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August 28, 2010 - United League Baseball (ULB)
San Angelo Colts News Release
San Angelo, TX- The San Angelo Colts scored the final six runs of Friday night's ballgame at Foster Field to overcome a five-run, eighth inning deficit to defeat the Coastal Bend Thunder 10-9 in 10 innings to take three of four games in the series and keep their playoff hopes alive.
For the fourth night in a row, Coastal Bend scored first by plating two runs in the second on a two-run single by centerfielder Lamar Guy to take a 2-0 lead. They would add another run in the third on a solo-homer by catcher Gianican Rosa (6) to put the Thunder up by three.
The Colts knotted things up with a three-run third. After the first two batters were retired, San Angelo put together four consecutive singles including a two-run single by designated hitter Jason Landreth and an RBI single by third-baseman Jason Crosland.
However, the Thunder came back by scoring the game's next four runs to take a commanding 7-3 lead. They pushed a run across in the fifth as a throwing error by San Angelo first-baseman Josh Collazo allowed Guy to score from second. Coastal Bend then appeared to take charge by scoring three more in the seventh on a wild pitch by San Angelo starter Brian Henschel, which scored Goss from third, and a two-run single by shortstop Patty Mantera.
San Angelo would get a solo-homerun from last night's hero, shortstop Butch Ballez (7), in the seventh to pull to within three before the Thunder stormed back in the eighth with two more runs on a bases-loaded walk by Rosa and another error by Collazo to take a 9-4 lead.
But the Colts wouldn't die as they picked up one in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double from Collazo to make it a four-run game. Needing four runs to tie things in the ninth, Landreth would get the scoring started with a solo-homerun (12) to trim the Thunder lead to 9-6 with one out.
After a walk to Crosland forced a pitching change, closer Frank James immediately induced a groundball fielder's choice from left-fielder Alex Fernandez for the inning's second out, with a hard slide at second base by Crosland preventing a potential game-ending double-play. Collazo then followed with a monster two-run homer (16) to bring the Colts to within one.
Still one out away from losing, Landon Camp kept the inning alive with an infield single and then went to second after the first career professional hit from right-fielder Steven Rinaudo. A walk to pinch-hitter Blake Shaffer loaded the bases, before James uncorked a wild pitch to bring in Camp and, incredibly, tie the game at nine apiece.
Colts closer Chace Vacek came into the game in the 10th and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the game tied heading into the bottom-half. After James retired the first hitter, Landreth stepped in again and unleashed his second solo-homer of the game (13), a line-drive over the centerfield wall, to give the Colts a dramatic 10-9 victory over the Thunder.
For the game, Landreth went 4-6 with two homers, two singles, three runs scored and four RBI, while Collazo went 3-5 with a single, double, homer, three RBI and a run scored as well. Ballez chipped in by going 3-6 with a homer, two singles and scoring two runs. The Thunder were led by Mantera as he picked up three single in six at-bats while driving in two runs and scoring another. Guy also went 3-6 with three singles, two RBI and two runs scored, while first-baseman Carl Johnson went 4-4 with four singles and a stolen base.
Vacek (3-3) picked up the win after pitching a scoreless 10th, while James (4-8) suffered the loss for Coastal Bend. The chaos overshadowed a strong performance by Coastal Bend starter Luis Martinez as the former major-leaguer went seven innings allowing four runs on 10 hits while striking out four.
The win pulls the Colts to within 1.5 games of Rio Grande Valley for the fourth and final playoff spot in the ULB. San Angelo still has a slight chance of catching third-place Laredo who sits 2.5 games ahead of the Colts with three to play. The magic number for the Broncos to clinch a playoff spot is down to one, while the White Wings' magic number remains at two.
The Colts now turn their attention to the league-leading Amarillo Dillas who have a magic number of two to clinch the ULB regular season title. Game one of a three-game series begins Saturday at 7:05 as Bryan Heaston (2-4, 7.55 ERA) will go for the Colts against Turner Brasher (2-1, 6.46 ERA) of the Dillas. Saturday is also Thundersticks Giveaway Night presented by TXU as the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a free pair of thundersticks. The broadcast of the game begins with the Kemps Pregame Show at 6:50, and can be heard on 1260 KKSA.
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United League Baseball Stories from August 28, 2010
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