Ron Bush Delivers Walk-Off Game Winning Hit in Season Finale
Published on September 1, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
Ron Bush delivered a game-winning double to deep LF to score Jeremy Brostrom from 2nd with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th as the Pioneers notched a walk-off victory in their regular season finale 3-2 over the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs. The Pioneers scored single runs in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings for the exciting come-back effort.
Jeremy Brostrom led the way going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs in the 8th and 9th innings. It was Brostrom's first multi-hit game as a Pioneer.
Elmira finished the season by winning 11 of their last 12 games and will take on the New Jersey Jackals in a best-of-5 playoff series beginning Wednesday night at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, NJ. Game 3 of the series will be in Elmira next Friday night, Sept 6. NJ eliminated Elmira in the playoffs last year 3 games to 2. NJ and Elmira had the top 2 overall records in the Northern League East in 2002.
The win gave the Pioneers a regular season record of 54-36, the most wins ever for a Pioneers team since joining the independent ranks in 1996. The Pioneers were 29-16 in the 2nd half and enter the post-season as the league's lone wildcard after New Jersey won both halves in the South Division. Albany-Colonie finishes the season 46-43 overall and 25-19 in the 2nd half and just missed making the post-season.
Rolando Bello started the 9th inning rally with a 1-out double to LF. He advanced on an infield single as Jeremy Brostrom just beat the pitcher Derrick DePriest to the bag at 3rd. Brandon Pernell hit a chopper to 3rd and Gerald Butt was ablt to throw out Pernell at home for the 2nd out but Ron Bush delivered the game-winning hit drilling a 2-2 pitch to LF scoring Brostrom for the game-winner. It was the only time the Pioneers led all day.
Elmira had tied it in the bottom of the 8th inning on an RBI fielder's choice by Rafael Alvarez scoring Brostrom from 3rd. 1B Dan Singletary fired home to try throw out Brostrom but his throw was wide and may not have been in time.
Elmira had also tied it in the bottom of the 7th inning at 1-1 on a Sac-Fly RBI by Osmani Garcia. That scored Michael Coleman from 3rd. Coleman had started the inning with a single and moved to 3rd on a double to the LF corner by Mike Terhune.
Keith Forbes (1-1) got the win in relief throwing well in 1.1ip. He allowed Gerald Butt to single in the 8th driving in Terrell Merriman in the 8th giving Albany a 2-1 lead on a run charged to starter Sean Brummett's line. After that, Forbes recorded 4 straight outs including 3 K's.
Elmira travels to New Jersey for a Wednesday night encounter in game-1 of their best of 5 playoff series. Game 2 will also be at NJ and the series comes to Elmira for games 3, 4 and 5 next Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Advance playoff packages are available at great savings at (607) 734-BALL.
Canadian American League Stories from September 1, 2002
- Ron Bush Delivers Walk-Off Game Winning Hit in Season Finale - Elmira Pioneers
- Storm Cancels Sunday''s Surf Game - Atlantic City Surf
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