Sports stats



Spirit Can't Catch Ambassadors

July 31, 2003 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
North Shore Spirit News Release


The North Shore Spirit lost to the Allentown Ambassadors 5-4 Wednesday afternoon at the New Fraser Field in Lynn, MA.

John Kelly (9-2) got his second loss of the season for the Spirit. Kelly pitched six full innings giving up seven hits and five runs and striking out four. Wes Crawford and Chad Bircher pitched relief for the Spirit giving up one hit each and no runs. Nolan Fry (4-4) pitched the win for Allentown allowing nine hits in five innings. John Boker got the save, his second of the season.

In front of a crowd of 1,298, the Allentown Ambassadors jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Ender Gonzalez walked, advanced to second when Vic Davilla was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a wild pitch. Gonzalez scored on a Marlon Roche single that moved Davilla to second. Brian Macchi drove in Davilla and Roche with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Luis Melendez had a single that scored Macchi putting four quick runs on the Ambassador scoreboard.

Centerfielder John Schmitz had a solo homerun in the first to put the Spirit on the board. In the second inning, Jason Startari singled and was waved home on a Billy Malone double to bring the Spirit within two.

The Ambassadors struck again in the fifth inning as Ender Gonzalez reached on an error and advanced to third on a Vic Davilla single. Marlon Roche grounded into a double play that scored Gonzalez. North Shore's Carlos Sepulveda retaliated in the fifth with a solo homerun, making the score 5-3. The Spirit scored an additional run in the seventh after a John Schmitz walk, Frank Charles double and Fran Riordan ground out RBI, but the Ambassadors held onto the lead for the remainder of the game.

Spirit Manager John Kennedy said of the game, "We had our chances. We left a lot of men on base and loaded the bases in the eighth, but we couldn't connect." He added, "We've had trouble lately coming up with key hits to come back or win the game, but we've done it before and I'm sure we'll do it the same way that allowed us to win the first half.

The Spirit finished with 12 hits and one error while Allentown had nine hits and one error. Jason Startari went 2-3 and Billy Malone was 2-4 with an RBI. Allentown's Luis Melendez finished 3-4 with an RBI.

Jeremy Sugarman (3-1) will take the mound for the Spirit on Friday and will face Allentown's John Dillinger (5-4).

The Spirit play game three against the Allentown Ambassadors on Friday at 7:00 pm at the New Fraser Field. Friday is Caribbean Night where one lucky fan will win a trip for two to the Caribbean sponsored by U.S. Airways.

Catch all Spirit games, home and away, on the flagship station of the North Shore Spirit, WESX 1230 AM.



Canadian American League Stories from July 31, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent North Shore Spirit Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central