Edmonton Capitals Win NABL North Division Pennant

August 28, 2011 - North American League (NAmL)
Edmonton Capitals News Release


Edmonton, AB - The Edmonton Capitals win the pennant. The Caps needed a strong finish to close out the inaugural regular season of the North American Baseball League and ended up winning 4 of their last 5 games against their nemesis the Calgary Vipers, including a sweep in the season-ending double header to clinch first place. Fan Appreciation Day presented by Canadian Tire turned out to be a perfect afternoon for the Caps and their fans with wins of 6 - 4 and 8 - 5.

Edmonton's 2011 record will go into the books at 56 - 32 giving them three more wins than Calgary and most importantly the highest winning percentage in the north at .636%. The 88th and deciding game came down to a tie game through six innings and a thrilling finish in front of another great crowd. Close to 15,000 fans attended the final series of the regular season as playoff excitement builds.

The Capitals jumped out to an early 5 - 2 lead in game 2 with all 5 of those runs coming in the second inning. Brent Metheny started things off with a lead-off home run. Rex Rundgren cashed in J.D. Closser with an RBI single. Starting pitcher Rory Shortell helped his own cause with base hit in the rally and scored later on a wild pitch. Matt Rogelstad's double cashed in a pair of runs to give Edmonton a comfortable lead.

Calgary chipped away eventually tying the game at 5 in the top of the 5th setting up the dramatic finish. The Capitals closed the deal with a series of clutch hits and controversial plays. Rex Rundgren lead off the inning with a double allowing Orv Franchuk to place Playoff Game 1 Starter Lou Pote into the game in a pinch-hitting situation. Pote squared off to bunt only to be beaned by Vipers reliever Matt Hammonds. Later the Caps ace was thrown out sliding into home plate on yet another controversial call only adding fuel to the fire as the Battle of Alberta heats up just in time for the post-season. Then Caps catcher J.D. Closser delivered the final blow with a bases-loaded RBI single scoring a pair of runs that gave Edmonton an 8 - 5 lead they would not relinquish.

The first half of the double header, was a tight affair with the teams matching each other in the early going. Todd Linden was 3 for 3 at the plate for the Caps including a critical RBI double that put the home team ahead 6 - 3 in the bottom of the 6th inning. The Vipers actually committed 2 key errors in the 6th which resulted in 2 unearned runs for Edmonton.

Edmonton starter Daryl Arreola earned his sixth win of the season with his six innings of work. Burlington, Ontario native Tom Boleska earned his team-leading 10th save of the season.

The first ever North American Baseball League North Division Championship Series is now completely set. With the win, Edmonton earns the right to host a game seven if the series goes the distance. The first two games of the series will be hosted in Edmonton Tuesday and Wednesday. It happens to be another $2 Tuesday presented by CISN FM with a wide variety of concession items available for just $2! That will be followed by by another Wiener Wednesday presented by K97 with Capital dogs available for just $2. Playoff tickets are on sale now and start at just $10 when you purchase in advance at any Ticketmaster location, at the Capitals box office (10233-96 Avenue) during regular business hours, online at capsbaseball.ca or by calling (780) 414-GOAL. (4625).



North American League Stories from August 28, 2011


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