Keagle Spins Magnificent Gem of a Ballgame in 6-2 Win at Albany-Colonie
Published on July 30, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - Heritage Park, Colonie, New York
Greg Keagle struck out a season high 11 batters and carried a no-hitter into the 7th inning in a brilliant performance as the Pioneers turned away the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs Tuesday night at Heritage Park. The game was the first of a6-game road-trip for Elmira against the division leaders in the 2nd half, Albany and New Jersey.
Keagle (5-8) finished with 2 walks over 8 innings of 2-hit ball to end his personal 3-game losing streak. The Horseheads, NY native had gone 1-7 in his last 8 starts. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th, former Pioneer Dan Singletary singled solidly to RF to break up Keagle's bid for a no-hitter. Singletary and Keagle were teammates with the Pioneers in 2000 and 2001.
Keagle threw the last no-hitter in the Northern League East on 8/18/00 vs. Waterbury. The only other no-hitter in the league was July of 1996 thrown by Joel Bennett of Newburgh against Adirondack.
The Pioneers offense was powered by Brian Jones with pair of solo HR's in the 4th and 6th innings. It was Jones first multi-HR game of the season for Elmira and just the 2nd for the team. Jones had 7HR's this season including 3 in the past week. Brandon Pernell also went long-ball with a drive in the 5th inning, his 4th since joining Elmira in the trade 1 month ago for Eric Estes.
Keagle fired 122 pitches in his 8-inning performance mixing his curve-ball and fast-ball efficiently enough to keep the Diamond Dog batters off balance throughout the night. Keagle pitched for parts of 3 seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers from 1996-1998.
The lone unearned run that scored against Keagle came on his own mistake. After a lead-offwalk to Angel Valdez in the 4th, Keagle bounced a pick-off throw to 1st for an error allowing Valdez to advance to 3rd. Vic Davila's Sac-Fly to CF brought home Valdez to pull the Dogs to within 2-1.
Pernell hit a 2-run HR in the 5th following a Norm Hutchins bunt single to put Elmira up 4-1 and Brian Jones lined a HR barely over the wall in LF for his 2nd of the game making the score 5-1. It was Pernell's 4th HR since joining the Pioneers and his 6th overall this season.
Rolando Bello walked in the 7th and eventually scored on a Pedro Quero single to finish the Pioneer attack.
Donnie Thomas surrendered a run in the 9th on 2 hits. Angel Valdez tripled to deep LF in and out of the glove of Brandon Pernell and then scored on a 2-out single to right-center by Singletary.
Jason Von Haefen (4-5) was pinned with the loss for the Diamond Dogs allowing 5r, 4er on 4 hits in 5.1ip with 2bb's and 6 k's.
Elmira is 5-2 vs. Albany-Colonie this season and 3-1 at Heritage Park with several masterful pitching performances including 2-hit shutouts by Eric Estes (still with the Pioneers) and Sean Brummett when Elmira last visited here in mid-June.
Good friends to battle against each other as Justin Stine starts the Wednesday night game against former Pioneer hurler Eric Estes.
Canadian American League Stories from July 30, 2002
- Keagle Spins Magnificent Gem of a Ballgame in 6-2 Win at Albany-Colonie - Elmira Pioneers
- Black Bears Lose to Quebec - Berkshire Black Bears
- Bennett Shuts Out Lumberjacks, 1-0 - New Jersey Jackals
- Crowell Crowns Riversharks - Atlantic City Surf
- Pioneers Add OF Jeremy Brostrom and Release OF Brian Baker - Elmira Pioneers
- Surf Attendance on the Rise - Atlantic City Surf
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.
