Colts Will Play For ULB Title Tuesday
September 8, 2009 - United League Baseball (ULB)
San Angelo Colts News Release
San Angelo, Texas--- San Angelo entered the bottom of the ninth inning down by a run and down a game to the Amarillo Dillas in the United league Championship series. However, an error and a walk on the part of the Dillas left the door open for the Colts. With two outs, and two strikes, Nick Mahin scorched a homerun over the left field wall giving the Colts a 10-8 victory, and tying the series at two games apiece. Mahin's walk-off homerun was the first of the season for the Colts, and keeps San Angelo alive for a chance at the 2009 ULB Championship.
Amarillo jumped to the lead in the first. A double to left-center by Keanon Simon and an RBI single by Stantrel Smith, to right-center, gave the road team a 1-0 lead.
The cushion would increase for the Dillas in the next frame. Trent Lockwood and Eric Brown singled; but when Hunter Jobes tried to nail Lockwood at third, the first baseman for Amarillo was safe and Brown advanced to second. Justin Wenger served a sacrifice fly to center, plating Lockwood and pushing Brown to third. In a two out situation, Simon smacked a single to center to make it a 3-0 Dillas advantage.
More offense provided by the road squad in the third frame. A walk by Carlos Figueroa and a one out triple by Reyes extended the edge to four.
The ballgame took a turn for the best in the bottom half of the fifth frame; John Anderson was at second base by way of a single and stolen base. A single by Butch Ballez moved runners at the corners with nobody out. A slow rolling ground ball to short stop off the bat of Hank Lanto resulted in an RBI single; the Colts were on the board. The fourth consecutive single in the inning from Ronnie Gaines loaded the bases. Starter Taylor Allen was then removed for right-handed reliever Matt Smith. First-pitch swinging was Hunter Jobes, a line drive down the right field line fell for a double. Two runs scored for the Colts, San Angelo was within a run. Continuing, a walk to Rich Paz loaded the bags. Bryan Frichter sent a sacrifice fly to left; Gaines came in to tie the game at four. The Colts sustained their momentum with an RBI single by Selwyn Langaigne, a four-run deficit was wiped away by San Angelo to end the fifth, the score moved to 5-4 in favor of the Colts.
San Angelo's lead was swiped immediately by the Dillas in the sixth. A walk to Angel Reyes and a double by Trent Lockwood brought runners to second and third base. An RBI single by Eric Brown became the tying run as Reyes crossed home plate. Willie James then hit into a fielders choice but the ground ball enabled Lockwood to score and the Dillas regained the lead 6-5. A Keanon Simon kept the inning alive for Stantrel Smith. Smith delivered a two-RBI double extending the Dillas advantage to three.
San Angelo would not quit. In the bottom of the sixth, a walk to Anderson and a single by Ballez landed runners at second and third. Following a sacrifice bunt by Lanto, Ronnie Gaines lined a single up the middle driving in Anderson. San Angelo brought the deficit within two runs.
The lead shrunk to one in the bottom of the seventh. Paz walked, Frichter was plunked by a pitch and Langaigne was induced into a double play to advance Paz to third. After a bases on balls by Jason Landreth, an infield hit by Anderson scooted Paz home. It was 8-7.
San Angelo had it's opportunity in the eighth. With one retired, Gaines singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Gaines galloped to third on a Jobes ground out to second. Rich Paz belted a line drive but the centerfielder, Simon, made a diving catch to preserve the lead.
In the ninth, the Colts threatened again. Frichter reached on an error by pitcher, Albert Ayala. After one out had been recorded, Landreth walked. Once John Anderson hit a long fly ball to center, Frichter sprinted to third. With runners situated at the corners, batter Nick Mahin, who entered the ballgame in the seventh inning, in place of Butch Ballez, fell behind quickly 0 and 2. After two high fastballs, the count evened at two. Mahin then squared up a pitch from Ayala and lined it over the left field wall for the Colts first walk-off homerun of the season. The three-run shot, and 10-8 victory for San Angelo, knots the series at two games apiece.
Securing the victory was Jameson Maj, the losing pitcher was Albert Ayala. Each Colt reliever saw action in tonight's contest. Tomorrow may prove similar.
Game five, and ULB Championship series finale will be here at Foster Field.. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm, gates will open at 6:05. Come support your Colts, as they go for a Championship!!
We want to thank the Colts fans for their support during the 2009 season. Another token of appreciation should be given to Foster communications for providing all 80 Colts regular season and six playoff contest on KCLL COOL 100.1 FM. Stay updated on the San Angelo Colts by visiting our website at www.sanangelocolts.com. Call us to reserve tickets for next season: (325) 942-6587. We will see you next year.
Remember! When you come to Foster Field, all draft beer and hot dogs are $1.00 at the concession stands while soda and aluminum bottles of beer are $2.00. We will see you at Foster Field.
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United League Baseball Stories from September 8, 2009
- RMB Fairgrounds Field voted top playing surface - Coastal Bend Thunder
- Colts Just One Win Away From ULB Title, Offering discount tickets Through E-mail - San Angelo Colts
- Dillas one pitch away but fall 10-8 on walkoff - Amarillo Dillas
- Colts Will Play For ULB Title Tuesday - San Angelo Colts
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