Defenders Headed to Championship with 2-0 win
September 13, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NEW BRITAIN, CT- With one more game to win to continue a storybook season, the Connecticut Defenders solidified one more chapter Sunday afternoon with a 2-0 victory over inner-state rival New Britain in the opening round of the Eastern League Playoffs.
In what was a straight up pitchers duel, Connecticut was able to break the scoreless tie in the fourth. LF-Bobby Felmy ripped a one out single then advanced to second on a wild pitch. C-Jackson Williams then sent a jolt of excitement through the dugout with an RBI single to center and give the Defenders the upper hand.
Pitching was the name of the game but especially for Defenders' starter LHP-Ari Ronick (1-0) who made his Double-A debut. You couldn't tell that the youngster from Boulder, CO was just called up from Low-A Augusta to make the game 4 start. Ronick stifled Rock Cat batters allowing just two hits over 5.1 innings of work while walking a pair and fanning three to earn the win to advance Connecticut to Eastern League Championship.
The Defenders added an insurance run in the seventh. 2B-Brock Bond led off with a walk and moved to second on a CF-Mike McBryde single. The Eastern League's RBI leader, 1B-Brett Pill delivered yet again pulling an RBI single into left and Connecticut's chances got a little brighter.
The Defenders relief core of RHP-Mitch Lively, LHP-Alex Hinshaw, and LHP-Joe Paterson continued to have the same success Ronick had throughout the remainder of the game. New Britain managed to just get two runners in scoring position all ballgame but in the ninth, Paterson fired a three up three down inning to earn his first save of the season.
Rock Cat's reliever LHP-Spencer Steedley (0-1) suffered the loss allowing one earned run off of three hits in two thirds of an inning or work.
The Eastern Leagues top two teams, Akron and Connecticut will meet in the best of five Championship Series Tuesday night at Dodd Stadium at 6:35pm.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Defenders Box Office at (860)-887-7962 or online at ctdefenders.com.
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Eastern League Stories from September 13, 2009
- Defenders Headed to Championship with 2-0 win - Connecticut Defenders
- Defenders End Rock Cats' Season - New Britain Rock Cats
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