| Game Summary | |||
| Result | Timber Rattlers 11 at Express 10 | ||
| Team Pages | |||
| Scheduled | 5/10/2015 12:30p | Timber Rattlers |
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| Location | GoldenGateAcad (No Sat games) | Express |
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| Game Type | Normal | ||
| Official(s) |
Base Ump 1: Loy Sheflott |
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| Game Summary | Please see Team Summaries, below | ||
| Team Summaries | Express Notes: The host Express fell 11-10 to the Timber-Rattlers Sunday afternoon in a match-up of NOLL AAA rivals. The Diesels jumped out to a 7-1 lead after two frames, but the Vipers fought back to take the lead and then held on as the hosts mounted a come-back in the last half of the sixth. The game looked like it was going to be all Express early on. Starting pitcher Sam W-S was sharp through the first two innings - allowing just one run on two hits and notching two strike-outs. He was helped out by nice plays in the field by Liam D. and Kiran K., and he helped his own cause on two come-backers to the mound. Sam got the Express's offense started in the bottom of the first, leading off with a solid double to left. After a double by Tyler J. and an RBI ground-out by Cole E., the Locomotives were up,2-0. The damage could have been worse as T-Rat Quincy S. made a nice play on a sinking line drive that Ari F. scorched to straight-away centerfield. The Express did not let up in the bottom of the second. After walks to Sommers D-N, Erik W., and Kiran K. loaded the bases with two-outs, the Express scored five runs on RBI hits from Sam W-S (double), Tyler J. (single), Cole E. (single), and Ari F. (single), extending their lead to 7-1. All told, the first four Express hitters went 6-for-8 over the first two innings with 7 RBI. The game began to turn in the fourth inning. After pulling to within 7-2 in the top of the third and then retiring the Express in order in the bottom of the third, the T-Rats put up three runs in the top half of the fourth to pull within 7-5. The damage could have been worse, but the Express recorded a heads-up double play to end the threat. With runners on second and third, the T-Rats' George R. hit a slow roller between third and the mound. As Rowan F. raced home from third, George R. tried to stretch his infield hit into a double, only to be thrown out at second by the Express pitcher Aidan D. Express second baseman Ari F. then saw that the T-Rats' Quincy S., who had advanced to third, was trying to score and threw home to catcher Tyler J. in time to get the tag down. In the bottom of the frame, the Express again had the bases loaded, but this time could not get the big hit. The T-Rats got Sam W-S to fly out to first and Tyler J. to line out to third, ending the threat. The Vipers completed their comeback in the top of the fifth, knocking in five runs, with the big hit coming in the form of Julian I's triple. 'Ari was throwing strikes,' said Coach Brook after the game. 'He was doing his job - we just didn't give him the support he needed behind him.' After seeing their lead disappear and trailing 10-7, the Express offense came back to life in the bottom of the fifth. Five consecutive hits to lead off the inning -- by Cole E., Ari F., Liam D., Alex N., and Aidan D. -- added up to two runs, and the Express were down only one run 10-9. The game could have bee knotted at 10, but a strong throw by the T-Rats nailed Liam D. at the plate. After the T-Rats added a run in the top of the sixth, the Express headed in to the bottom of the sixth, down 11-9. Erik W. got things started for the Express, cracking a lead-off triple to centerfield. 'Erik hit that ball a ton,' said Coach Brook after the game, 'and he showed off his wheels getting around to third on the play. That was a big spark for us. Erik is a great player and a great team-mate - this is the guy who came to several games this year on crutches (but in uniform) to watch and cheer the team on even though he couldn't play. Just a real ballplayer. Couldn't be happier to have him on the team.' After a strike out and a walk and steal by Sam W-S, the Express had runners on second and third with one out - down by two. Tyler J. hit a hard ground ball to second that scored Erik to make it a one run game with Sam W-S representing the tying run 60-day feet away. He didn't get any closer, however, as T-Rats closer Anders P struck out Express slugger Cole E. to end the game. 'That was a very exciting game - well played all around,' said Coach Brook. 'I loved how our guys fought all game long - right to the end. Look at Ari, for example. He had a rough inning in the fifth, but he came back and delivered a strong performance in the sixth. I also liked how we got contributions up and down our line-up. Our tenth place batter Erik W. was on base three times, scored two runs, and gave us a big boost with his hit in the bottom of the sixth. Just a great performance for a kid who was on crutches a couple of weeks ago. Now, we're on to the Bees.' Timber Rattlers Notes: |
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| Pitcher Stats | ||||
| Express Pitchers | PPI | GP | IP | PC |
| 21.00 | 1 | 1.00 | 21 | |
| 31.58 | 1 | 1.33 | 42 | |
| 16.33 | 1 | 3.00 | 49 | |
| Timber Rattlers Pitchers | PPI | GP | IP | PC |
| 25.00 | 1 | 1.00 | 25 | |
| 24.10 | 1 | 1.66 | 40 | |
| 26.00 | 1 | 2.00 | 52 | |
| 25.00 | 1 | 1.00 | 25 | |
