Snakes Win First Half Crown

Published on July 7, 2008 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


The Calgary Vipers punched their ticket to the 2008 post-season with a 11-6 victory over the St. George RoadRunners at Bruce Hurst Field in St. George, Utah. With the victory the Snakes are first half champions of the Golden Baseball League's North Division with a 25-15 record. With four games remaining in the first half Calgary's lead over the second place Edmonton Cracker-Cats is four games and because they hold the tie-breaker over Edmonton, due to a 9-4 head-to-head record, the Snakes will play in the playoffs for the second straight season. The Vipers played as the home team in this game because the two teams were making up the game on Wednesday June 11th in Calgary which was postponed due to rain.

Calgary got on the scoreboard right away in the bottom of the first inning as they loaded the bases with a Darryl Brinkley single, Jorge Mejia walk, and a Carlos Duncan single. Felix Jose stepped up to the plate and drove in two runs with a base hit for the 2-0 lead.

Another run was added in the bottom of the third inning with singles from Duncan, Jose, and Drew Miller with a run batted in base hit for the 3-0 advantage.

The game quickly became tied at three in the next half inning with a single by Claudio Arias, a Cody Nowlin walk, and a Wiki Gonzalez three run blast.

Right back came the Snakes in the bottom of the inning with a Mejia walk, Duncan reaching on a fielding error by shortstop Kory Wayment, and a Jose RBI double for the 4-3 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Jorge Tang smoked his first homerun of the season to make the score 5-3.

St. George did not go quietly as in the top of the sixth inning Gonzalez singled and Seth Loman smacked a long ball to tie the game at five.

Once again the Vipers responded in the bottom of the inning with a Mejia infield single and Duncan's first homerun since returning from injury five games ago. Calgary then loaded the bases with a Jose single, Patrick Arlis double, and Miller getting hit by a pitch. Castro plated two runs with a single and after an intentional walk to Brinkley, Mejia also drove in two runs with a double for the 11-5 lead.

Nowlin wrapped up the scoring with a solo homerun in the top of the seventh inning for the 11-6 final.

Brinkley extended his on base streak to 30 games.

Geoff Freeborn (3-1) picked up the victory as he came in to get the final two outs in the sixth inning.

In Game Two of the double-header Ryan Schurman (1-2) will make the start.

Tuesday July 8th at 7:05 PM (MDT) these two teams will play with Joe Sergent (1-0) taking the mound. Another twin-bill will be played Wednesday July 9th at 4:05 PM (MDT) with Jordy Alexander (3-3) and Evan Greusel (6-1) toeing the rubber. After a day off the road trip concludes and the second half of the season begins against the Edmonton Cracker-Cats Friday July 11th, Saturday July 12th, and Sunday July 13th.

On Tuesday July 15th Snakes' Manager Mike Busch will lead the 20-man Golden Baseball League All-Star squad as they take on the United League's All-Stars in a battle of two of the top independent leagues in San Angelo, Texas. Joining Busch from the Vipers will be ace and pitching coach Evan Greusel, designated hitter Felix Jose, and outfielders Darryl Brinkley and Drew Miller.

The Snakes return home to Foothills Stadium Friday July 18th at 7:05 PM (MDT) for "Paint the Park Pink" weekend. Friday's game will open a six day home stand which will feature seven games against the Chico Outlaws and the Yuma Scorpions.

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Golden Baseball League Stories from July 7, 2008


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