Black Bears Offense Dominates Game One, But Split Doubleheader

Published on August 6, 2003 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Berkshire Black Bears News Release


The Black Bears overwhelmed the North Shore Spirit with a massive offensive explosion in the first game of the doubleheader. The Pittsfield Nine charged out of the gates, scoring 2 in the first, four in the second and one in the third inning to take a 7-0 lead. With two outs in the first inning, Shane Hopper extended the inning with a single, Manny Crespo hit an RBI double to the gap in right center, then Pete Paciorek followed with a single to right, scoring Crespo for a 2-0 advantage.

The second wave of the Berkshire attack was the big one, pounding down on the Spirit for four runs in the second inning. Brady Williams started things off with an infield hit, Chris Briones smashed a single to left, and Jose Mateo lifted one into center, scoring Williams from second to make it 3-0. The hit parade continued with a two-run double by Hopper, and then Crespo hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Hopper from third to make it 6-0 Black Bears.

The Spirit had been quiet against Berkshire starter Rick Guttormson over four innings, but they touched the hurler for 2 unearned runs in the fifth, and 3 more runs in the sixth inning on a bases loaded double by Fran Riordan, cutting the lead to 7-5. Closer Matt Bailie came on to finish off the Spirit, and he did so with gusto; striking out the first two batters in a 1-2-3 seventh.

Guttormson (5-7) picked up the win, allowing five runs (three earned), seven hits with three strikeouts over six innings tonight. Bailie got his tenth save of the season, tying him with Chris McGee of Elmira for second in the League in saves.

North Shore starter Klae Calvert fell to 6-4 with the loss, allowing seven runs on ten hits, with two strikeouts over just three innings of work.

In game two, the Black Bears' offense floundered against the pitching of North Shore starter John Kelly, being shutout 3-0. In the second inning, North Shore first baseman Fran Riordan continued his clutch hitting, knocking an RBI single to center. In the third inning, John Schmitz scored from third on a wild pitch from starter Todd Etler. Frank Charles followed with a single to left, scoring Robert Fischer from second, giving North Shore an early 3-0 edge. This would turn out to be all the scoring the Spirit needed. Thanks to Kelly's 6-strikeout 7.0 inning performance, the Black Bears were blanked on the scoreboard with few chances.

The Black Bears starter, Todd Etler, who recently joined the Berkshire pitching staff, fell to 1-1 with the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with one strikeout over seven innings. North Shore starter, Kelly (10-2) got his sixth complete game this season with the win, allowing no runs on four hits with six strikeouts.

Black Bears follow an off day Thursday by traveling to Bangor Friday for a three game weekend series with the Lumberjacks, and then a three games in Quebec City.

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Canadian American League Stories from August 6, 2003


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