Singleton shines in Outlaws' 7-2 win over Flyers
June 3, 2006 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
CHICO, CA - Right-hander Nick Singleton tossed five-and-two-thirds innings of two-hit shutout ball, and Jason Van Meetren collected three hits and four RBI as the Chico Outlaws staked themselves to a big lead and ultimated downed the Fullerton Flyers 7-2 Friday night in 2006 season opener for both clubs.
A crowd of 3,257 at Nettleton Stadium was treated to a pre-game Air Force F-15 flyover, a personal appearance by "Wheel of Fortune" TV host Pat Sajak and a post-game fireworks show - and in between saw the hometown Outlaws waste little time in taking control of the game. Chico took advantage of the wildness of Fullerton starting pitcher Wes Faust in the bottom of the 1st inning - Bobby Gandolfo got aboard on a one-out single and stole second...Desi Wilson walked and Mike Mallory was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Two batters later Van Meetren flared a double down the right field line, clearing the bases and giving the Outlaws a quick 3-0 lead.
Chico went up 4-0 with a run in the 4th, and it was Van Meetren who delivered another two-out hit - his single to right plated Gandolfo, who had led off the inning with a double. Fullerton then handed the Outlaws three gift runs in the 5th - Jesse Kovacs and Alex Froloff led off the frame with a single and walk, respectively...Steve Booker laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Flyers pitcher Jeff Greoger sailed his throw over the first base bag and down the right field line, allowing both Kovacs and Froloff to score; Booker ended up at third on the error. With Gandolfo at the plate, Greoger uncorked a wild pitch allowing Booker to come home and give Chico a 7-0 advantage. Singleton, meanwhile, sailed through the first five innings...at one point retiring 12 straight Fullerton batters.
The Flyers averted a shutout with two runs in the 8th off Outlaws reliever George Huguet, but any thoughts of a late-inning rally were wiped out when lefty A.J. Ampi came in from the Chico bullpen and set down five of the six hitters he faced to end the game and give the Outlaws the season-opening victory.
Singleton (1-0) was credited with the win, striking out three and throwing just 64 pitches in his five-and-two-thirds innings of work; Faust (0-1) was saddled with the loss, walking five and plunking two batters before being lifted in the 4th inning. The Outlaws had 10 hits on the night - besides Van Meetren's 3-for-5 night, Wilson had three hits and Gandolfo chipped in with a pair of safeties. Fullerton was held to just six hits, with Chad Chop going 2-for-4.
The Outlaws and Flyers continue their season-opening series Saturday with a 7:05pm game at Nettleton Stadium; right-hander Brian Kroll will be on the mound for Chico, with righty Chris Jakubauskas going for Fullerton. Due to radio coverage of Chico State's NCAA Division II championship game, Saturday's Outlaws broadcast will be heard on Sportsfan 1340-AM ESPN radio beginning at 6:40pm...the game will be heard as usual on the team's official website - www.ChicoOutlawsBaseball.com.
Golden Baseball League Stories from June 3, 2006
- Singleton shines in Outlaws' 7-2 win over Flyers - Chico Outlaws
- Dawgs Sting Scorpions - San Diego Surf Dawgs
- Flyers break in season with 7-2 loss at Chico - Orange County Flyers
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