Pioneers Play Late Into the Night Again in 16 inning win
Published on July 13, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
Saturday, July 13 2002 - Dunn Field, Elmira, NY
After a 13-inning marathon Friday night the Pioneers and Rox decided 13 wouldn't be enough as they played 16 more innings in a crazy ball-game at Dunn Field in front of 1898 fans on Kazoo Night. Brockton 2B Mike Davis mishandled a potential double-play ball after receiving the throw from SS Saul Bustos on a groundball by Rafael Alvarez. As the ball rolled away, Norm Hutchins raced around from 2nd to score the winning run.
Elmira rallied to tie the score in the 9th and 11th innings with substitute Rolando Bello scoring the tying runs each time and then won the game in the bottom of the 16th to stretch their win streak to 4 games.
In a wildly entertaining back and forth ballgame Elmira improved to 2-0 in the 2nd half of the season.
Trailing 3-2 in the 9th, Osmani Garcia singled to left-center scoring Rolando Bello to force extras. Brockton scored in the top of the 11th off Chris Brown with Chris Cosbey doubling to left-center and scoring on a Trevor Hall hit up the middle.
In the 10th, the Rox almost won the game with runners at 2nd and 3rd and 1 out but with the infield drawn in, Carlos Rosario's bullet was caught just off the ground by diving SS Bobby Hill who was able to double off the runner at 3rd and turn a miraculous double-play.
The Pioneers rallied in the bottom of the 11th with singles by Rolando Belo and Osmani Garcia with 1 out. Bello charged in from 3rd and scored on Bobby Hill's suicide squeeze bunt.
Brian Jones singled in the 15th and stole 2nd but left with an apparent leg injury. Pitcher Matt Pike came on to pinch-run and tried to score on Bobby Hill's single to center with catcher Mel Rosario hanging onto the throw from CF Chris Cosbey on a hard collision at the plate.
Brockton had runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs in the top of the 16th but Ron Bush denied the Rox a go-ahead run again with a terrific leaping catch of a line-drive by Jake Daubert. That set the stage for Elmira to win it in the bottom of the 16th without the aid of a base-hit.
With one out, Norm Hutchins hit a grounder on the left side that 3B Jake Daubert made a fine diving stop on. But his throw was wild in the dirt and Hutchins made it to 2nd. After ron Bush was intentionally walked, Rafael Alvarez hit a grounder up the middle that SS Saul Bustos fielded. Mike Davis dropped it in the exchange to his throwing hand allowing Hutchins to trot in with the winning run. It's the 2nd straight night Hutchins has scored the winning run in extra innings.
The Pioneers have played back to back extra inning games in the 2nd half after they didn't have a single extra inning affair in the 1st half.
The two teams don't have much time to rest up as they conclude the 3-game series Sunday afternoon at 1:05. RH Greg Keagle (4-5, 3.56) goes for Elmira against RH Joey Baker for Brockton (5-3, 4.88). After that, Elmiragets a much needed day off Monday before heading out on a 7-game road trip beginning Tuedsday with 3 games at berkshire followed by 4 at Brockton.
Canadian American League Stories from July 13, 2002
- Pioneers Play Late Into the Night Again in 16 inning win - Elmira Pioneers
- Black Bears and Ambassadors Series Tied 1-1 - Berkshire Black Bears
- Surf Edge Road Warriors - Atlantic City Surf
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