AtL Lancaster Stormers

Patriots Take Division Lead

Published on August 21, 2010 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Outside of one five-batter stretch on Saturday evening, the Lancaster Barnstormers pitched and defended very well.

That span of five hitters, however, produced three runs as the Somerset Patriots edged the Barnstormers, 3-2, in front of 6,256 at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

With the victory, the Patriots took a one-game lead over both Lancaster and York in the Freedom Division with just over four weeks remaining on the schedule.

Ben Fritz threw five scoreless innings for the Barnstormers on Saturday evening on three hits and three walks, coming out as a precautionary move after missing his last start. Ross Peeples pitched a scoreless sixth, and Lancaster carried a 1-0 lead into the seventh.

The Barnstormers had built that lead in the third against winner Jason Monti (3-6). He hit Octavio Martinez with a pitch, and, with one out, allowed consecutive singles to Lloyd Turner and Vic Gutierrez to produce the run.

Monti would allow very little else, coming out of the game after six innings, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out five.

It unraveled in a hurry against Charlie Weatherby (1-4). Matt Hagen rode his first pitch down the left field line for a double. Noah Hall flared a single into right. Elliott Ayala dribbled a single through the right side to score Hagen with the tying run. A bunt by Jason Belcher rolled under Weatherby's glove for an error to load the bases, and Iggy Suarez forced home the go-ahead run with a walk.

Lancaster went to Pat Overholt, who got three straight outs, but one run scored on a grounder to the hole on the right side by Joe Burke as the Pats grabbed a 3-1 lead.

Turner led off the bottom of the eighth with a single and stole second. The Barnstormers moved him around on outs to pull within 3-2, but Scott Williamson shut the door there and again in the ninth to earn his third save.

The Barnstormers will finish the series against Somerset on Sunday at 6:00 with Jason Simontacchi (4-6) working against Jonathan Ellis (3-3). Lancaster will play its following seven games on the road at Southern Maryland and Camden.

NOTES: Herr's hitting streak ended at 10 games...Turner stayed hot, batting .365 in his last 24 games...Ryan Mulhern had his third straight multi-hit game...He had Lancaster's only extra-base hit, a double with one out in the fourth...Fritz' ERA on the season dropped to 3.37, leading the league...He also leads with 118 strikeouts...Lancaster has dropped 11 out of its last 14.

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Atlantic League Stories from August 21, 2010


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