Peck to score from third, Morrison to move up to third and John Peck to reach safely. Peck advanced to second on a passed ball, and with one out, Easton left fielder Scott Marion executed a perfect squeez bunt scoring Morrison from third (moving Peck to third). This would bring Pat O’Connor to the dish and with Hargrove just about ready to deliver … the lights went out. Call into action none other than “Mr. Utility” Todd Fraser, who jimmied the flux capacitor disabling the over-ride and jammed the shunt to ultimately have the lights back on after a 15 minute delay. When play resumed, O’Connor hit a a high pop up towards third base that was totally missed by the I4C third baseman but hit him as it bounced foul. This allowed Peck to score what would be the last run of the night.
I4C wasn’t able to mount an attack in their half of the seventh as Fraser, rejuvenated by the break, struck out the side.
The third game of the series will be played at Alexander Grove on Wednesday, September 13th at 9:00PM.
*As a spectator I could only imagine the kind of fireworks there would have been had outspoken manager Shawn Williams been in attendance. Unfortunately, he could not be reached for comment.
UPDATE: Box score now posted: http://ca.geocities.com/fitzroyfastball/box091106.htm
Game 2 of the best of 5 GOFL semi-final was a strange but entertaining contest, that would see two unexpected pitching starts, a pair of homeruns, a power outage and ultimately Team Easton emerging with a 2 games to none lead in the series. The home team Carp I4C Victory must have felt as though the let one slip away.
With Dan Konkle unavailable, Easton was forced into starting apparent “Mr. Utility” Todd Fraser. I4C countered with the up and comer Chad Hargrove, as their ace Neil Cooke is sidelined with a muscle strain.
In the top-half of the first, Hargrove struggled to find the strike zone as Team Easton loaded the bases with one out via a couple of walks and a Kevin Chevrier single. However, I4C was able to escape without surrendering a run as Hargrove was able to induce ground ball outs from the next two Easton batters.
This defensive stand seemed to rally the I4C side. Mike Money lead off the bottom half of the first with a hard liner that was misplayed in the Easton outfield. After Money had advanced to second on a passed ball, Victory right fielder Trevor Wood drew a walk which put runners on first and second with no one out. Standing on second base, Money must have felt as though he had caught Easton napping as he attempted a delayed steal of third base. Although the attempt appeared successful (uncontested), veteran umpire Teddy Metcalfe ruled that Money had left the bag when the Easton pitcher was in the circle with the ball and therefore Money was out for a lead off.* Naturally, this spilled the wind from the Victory sails, and the next to batters were retired in order.
Hargrove, seemed to settle in after the first inning, striking out the side in the 2nd, and fanning two more in the third. For his efforts, he would eventually be rewarded with a 3 run lead.
For Easton, Fraser continued to struggle. In the second, he retired the first two batters, but then gave up back to back singles to Brooks Paziuk and Duane Bromley, and issued a free pass to Russ Mitchell to load the bases. Fortunately, he was able to get lead off man, Mike Money to pop up and once again end the threat without damage.
In the third inning, Fraser’s luck would run out. I4C shortstop Kevin McGuire reached via the free pass. He would score as clean up hitter Matt McNish hammered the next Fraser offering to deep left center field, a 2 run homerun. GOFL veteran Tim Power, followed the home run with a single, and promptly stole second to put himself in scoring position. Victory batter Peter Petit hit a sharp ground ball that seemed to eat up the Easton 2nd baseman Chevrier, and Power scored on the error. However, that would be it for the I4C scoring, as Fraser stepped up his play after that, only allowing 2 more base runners over the next 4 innings whicle collecting 7 of his 8 strikeouts on the night.
As is indicative of good ball clubs, the defending GOFL champions would not roll over. In the top of the 4th with one out, back to back to back singles by Johnny Peck, Scott Marion, and Pat O’Connor (RBI) would score the first Easton run. Easton catcher Al Read, flied out to left, and Dave Tubman drew a walk to load the bases. However, Marion was cut down attempting to score on a passed ball to end the inning.
Easton would tie the game in the 5th, on the strength of a two run blast by Todd Fraser, scoring Chevrier who had reached on an error.
The score would remain tied until the 7th inning. In the top half, with one out, Fraser singled and stole second, and advanced to third on a passed ball. The always dangerous Randy Peck drew his second walk of the night putting runners on the corners. Easton right fielder Cory Morrison, singled scoring Fraser and advancing Peck to third. Morrison moved to second uncontested putting two runners into scoring position. John Peck hit a ground ball to the normally sure handed I4C shortstop, however McGuire couldn’t field the ball cleanly allowing Randy Peck to score from third, Morrison to move up to third and John Peck to reach safely. Peck advanced to second on a passed ball, and with one out, Easton left fielder Scott Marion executed a perfect squeez bunt scoring Morrison from third (moving Peck to third). This would bring Pat O’Connor to the dish and with Hargrove just about ready to deliver … the lights went out. Call into action none other than “Mr. Utility” Todd Fraser, who jimmied the flux capacitor disabling the over-ride and jammed the shunt to ultimately have the lights back on after a 15 minute delay. When play resumed, O’Connor hit a a high pop up towards third base that was totally missed by the I4C third baseman but hit him as it bounced foul. This allowed Peck to score what would be the last run of the night.
I4C wasn’t able to mount an attack in their half of the seventh as Fraser, rejuvenated by the break, struck out the side.
The third game of the series will be played at Alexander Grove on Wednesday, September 13th at 9:00PM.
*As a spectator I could only imagine the kind of fireworks there would have been had outspoken manager Shawn Williams been in attendance. Unfortunately, he could not be reached for comment.
posted by fitzroyfastball | 9/12/2006 04:30:00 pm
2 Comments:
Had I been there I might have had a little discussion with Teddy and a long discussion with our team about defence! :-)
Pugger
Great write up Sammy!!
Thanks,
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