Outlaws Blank Armada 8-0, Avoid Series Sweep
August 10, 2007 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
CHICO, CA - Daniel "Duck" Howard scattered six hits over seven shutout innings and received plenty of early offensive support as the Chico Outlaws snapped a five game losing streak with an 8-0 victory over Long Beach Thursday night at Nettleton Stadium...Chico salvaging the finale of their three-game series with the Armada and halting Long Beach's winning streak at six.
The contest unfolded with Long Beach loading the bases in the top of the 1st, but Howard - who was roughed up for nine runs and nine hits in three innings in his Outlaws debut last week in St. George - wiggled his way out of the opening inning jam. Chico struck quickly in its half of the 1st - Jesse Kovacs scored from third when Armada pitcher Ryan Claypool misplayed a ball off the bat of Daniel Nava...Scott Dragicevich came home on a Jason Van Meetren sacrifice fly...and Nava eventually scored on back-to-back singles by Jake Ferris and Brock Ungricht. The Outlaws went up 5-0 in the 2nd when Kovacs homered with Eric Pringle aboard...then in the 3rd Pringle's two-out base hit plated Ferris to give Chico a 6-0 lead.
As Long Beach missed on several scoring opportunities (they left seven on base in the first four innings), Chico went up 8-0 in the bottom of the 4th when Dragicevich scored on a force play at second...but when Armada second baseman Jorge Araiza tried to complete a double play, he was upended by Van Meetren and airmailed his throw to first...the error allowing Nava to come home. That completed the evening's scoring...and Howard - with relief help from Paul Wilson and John Jefferson - shut down Long Beach the rest of the way to notch the shutout victory and give Chico just its fourth win over the Armada in 11 tries this season.
Howard (1-0) got credit for the victory, with Claypool (6-3) going just four innings in taking the loss. The Outlaws had 10 hits on the night; Dragicevich leading the way with a double and two singles; Kovacs and Ferris both contributed a pair of hits...Cole Cicatelli had three of Long Beach's seven hits. Thursday's win upped Chico's second half record to 7-15 and overall mark to 32-28...Long Beach slipped to 18-4 in the second half and 41-19 on the year. The Outlaws continue their six-game homestand Friday with the first of three against the St. George Roadrunners...right-hander Jake McKinley (2-3) will get the start for Chico in the series opener, with right-hander Shannon Sprouse (2-6) expected to pitch for St. George. Game time is 7:05pm...hear all the action with "The Voice" of the Outlaws, Rory Miller, beginning at 6:35pm on the internet or on SportsFan 101.7 FM ESPN Radio.
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Golden Baseball League Stories from August 10, 2007
- Flyers Offense Breaks Out - Orange County Flyers
- Sox Fall Short in Yuma Thriller - Reno Silver Sox
- Outlaws Blank Armada 8-0, Avoid Series Sweep - Chico Outlaws
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