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Pedroza Homerun Lifts Flyers Past Maui

September 9, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Orange County Flyers News Release


WAILUKU, Hawai'i (September 8, 2010) - The Orange County Flyers limited Na Koa Ikaika Maui to one hit and Sergio Pedroza blasted a tie-breaking two-run homerun in the seventh inning to propel OC to a 6-2 win in Game 2 of the South Division Series at Iron Maehara Stadium. The best-of-five series, now tied at 1-1, shifts to Fullerton for the remainder of the series with Game 3 on Friday, September 10 at Goodwin Field at 7:05pm.

Starting pitcher Jesse Smith tossed seven strong innings for his fourth GBL postseason win in the last three years. Smith (1-0) no-hit Maui through the first four innings before Michael Higa put Na Koa on the board with a solo homerun in the fifth. Smith finished with five strikeouts and no walks. Former Major Leaguer Matt Riley struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth inning, and Andre Simpson shut the door with a scoreless ninth on the mound.

OC used an early break in the game to get on the board in the first inning. With a runner on first base, Jimmy Rohan popped a ball into right field where Mark Okano lost it in the lights. The ball landed behind him and rolled to the wall, allowing Rohan to reach third on an RBI-triple. Two batters later, Julian Benavidez cashed Rohan with an RBI single for the early 2-0 lead.

With OC ahead 2-1, Maui's Fehlandt Lentini reached base on an error to lead off the sixth, and scored on a ground out to tie the game, 2-2.

The Flyers responded in the top of the seventh as Tyler Keeble reached base on a bunt-single down the third base line, setting up Pedroza's two-run blast to the opposite field. Pedroza, the 2009 GBL Championship Series MVP while with the Calgary Vipers, added an RBI-single in the ninth inning which brought OC to the 6-2 final tally.

Na Koa starting pitcher Donald Brandt, who set a new league record for wins going 15-0 in the regular season was tagged with the loss, allowing the single to Keeble before reliever TJ Macy gave up the Pedroza homer.

After an 11-day road trip to Maui, Orange County now returns home to wrap up the South Division Series at Goodwin Field with Game 3 on Friday at 7:05pm and Game 4 on Saturday at 7:05pm. If necessary, Game 5 will be on Sunday at 5:05pm. All Flyers home games are available via video webcast at www.WatchTheFlyers.com. Tickets are available for the playoff games by calling (714) 526-8326 or visiting www.OrangeCountyFlyers.com.

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