Falcons Win Home Opener

Published on May 27, 2005 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Surprise Fightin' Falcons News Release


Baseball in Surprise began with a bang Thursday night. The Surprise Fightin' Falcons poured in 13 runs to match the post-game firework show in a 13-3 win over the Japan Samurai Bears.

Shortstop Mike Collins and right fielder Josh Green each collected three hits, and center fielder David Nowak drove in three runs as Surprise opened the Golden Baseball League with a win over the traveling team from Japan in front of an announced crowd of 3,458.

Ten different Fightin' Falcons players got hits in the game, including Nowak, who drove in two runs with a double in the three-run second inning for Surprise.

Pitching also played a big role in the victory for Surprise. Manager Ozzie Virgil Jr. received a big game from left-hander Chris Russ, who made the team in an open tryout last month.

Russ actually left with a no-hitter in the seventh inning, but his arm wore down as he hit a batter and walked three others to bring in a run.

Brian Barnett allowed two of Russ' runners to score to cut Surprise's lead to 6-3 in the seventh. But the Falcons roughed up Japan's bullpen, scoring five more runs in the eighth, two on Green's double.

The two teams will play the second game of their four-game series at 7:05 p.m. Friday night. The team's will continue the series with 7:05 p.m. games Saturday and Sunday.

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Golden Baseball League Stories from May 27, 2005


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