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Ninth Inning Magic In Chico

July 22, 2007 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Reno Silver Sox News Release


In the year's most exciting game, the Silver Sox rallied in the ninth to defeat the Chico Outlaws 8-7.

Reno took an early lead scoring twice in the first inning, but allowed five runs to score in the fourth inning and Chico lead 5-2 going to the sixth.

With two outs in the sixth, 1B Mike Done doubled. SS Sam Walker then came up with one of many clutch hits for the Sox knocking in Done with a double of his own. 2B Maurice Cole then hit his third single of the game scoring Walker making it a one run contest.

CF Victor Hall hit his sixth home run of the year in the seventh inning tying the game at five but SS Jesse Kovacs knocked in a run in the bottom of the inning to give Chico the lead once more. The Outlaws added another run in the eighth and it was 7-5 Chico going to the ninth.

Outlaw closer Todd Gelatka is the golden baseball league's leader in saves and he was a perfect 12-12 in save opportunities entering Saturday?s game. Outlaw manager Mark Parent, with the utmost confidence in his closer, brought him in with two outs in the eight inning. The Silver Sox would take advantage of this.

With the score 7-5 Chico in the top of the ninth, Hall drew a walk. Then DH Juan Senreiso singled after Hall took second base on what was ruled to be defensive indifference. After Senreiso stole second, LF Kane Simmons came to the plate.

Simmons, the league's leading home run hitter, was batting without a hit in the game. Then the rookie from Tennessee came up with one of the biggest hits of the year - a single up the middle scoring Hall and Senreiso.

The Simmons single tied the game at seven, but the Silver Sox were not finished against Gelatka. With two outs, 3B Carlos Madrid came to the plate with Simmons at second base. On the first pitch, Madrid lined a single to left field giving Reno an 8-7 lead headed to the bottom of the ninth.

Adam Nikolic had entered the game to relieve Reno starter Dusty Bergman in the eight inning. Bergman pitched seven innings allowing six runs on eight hits. Nikolic came back out to begin the ninth inning and walked CF Jason Matteucci to begin the frame. Then with the count 2-0 on 2B Eric Pringle, Nikolic was removed in favor of Eric Thomas.

Thomas allowed an infield single to Pringle and then with LF Steve Boggs at the plate a wild pitch allowed both runners to advance.

With runners at second and third and nobody out, it seemed certain the Outlaws would tie the game. But Boggs flied out to right field on a ball not hit far enough to score Matteucci. Then Kovacs struck out looking. Then with two outs, 3B Scott Dragicevich hit a come backer to Thomas and the Sox preserved the lead and won the game.

Game two of this can be heard on ESPN Radio 630 beginning at 5:45 Sunday night.

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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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