AtL Lancaster Stormers

Le Croy, Barnstormers Crush Bridgeport

Published on September 14, 2008 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Matt LeCroy had a day that will be discussed for a long time at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

The Barnstormers designated hitter went 4-for-6 with a homer and three doubles. He scored four runs and drove in four in Lancaster's 17-6 win over the Bridgeport Bluefish. Even his outs were loud - a line drive to right and a fly ball caught at the center field wall.

But, more than all of that, the day, Sunday, September 14, will be remembered as THE DAY THAT MATT LE CROY STOLE THIRD. It was the first steal for the South Carolinian since August 9, 2002 while playing for Class AAA Edmonton.

With the win, Lancaster climbed to within three games of the York Revolution. Eight games remain on the schedule.

After giving the Barnstormers a 4-3 lead with an RBI double to right center in the bottom of the third, LeCroy got a jump off second against lefty starter Mike Connolly (3-4) and beat Luis Rodriguez' throw to third base. He popped up, clapped his hands and had a huge grin on his face. The cat had indeed eaten the canary.

The steal was a catalyst in what turned out to be an 11-run inning, the largest in franchise history.

Bryan Sabatella grounded the next pitch in the direction of Alex Prieto, who mishandled it for a run as LeCroy scored. Ian Bladergroen went to 3-0 against Connolly, who then came out with an injury. The walk was completed with Mark Romanczuk in the game.

Lloyd Turner sacrificed the runners to second and third. The Barnstormers' third baseman thought he had beaten the throw from Luis Lopez, argued vehemently and was ejected from the game. David Castillo singled home a pair of runs with a liner into left center for a 7-3 lead.

Mike Caruso drew a walk, and Jutt Hileman skied a three-run homer onto the picnic deck. Romanczuk drilled Mike Woods with a pitch (which led to warnings being issued after Wilson Batista was smoked in the fourth inning). Gary Harris walked, and LeCroy ripped a two-run double down the left field line. LeCroy took third when the throw home went to the backstop and scored on another ground ball by Sabatella. Bladergroen followed with a home run for the 11th tally of the inning and a 14-3 lead.

Monte Mansfield (2-0) worked six innings for Lancaster, allowing 10 hits and five runs. He walked two and struck out five.

Woods, who also scored in the first inning on a two-run homer by Harris, homered in the eighth, his 22nd long ball of the season. In the process, he scored his 113th run of the season, tying the Atlantic League record set by Somerset's Billy Hall in 2001.

NOTES: Lancaster has now won nine of ten and 12 of 15...The 17-run output was the largest for the Barnstormers this season...Lancaster also hit a season-high five homers and drew 11 walks, the most on the year...Bridgeport eventually used converted outfield Steve Doetsch and first baseman Jesse Hoorelbeke on the hill...Hileman's homer was his first since August 16 and Bladergroen's was his first since August 31...Caruso lost his 11-game hitting streak...Sabatella had the unusual distinction of driving in three runs in the game without ever getting a base hit...LeCroy has 12 homers in his last 37 games and has driven in 23 in his last 19 games and 68 in his last 69...The game also featured a bizarre 2-1 force play on a bases loaded squibber hit by Caruso in the seventh...The Barnstormers will send Mac Nelson (1-0) to the mound on Monday evening...The host Somerset Patriots will counter with reigning Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year, Brian Adams (10-7)...Game time is 7:05 at Commerce Bank Ballpark.

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