Doubledays Walk-Off Division Winners
September 3, 2011 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Auburn Doubledays News Release
Auburn, NY - For the first time since 2007, the Auburn Doubledays are playoff bound.
In their first year under the Washington Nationals and manager Gary Cathcart, the Doubledays clinched the Pinckney Division outright on Friday night with an extra-innings, walk-off spectacular in front of 1,250 fans at Falcon Park.
After dropping game one of a doubleheader with Batavia, the Doubledays knew a win in game two would bring them close to a division title, if not clinch it. Just minutes after finding out that second-place Williamsport had lost a one-run contest against State College, Justin Miller blooped a single over Batavia second baseman, Jeremy Patton, scoring Matt Skole in a division-clinching 2-1 win on Friday.
The Doubledays now await their first round foe, which they will meet in a best-of-three series beginning on Thursday, September 6th.
Auburn never got off to a good start in game one of Friday's doubleheader, falling behind 3-0 in the first three innings. Two runs came home for Auburn in the home half of the sixth, with an RBI groundout by Matt Skole and RBI single by Russell Moldenhauer, but the Doubledays fell 4-2.
In the nightcap, both starting pitchers dazzled. Jonathan Cornelius lasted only three innings for Batavia but dominated, striking out six and allowing just one base-hit. Christian Meza had his best outing of the season for Auburn, going six strong innings while allowing just three hits and no runs, striking out five.
Both teams were scoreless heading to the sixth, and that's when Auburn struck.
With two outs and the bases clear, Matt Skole, Justin Miller, and Russell Moldenhauer lined three consecutive singles, plating the first run of the night. Auburn led 1-0 headed to the game's final inning.
In the top of the seventh, with Colin Bates on the hill, the Doubledays couldn't shut the door. Three consecutive singles by Romulo Ruiz, Phillip Cerreto, and Virgil Hill loaded the bases with nobody out before Ruiz scored from third on a wild pitch by Colin Bates, tying the game at one. Auburn was held in check in the seventh and the game went to the eighth.
After Travis Henke mowed down the Batavia side in order, the Doubledays created a rally, all with two outs and the bases clear.
Matt Skole hit a ground ball up the middle that was booted by Jeremy Patton at second, allowing Skole to reach. Two wild pitches later, Skole was standing on third base, representing the winning, and as it turned out, division-clinching run. Justin Miller stepped up and flipped a single into right, scoring Skole from third and giving the Doubledays the Pinckney Division.
Auburn will now finish the 2011 regular season on the road, traveling to Batavia for two more games. The Doubledays and Muckdogs will tangle Saturday night at Dwyer Stadium, followed by the regular season finale on Sunday afternoon. Saturday night's game is scheduled to start at 7:05pm, with the pregame show going live at 6:50pm on 89.1 FM in Auburn or at www.auburndoubledays.com.
New York-Penn League Stories from September 3, 2011
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- Doubledays Walk-Off Division Winners - Auburn Doubledays
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