Sports stats



Spirit sag in loss to Elmira

August 9, 2003 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
North Shore Spirit News Release


The North Shore Spirit took it on the chin Saturday night at New Fraser Field, losing to Elmira 9-1. The Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings, and then rode the arm of starter Hatuey Mendoza (5-5) to the convincing victory.

The hitting of Spirit catcher Frank Charles was the only bright spot on a night of frustration. Charles (3-4), hit a solo homerun in the fourth; accounting for the Spirit's only run of the game.

Cleatus Davidson (3-5, 2 RBI) scored the games first run, when Scott Hunter (3-5, 2 RBI) hit a ground ball deep into the hole at shortstop, which Yuri Sanchez fielded cleanly, but Hunter beat the throw that eluded first baseman Fran Riordan and allowed Davidson to score on the error.

On the night the Spirit committed three errors. In the second Rob Fischer misplayed a line drive to left, allowing Rolando Bello to score the eventual game winner.

The Pioneers' put the game out of reach in the sixth, when they collected four runs on five hits to make the score 8-1. Ryan Webb, Sean Murphy, Davidson and Hunter all collected an RBI in the barrage.

Spirit starter Wes Crawford (3-3) suffered the loss. Crawford worked five plus innings giving up eight hits and six runs, of which four were earned. Crawford's downfall may have come in the fifth when third base umpire Rob Prunier called a balk from his second base position. The call brought North Shore manager John Kennedy from the dugout to argue the matter, to no avail. The call which put a runner into scoring position seemed to unsettle Crawford's concentration which aided Elmira's six run outburst over the fifth and sixth innings.

Meanwhile Mendoza was very good working seven full for the win. Mendoza scattered five hits to win for the second time this season verses the Spirit.

Elmira, the top hitting team in the Northeast League pounded out 14 hits to the Spirit's 5.

The Spirit took the three game series however two games to one.

The Spirit will enjoy a Sunday off before getting back to work on Monday, when New Jersey comes to town for a three game series. The two teams will play again on Tuesday night and finish the series with a matinee game on Wednesday.

Many feel the series between New Jersey and North Shore might just be the prelude to the Play-off championship series in September, but of course there is a lot of baseball to be played before that is to occur.

As always, you can listen to Spirit baseball home and away on flagship station WESX AM 1230, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:30.



Canadian American League Stories from August 9, 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