Flyers down Outlaws 8-5 on walk-off homer in 13th

June 24, 2006 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release


FULLERTON, CA - Peanut Williams spoiled an exceptional pitching performance by Chico reliever George Huguet, slamming a walk-off, three-run homer in the bottom of the 13th to give the Fullerton Flyers an 8-5 extra-inning victory over the Outlaws in the opener of a four-game series Friday night at Goodwin Field on the Cal State Fullerton campus.

The game started as a pitcher's duel between starters Brian Kroll of Chico and the Flyers Todd Gelatka. Fullerton took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning when Joey Hendricks slashed a double down the right field line, plating Williams and Jacob Wallis. While the Outlaws could only muster one hit off Gelatka through the first six innings, the Flyers went up 4-0 in the bottom of the 6th on a RBI double by Williams and a Wallis sacrifice fly.

Chico finally broke through in the 7th inning when Craig Kuzmic cracked a two-run homer to right...but Fullerton got one of those runs back in the bottom of the 7th on a two-out single by Bret Levier, knocking in Matt Ferrara. Mike Mallory dialed long distance for the Outlaws in the 8th, blasting his sixth homer of the year with a man aboard, bringing Chico within one. With Huguet coming in from the Outlaws bullpen and keeping the Flyers in check, Chico pushed the tying run across in the 9th - Lino Garcia scoring on a single to left off the bat of Jesse Kovacs...Huguet then tossed a scoreless bottom of the 9th to send the game to extra innings.

Chico put runners in scoring position in both the 10th and 12th innings but could not push a run across...Huguet, meanwhile, baffled the Flyers with a breaking pitch so effective that he struck out seven batters and allowed just two hits through five shutout innings of relief. But his magic finally ran out in the fateful 13th - Levier led off the inning with a bloop double to center, and after Rich Pohle was walked intentionally, the stage was set for Williams, who hit Huguet's first pitch over the left field wall to give Fullerton the dramatic victory.

Ryan Olson (1-0), the last of four Fullerton pitchers, got credit for the win, with Huguet (2-2) saddled with the hard-luck loss. The Outlaws piled up 10 hits on the night, with Mallory going 3-for-6 and Garcia chipping in with a pair of singles...the Flyers 13-hit attack was led by Levier and Gabriel Mayorga with three safeties apiece; Williams finished with four runs batted in to tie Mallory for the league lead in RBI with 26. With Friday's loss Chico fell to 10-12 on the season, while Fullerton improved to 11-10 on the year. Game two of the series is set for Saturday, with left-hander Grant Gregg (0-2) on the mound for the Outlaws...righty Wes Faust (2-2) will throw for the Flyers. Game time is 6:05pm.



Golden Baseball League Stories from June 24, 2006


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