Snakes Come Back Again

Published on May 24, 2009 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


The Calgary Vipers collected 19 hits en route to a 14-8 victory over the Long Beach Armada at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta in front of 1615 fans. Calgary agains trailed early, this time 4-0 after two and a half innings, but put up back-to-back four run frames in the third and fourth to go ahead for good. With the win the Snakes capture the four game series and improve to 3-1 on the season and share first place in the North Division of the Golden Baseball League.

Andrew Demott (1) was once again terrific working out of the bullpen for the Vipers as he closed out the final two and two-thirds of the game allowing no runs and no walks for his first professional save. Hideki Nagasaka (1-0) picked up the victory going five innings and giving up five runs while striking out three. Keith Ramsey (0-1) was saddled with the loss in giving up eight runs in three and two-third innings.

At the plate Terry Mermer led the way going three-for-three with a home run, three runs batted in, two runs scored, and one triple shy of the cycle. Unfortunately Mermer left the game due to injury in the bottom of the fifth inning. Nelson Castro and Fehlandt Lentini also had big afternoons going four-for-five with four RBI and two runs scored and going three-for-five with three RBI and three runs scored respectively.

Long Beach opened the scoring in the top of the second inning as Chad Miller doubled, Daryl Jones singled, and Matt Edgecombe walked to load the bases after a terrific ten pitch at-bat. With the sacks full Jonny Kaplan walked for a run batted in and Andy Bouchie lined a two-run single to left field for a 3-0 lead.

A run was added in the top of the third as Jones singled and scored on an Edgecombe double for a 4-0 advantage.

Back came the Vipers in the bottom of the frame as Mermer hit a solo homerun, Ivan Reyes singled, and Lentini also hit a long ball to bring his team within one run. Castro followed with a single, moved up to second base when Edgeombe dropped a pickoff attempt at first base, and scored on a Jorge Mejia RBI base knock to tie the game at 4-4.

The Armada took back the lead in the next half inning when Casey Garrison smacked a solo home run for the 5-4 score.

Calgary took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth as Rick Guarno and Drew Miller singled, Mark Okano laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, and Mermer knocked in two tallies with a double. Lentini also doubled and Castro plated two more with a base knock for a 8-5 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth the Snakes added to their lead when Carlos Duncan walked, Guarno was hit by a pitch, Miller reached on a fielder's choice, Okano hit a sacrifice fly for a run, Mermer singled, and Ivan Reyes cashed a run with a base hit for a 10-5 advantage.

Long Beach got one run back in the top of the sixth inning as Josh Womack walked, Steve Young singled, and Miller also singled for a RBI and the 10-6 score.

That run was answered in the bottom of the frame when Castro reached first with a base hit, stole second, moved to third on a Duncan base hit, and scored on a Guarno sacrifice fly for the 11-6 lead.

The Armada wrapped out their scoring in the seventh with doubles from Kaplan and Bouchie and a two run single by Brandon Howard to cut the lead down to three at 11-8. Duncan helped out defensively to the inning with two great plays, one a diving catch to his left and the other a 5-3 inning ending double play.

Calgary put the game away in the bottom of the inning as Miller singled, Okano reached on a fielder's choice, Reyes reached on a Howard throwing error, Lenini and Castro both knocked runs in with base hits and Lentini also scored on the Castro hit when he was caught in a run down between first and second base for the 14-8 advantage.

The Vipers now welcome the Victoria Seals for their first ever three game series in Calgary starting on Monday May 25th at 7:05 PM MDT. Erik Dessau (0-0) will make his Vipers debut on the mound after starting 21 games last year in the Atlantic and Frontier leagues. On the mound for the Seals will be right hander Roberto Sotolongo (0-0) who was in the Cubs organization back in 2006.

On Tuesday May 26th at 7:05 PM MDT Joe Sergent (1-0) will make his second start of the season after not giving up a run in six innings in his first.

Finally on Wednesday May 27th at 7:05 PM MDT the Vipers seven game home stands closes with Evan Greusel (0-1) back on the mound looking to pick up his first win after retiring ten of the final 12 batters he faced in his first start. Right hander Josh Karp (0-0) will make his second start of the year after going four innings and giving up five earned runs and nine hits for a no decision in his first.

Tickets can be purchased over the phone at 403-277-2255 or by stopping in at the Vipers Ticket Office. All games can be heard live online at www.calgaryvipers.com.

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Golden Baseball League Stories from May 24, 2009


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