Sports stats



Fielders Persevere through Travel Issues to Win 15-Inning Game in Maui

June 19, 2011 - North American League (NAmL)
Lake County Fielders News Release


Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii - Even with travel issues that prevented the entire Lake County Fielders team from making it to Iron Maehara Stadium in a timely manner, and a game that lasted more than five hours and 15 innings, the Fielders found a way to defeat the Maui Na Koa Ikaika, 3-2.

Saturday night's game was scheduled for a 6:35pm local first pitch, but due to several Fielders players and coaches being unable to arrive in Maui in time for the scheduled start, the Na Koa Ikaika graciously delayed the start time. Once the Fielders could field a nine-man starting lineup, the game was ready to go, even if it was without any of its coaches to start the game. The late timing of the first pitch, which was delayed by 49 minutes, was only the start of the long night that was to follow.

The first five innings of the game went scoreless, with both teams managing just two hits on offense. And, it took until the bottom of the 6th inning to break the scoring drought, when Maui brought home a run on third baseman Jose Sanchez's RBI single.

The Fielders took the lead with two outs in the top of the 7th inning. Joe Dempsey walked and came home to score on a pinch-hit, RBI double by Brandon Newton. Newton eventually scored on two wild pitches thrown by Maui reliever David Dinelli, to give Lake County a 2-1 lead.

But, the Na Koa Ikaika came back to tie the game in the bottom of the 8th inning, when Sanchez scored on a pinch-hit RBI single by Nicholas Fitzgerald. A run would not come across for six whole innings.

The game extended into its fifth hour and 15th inning before another run would come across for either side. Luckily, that game-breaking run was scored by the Lake County Fielders. C.J. Ziegler led off the inning with a line drive single to center field. Following a pair of strikeouts and a Patrick Brooks single, it was Joe Dempsey's opportunity to change the game. Dempsey pulled a line drive single to left field, scoring Ziegler and giving the Fielders a 3-2 lead in the top of the 15th inning.

Fielders pitching coach/reliever Chris Thompson (1-2) held serve for three innings of relief and made it through a fourth inning out of the bullpen in the bottom of the 15th inning to secure the win for Lake County. Thompson allowed just two hits and two walks, as he struck out four batters to pick up his first win of the season.

Because of the 15-inning game that lasted 5 hours and 17 minutes, the Fielders and Na Koa Ikaika will have a short amount of rest before they pick up their series on Sunday afternoon. An already scheduled Fathers' Day doubleheader against Maui will place a big burden on the Fielders, who had already played a doubleheader on Friday in Calgary, and the Na Koa Ikaika after their 15-inning battle in the first game of the series. Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:05pm local time (7:05pm central). There will be a 30-minute break in between the two games, which will consist of seven innings each. You can listen to the game on 1220 AM WKRS or online at fieldersbaseball.com or wkrs.com.

• Discuss this story on the North American League message board...

North American League Stories from June 19, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Lake County Fielders Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central