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Vipers Take Series, First Place

June 4, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


Thanks to a terrific outing from the bullpen the Calgary Vipers defeated the Yuma Scorpions 13-6 at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona. Andrew Demott, Mac Suzuki, Jon Huizinga, and Alan Webb combined to throw five and a third innings of shutout baseball to allow the offense to comeback from trailing 6-4 after four innings. With the victory the Snakes take the three game series, spilt their six game road trip, and with a Chico Outlaws loss, they take over sole possession of first place in the Golden Baseball League's North Division for the first time this season.

The benches cleared in the bottom of the ninth inning as Huizinga plunked Reynaldo Rodriguez and the two teams gathered at the mound. Huizinga was then thrown from the game after hitting the next batter Carlos Villalobos. After a collision at the plate in the fifth inning there were four bean balls, two to each team, that followed in the innings afterwards and led up to the antics in the ninth.

Demott (1-0-1) continued his amazing start to his first professional season as he went two and a third innings without giving up a run and striking out two for the victory. After coming into the game and giving up back-to-back singles, Andrew retired the last seven batters he faced in order. The Atwater, California native has now tossed eight and two-third innings this year in five games without giving up a run or a walk while striking out five and allowing only six hits for a save and now a win. Suzuki tossed two scoreless innings giving up only one hit and no walks while striking out two. Mac has now thrown four and two-third innings of shutout baseball this season in three games while giving up only two hits, one walk, and striking out six. Huizinga and Webb combined to throw a scoreless and hitless ninth inning to end the game.

Fehlandt Lentini had another big night at the plate going four-for-six and scoring two runs for a league high 20 runs scored this season. Colin Moro went three-for-five on the night with two runs scored and two driven in. Jorge Mejia collected a couple hits and scored four runs on the night while Rick Guarno knocked in three runs.

In the top of the first inning Calgary opened the scoring as Lentini doubled, moved to third base on a Nelson Castro sacrifice bunt, and Mejia walked to put runners at the corners. Pitcher Wilton Noel tried to pick Mejia off but threw the ball away for an error which allowed Lentini to score and Mejia to advance to third base where he scored on a Mark Okano groundout for the 2-0 lead.

Right back responded the Scorpions in the bottom of the inning as Diover Avila tripled and Reynaldo Rodriguez hit a two run shot to tie the game at two.

The two-run innings continued in the next half frame as Moro singled, Terry Mermer walked and they scored on run batted in base hits from Rob Recuenco and Lentini for a 4-2 advantage.

The scoring continued in the bottom of the second as three straight singles from Carlos Pupo, Deivis Rivadeneira, and Avila loaded the bases. Jonathan Lozada hit a sacrifice fly for a run and Rodriguez drove in two runs with a triple for a 5-4 Yuma lead.

A run was added to the Scorpions lead in the fourth inning as Rivadeneira singled, stole second base, and scored on a Rodriguez RBI single for a 6-4 advantage.

Calgary retook the lead in the top of the fifth as Mejia singled, Okano walked, both runners advanced on a Drew Miller ground out, and both scored on a Guarno two-run base knock to tie the game. Moro followed by being hit by a pitch and Mermer notched a two run double for a 8-6 lead.

The Vipers added to their lead in the sixth inning as Castro walked, Mejia singled, both runners stole bases to move into scoring position, Miller was intentionally walked, Guarno hit a sacrifice fly for a run, and Moro knocked in another run with a two-base hit for a 10-6 advantage.

Another run was tacked onto the lead in the top of the eighth as Miller and Guarno walked and Moro delivered a RBI base knock for a 11-6 lead.

In the ninth inning Calgary got a leadoff double from Lentini, Castro was hit by a pitch, and Mejia reached on a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners. Lentini quickly scored on a wild pitch and another wild pitch would move Mejia all the way to third base where he scored on a Okano sacrifice fly for a 13-6 score.

The Snakes now return to Calgary and Foothills Stadium Friday June 5th at 7:05 PM MDT to open a seven-games-in-six-days home stand against the 2008 Golden Baseball League Champion Orange County Flyers. It will be the first meeting between the two clubs since Orange County defeated Calgary in the fifth and deciding game of the Championship last season. It will also be the Vipers' Mini-Baseball Keychain Giveaway Night.

Saturday June 6th at 5:05 PM MDT the Vipers and Flyers will play a double-header with both games scheduled for seven innings and it will be Calgary Zoo Day at the Ballpark as a Koala will be on hand to throw out the first pitch.

This four games in three days series wraps up on Sunday June 7th at 1:35 PM MDT. Challenger Little League will be in attendance for Sunday's matinee after the Vipers' Children's Charity Snakes and Batters donated $5000.00 to Challenger Little League last month.

Calgary welcomes the St. George RoadRunners on Monday June 8th, Tuesday June 9th, and Wednesday June 10th all at 7:05 PM to wrap up the home stand with a three game series. On Monday it will be ViperPod Speakers Giveaway Night.

Tickets can be purchased over the phone at 403-277-2255 or by stopping in at the Vipers Ticket Office at 2255 Crowchild Trail N.W. All games can be heard live online at www.calgaryvipers.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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