Snakes Sweep Sox

Published on August 24, 2008 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


The Calgary Vipers completed a three game sweep with a 9-5 victory over the Reno Silver Sox at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. Reno held three leads in the game but every time the Silver Sox went ahead the Vipers responded in the bottom of that inning. In a back and forth game the Vipers used a four run fifth inning to propel themselves out in front for good. Calgary scored 50 runs in the three game set and are now 18-20 in the second half of the season and 44-38 overall.

Gary Harris led off the game with a solo homerun to give the Silver Sox a 1-0 lead.

The Vipers got that run back in the bottom of the first inning with a Colin Moro single, Carlos Duncan walk, and Jorge Mejia run batted in double for the 1-1 score.

Calgary took the lead in the bottom of the second as Jorge Tang walked, stole both second and third base, and scored on a Kevin Price sacrifice fly for the 2-1 advantage.

Reno jumped back out in front in the top of the fourth frame as Ross McCoy reached on a fielding error by third baseman Travis Drader, Steven Alexander was hit by a pitch, and Ben Wharton laid down a sacrifice bunt which pitcher Mac Suzuki threw away trying to get McCoy at third base to allow both McCoy and Alexander to score for the 3-2 lead.

Drew Miller tied the game up with his 18th homerun of the season in the bottom of the inning for the 3-3 score.

Right back responded the Silver Sox in the top of the fifth as Doug Sanders reached on an error by shortstop Tang and John Hattig smacked a RBI triple for the 4-3 advantage.

The back and forth game continued in the bottom of the inning as once again the Snakes responded by tying up the game and going out in front by three with a 7-4 lead. Demond Smith led off with a walk, Moro laid down a sacrifice bunt, Duncan singled, Darryl Brinkley and Mejia cashed a run each with base hits, Miller doubled home a run, and Tang made it five straight hits with a RBI single to cap off the four run frame.

Gilbert Guilin hit a solo homerun in the top of the sixth to bring Reno within two runs at 7-5.

That run was taken back by Calgary in the bottom of the seventh inning as Brinkley singled, Mejia walked, and Travis Drader picked up a clutch two-out RBI double to retake a three run lead at 8-5.

Another run was added in the eighth frame as Moro walked, Duncan getting hit by a pitch, and Brinkley made the score 9-5 with a RBI single.

Suzuki (1-0) recorded the victory in his first start going five innings and only giving up one earned run. Jeff Groeger threw three innings out of the bullpen giving up one run and Sean Kramer threw a scoreless ninth inning out of the bullpen. The loss went to Errol Simonitsch (0-4) who gave up seven runs in four and a third innings.

Calgary now takes two days off before playing their final two regular season home games on Wednesday August 27th and Thursday August 28th with both starting at 7:05 PM (MDT) against the Edmonton Cracker-Cats.

On Thursday it will be "Theo Fleury Retirement Night". The former Flames great and Olympic Gold Medalist has decided to hang up the cleats after making his pro baseball debut with the Vipers on August 9th. Fleury is expected to get at least one more at bat before his retirement. He is currently hitting .333 in his professional baseball career. "We want to make this a special night for Theo', said Vipers president Peter Young. "So we're going to retire his number 14 jersey, at least until somebody else asks for it." In reality the Vipers will be auctioning off Fleury's jersey for their children's charity Snakes and Batters. It will also be awards night for the Vipers as they announce the team outstanding player awards for 2008.

The 2008 North Division Finals start on Tuesday September 2nd at 7:05 PM (MDT) with the Snakes travelling north to take on the Edmonton Cracker-Cats. Game 2 of the playoffs will be Wednesday September 3rd at 7:05 PM (MDT).

Friday September 5th at 7:05 PM (MDT) the Vipers will host Game 3 of the Golden Baseball League's North Division Finals. Games 4 & 5 will also be played at Foothills Stadium on Saturday September 6th at 5:05 PM (MDT) and Sunday September 7th at 1:35 PM (MDT) if necessary.

Tickets can be ordered by calling 277-BALL (2255). All games can be heard live online at www.calgaryvipers.com.

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Golden Baseball League Stories from August 24, 2008


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