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Cutters Rally in Ninth, Grab Victory in Tenth

June 24, 2005 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Haven County Cutters News Release


Jeff Brooks had the New Haven County Cutters first and last hit on Friday night, as the team rallied from a three-run ninth inning deficit to record a 5-4 extra inning victory over the North Shore Spirit.

The first of Brooks? three hits on the night came on a scalding two-hopper right inside the third base bag in the seventh inning. Up until that point, Spirit starter Ryan Bicondoa had stifled the Cutters at the plate, allowing only two base runners, each reaching via free passes. Nothing ever came of the double, but it was a sign of things to come for the New Haven County ball club.

Down 3-0 heading into the eighth, the Cutters finally got to the excellent Bicondoa, who had shutout the Cutters earlier the season in a rain-shortened game. Newly acquired second baseman Mike LaRosa recorded his first Yale Field hit with a single and scored on a Keto Anderson triple.

After the Spirit extended their lead to 4-1 in the top of the ninth, the Cutters refused to go quietly in their half of the inning. With Bicondoa out of the game, the Cutters? bats suddenly came alive against reliever Ryan McCally. Derrick Gibson led off with a single and was moved to second on a Bill Peavey groundout. Brooks came through with his second one-bagger to advance Gibson to third. After a Mike O?Keefe walk to load the bases and an Andy Larned strike out, Orlando Encarnacion stepped to the plate with a chance to do something heroic.

Encarnacion did not disappoint, producing a two-run single that was placed perfectly down the right field line. Down by one, LaRosa had an opportunity to make a lasting impression on the crowd in his home debut and came through in spectacular fashion, rifling a sharply hit ball under the glove of first baseman, Vic Davilla, to score O?Keefe and tie the game.

Jarrett Starwarz, who relieved starter Tim Keinath in the ninth, was overpowering in the top of the tenth, striking out two Spirit batters.

The bottom of the tenth started well for the Cutters, as Keith Stegbauer worked a leadoff walk. Gibson followed with a single, pushing Stegbauer to second. Mark Comolli was brought on in relief of McCally and was faced with the daunting task of trying to extend the ballgame. Peavey reached on a fielder?s choice that moved Stegbauer to third, but the extra base would prove unnecessary, as Brooks? single in between the shortstop and third base would have scored the runner from second easily.

Tim Keinath performance was overshadowed by Bicondoa?s dominance and the late-inning rally, but he once again pitched very solidly for the Cutters, going eight innings and allowing three runs, all coming in the third.

The second game of the series is on Saturday at 7:05. Jordy Alexander looks to make it six wins in the last seven games for the Cutters. The Spirit will counter with Jake Mullis.

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Canadian American League Stories from June 24, 2005


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