Okano's 13th inning Walk-Off forces deciding Game Five

Published on September 7, 2008 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Orange County Flyers News Release


It was a game built around excitement and busting slumps but after four hours of thrilling baseball, Mark Okano's walk-off home run proved to be the difference.

The game was tied for five innings as each team continued to miss opportunites before Okano launched the 2-1 offering into centerfield where Steve Moss leaped to try to bring the fly ball back into the ballpark. But the ball was hit a bit to high and the Flyers errupted in excitement as they now force a game 5 at Goodwin Field Sunday night.

The scoring started in the first as Julian Williams and Omar Bramasco continued to be a pain in the Orange County side as they combined for the first run of the game.

Jermy Acey answered back quickly with a solo home run the opposite way to tie the game at one.

But Dan Trumble was the first to break his streak, blasting a two out, two run homer in the top of the second to give Long Beach the lead.

The lead remained at two until the sixth when the Acey struck again with a single and a stolen base before advancing to third on a throwing error and scoring on a wild pitch.

After another missed opportunity, the Flyers pulled even in the eighth when Jeff LaRue broke his slump with an RBI single.

The game was then pushed into the thirteenth inning at three before Okano's heroics.

Much of the credit has to be attributed to both pitching staffs, as nine pitchers combined for 26 strike outs and held the totals runs scored to seven. Even more credit has to be given to the Flyers' bullpen that did not allow a run in six innings of work including evading numerous jams.

Jesse Smith got the win after 2.2 of excellent relief while Garrett Murdy was the tough luck loser.

The teams will meet for the final team in 2008, a deciding game five with a GBL Champioinship appearance at stake, with first pitch at 6:05.

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Golden Baseball League Stories from September 7, 2008


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