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Flyers Clinch Playoff Berth

August 27, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Orange County Flyers News Release


The Orange County Flyers secured a playoff spot with Thursday night's 12-5 victory over the Tijuana Cimarrones, clinching the third trip to the post-season for the Flyers in franchise history. The Flyers are only the second team in GBL history to make three trips to the playoffs. Orange County will face first-half division winner Maui in a best-of-five series that will start on Maui after the regular-season series at Na Koa Ikaika Maui (Aug 31 - Sept 6) wraps up. All regular-season and playoff games in Maui will be broadcast live online on the Flyers broadcast network through Live365.

With the win Thursday, the Flyers guarantee at least the second-best overall record in the GBL South, which means that even if first-half winner Maui, not Orange County, wins the second half division title, OC would face Maui in the playoffs as the second-best team over the entire season.

Orange County broke a 3-3 tie with an eight-run six inning, with all eight runs coming with two outs. Steve Boggs walked and Derek Perren was hit by a pitch, and two batters later during Sergio Pedroza's at bat, the wheels began to fall of Tijuana's wagon. During an intentional walk to Pedroza, Tijuana's pitcher Jordan Oseguera balked twice, scoring Boggs and putting Perren at third. Cimarrones manager Alex Arias and catcher Carlos Dominguez were ejected for arguing the balk that gave OC a 4-3 lead.

After Pedroza drew the intentional walk, Julian Benavidez singled home Perren and reached second base on an error. Tyler Keeble and Jim Goethals follows with RBI singles to cash Pedroza and Benavidez, and Zach Mandelblatt was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, David Harris blasted his first career grand slam homerun (7) to give OC an 11-3 lead.

Jesse Smith earned the win (6-4), throwing six inning, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out five and walking three. Bryan Harris, Matt Durkin and former Major Leaguer Matt Riley all pitched in relief for the Flyers

The trip to the postseason will be the third in the franchise's six-year history. The Flyers lost to Reno in the 2006 GBL Championship and defeated the Long Beach Armada and Calgary Vipers en route to the 2008 Championship.

The Flyers and Cimarrones continue this series on Friday, with first pitch at 6:05pm. Former National League All-Star Mark Prior is scheduled to pitch for Orange County tonight against Tijuana, his seventh appearance for the playoff-bound Flyers.

Orange County plays it final regular-season home game on Saturday with a doubleheader against Tijuana, and tickets for all games are still available by calling (714) 526-8326 or by going to the team's website www.OrangeCountyFlyers.com to reserve a seat.



Golden Baseball League Stories from August 27, 2010


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.

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