Walk-Off Win Pushes Selects Past Sox
With the season on the line, the Selects came up with some stellar defence and an outstanding 12 strikeout performance from Doug Hoffman to walk away with the 1-0 victory on Monday night, vaulting them past the Black Sox and onto the semi finals.
It took eight innings and a masterful final three from Doug Hoffman but the Selects got their revenge for the Game 2 walk-off defeat.
A big scare in the fifth - bases loaded, one out - was thwarted by a diving grab into shallow right field by Kevin Ryrie and a Hoffman strikeout.
Following that ordeal Hoffman buckled down retiring the next nine batters he faced, striking out seven of them.
This allowed the Selects a shot in the eigth inning which they jumped all over. An infield single by Brad Cleasby moved the runner, Reed Laughlin, over to third base. Mike Brown then took a pitch in the right arm to load the bases. Ryrie then stepped up and hit a high chopper to third base which allowed Laughlin to score before any play could be made.
Selects now get ready to face the Diamond Jaxx in the semi finals. Series starts Thursday at 9:00. |
Pitching Duel Right to the End
It was a pitching duel right from the start. Doug Hoffman and Larry Cox locked horns from the first pitch of the game and allowed just one run between them.
Unfortunately for the Selects, it was the Black Sox who scored, in the bottom of the seventh that ended the game.
The Selects got their opportunities throughout the game but were unable to cash.
IT all came down to the bottom of the seventh, runners on second and third with one out when a fly ball to right field plated the Black Sox runner who had tagged from third, thus ending the Selects' impressive run of 12 games without a defeat.
The Selects and Black Sox meet on "must win Monday" to decide who goes on to the semis on Thursday.
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Early Runs Lead Selects Over Sox
The Selects began the 2009 KFL Playoffs the same way they finished the regular season... with victory. The Selects defeated their first round opponent, the Black Sox, 6-3 in game one of the series.
Walks by Kevin Ryrie and Jamie Hickling followed by an RBI double and 2 RBI single by Glen Hall and Dan Clark vaulted the Selects ahead of the Black Sox just one inning into the game.
They added two more runs in the second to take a commanding 6-1 lead.
The Sox countered with a run in each of the third and fith innings but could muster no more as they Selects went on to the 6-3 victory.
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First Place Secured With 5-3 Win
The bats stayed hot for the Selects (13-3-3) in a huge 5-3 victory over the Kings on Tuesday night, securing top spot in the KFL for the first time in team history.
After a short rain during warm-ups, the game got underway and within minutes of it's start, Kevin Ryrie had scored. Ryrie grounded to the shortstop, forcing a quick throw that went wide. He then went from first to third on the overthrow, and while sliding into third, the ball was one again thrown past the Kings' fielder and Kevin took home.
One inning later Scott Clark took one for the team, taking a pitch in the right shin. Dan Fogal sacraficed him over to second and Brad Cleasby hit a hard single through the left side to cash Clark, making it 2-0.
The game remained that way until the top of the sixth when the Selects collected three runs on four hits, including a RBI double from Cleasby and a 2 RBI single from Mike Brown, giving the Selects a 5-0 lead.
The Kings answered in the bottom of the seventh scoring three of their own runs and threatening for more. However, as it has gone all season, timely pitching and steallar defence maintained the two-run lead giving the Selects their best regular season finish in team history.
Game MVP: Scott Clark |
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