Ninth inning rally secures 5-3 Flyers win

August 25, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Schaumburg Flyers News Release


GARY, IN- Victor Ferrante clubbed a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the ninth to give the Flyers a 5-3 come-from-behind victory in what has to be the club's biggest win of the season.

Gary jumped on the board in the bottom of the second. With two outs recorded, a Mike Rohde single got things started, and a Jordan Czarniecki base hit put Rohde on third. Catcher Anthony Esquer then lined a single into right, scoring Rohde and giving the Railcats their first lead of night at 1-0.

The Flyers would get that run back in the third. A Tony Mansolino double, followed by a Joe Pauley walked gave the Flyers their first scoring chance of the night. However a double steal attempt saw Mansolino tagged out at third, with Pauley moving up to 2nd. Antoan Richardson made sure the Flyers wouldn't leave empty handed, scoring Pauley on a two out triple, tying the game at 1-1.

Momentum would shift back to Gary in the bottom of the third. Jay Pecci delivered a one out double, and Steve Haake's signle put runners on the corners. Cristian Guerrero's fielder's choice scored Pecci from third, putting the Railcats ahead 2-1.

Flyers starter Carmen Pignatiello proceed to retire the next seven batters he faced, giving way to Tom Lyons in the sixth.

The score would stay the same until the top of the seventh, where Pauley leadoff with a single. After a Travis Brown sacrifice ground out, along with a Richardson walk, Richard Mercado strolled to the plate and singled home Pauley, again tying the game, this time 2-2.

With Cephas Howard on in the seventh for Schaumburg, Gary answered right back with the go-ahead run after an Esquer base hit scored Rohde, his second run of the night.

All was quiet until the top of the ninth. With Gary closer Andy Shipman on to nail it down, Brown landed on first after a throwing error by the shortstop Pecci and moved to second on a Richardson sacrifice bunt. The reigning Northern League Player Of The Week was up next in Victor Ferrante, and he lived up to the award by smashing a two run home run over the center field wall to give the Flyers their first lead of the night 4-3. The Flyers got an insurance run on a Lyndon Poole double, driving in Mercado.

The Flyers left the game in the hands of closer Jason Richardson, who didn't disappoint, striking out the side to record his sixth save as a Flyer.

Howard (4-1) got the win, with Shipman (4-4) taking the loss for the Railcats. The Flyers now move to 40-50 on the year, still two games out of the fourth and final playoff spot. Gary moves to 50-39, still holding onto first in the division.

RHP Dustin Glant(6-8, 5.06) gets the call for the Flyers tomorrow, with LHP Tom Thornton(8-5, 5.93) going for the Railcats. First pitch is at 7:00.



Northern League Stories from August 25, 2009


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