Doubleheader Split May Cost Anderson

Published on August 24, 2007 under South Coast League (SCL)
Anderson Joes News Release


A doubleheader split Friday all but eliminated the Joes from South Coast League playoff contention, as Anderson won game one of its twinbill against Charlotte County, 4-3, but lost game two, 2-1.

Depending on whether or not South Georgia and Bradenton make up a previously rained out game in their series next week, the Joes may already be knocked out of postseason consideration after their game two loss.

In game one, Anderson received an expectedly dazzling effort from ace Jan Granado, who earned his seventh win of the season by striking out five and allowing three unearned runs in a complete-game, seven-inning effort. The Joes used two RBI from Steve Pearson and two runs from Chris Demons to help power them to victory.

In game two, however, the teams flipped the script.

Anderson (22-19, 35-51 overall) saw starting pitcher Dave Rider throw 5.1 scoreless innings before the Redfish tagged him for a run in the sixth and later another in the seventh. Charlotte County (10-31, 21-64) starter Mike Rigazio outdueled Rider -- who took the loss -- by throwing five scoreless innings and allowing just six baserunners en route to his first win of the season.

A last-inning rally brought the Joes within a run with the bases loaded and two outs before a pop out to second ended the game in the Redfish's favor.

The Joes now sit on the brink of mathematical elimination from the playoff system. Anderson would certainly be knocked out in any of the following scenarios: Joes lose one more game this season; Macon Music win one more game; South Georgia Peanuts win three games; Bradenton Juice win four games.

The hitches in the process are that Macon and South Georgia still have three scheduled games against each other this weekend, despite the fact their series is slated to end Saturday. Also, South Georgia and Bradenton play one another for either a three- or four-game series to end the year. Whether or not they make up a rained-out game from earlier this season will depend on what transpires in all possible scenarios before their series.

Anderson ends its season with a three-game trip to Macon.

The simplest scenario would see Macon either winning one of its final six games or Anderson losing one of its final four games to end the Joes' dreams.

"It's tough," Joes third baseman Kevin Noles said. "Hopefully, we can just win four out of the next four."

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South Coast League Stories from August 24, 2007


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