Steamers Hang on for Wild Win to Take 1-0 Series Lead

Published on August 4, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release


EDENTON, NC - Edenton rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game and force extra innings against the Pilots. Edenton scored two more times in the top of the tenth to hang on for the 10-8 win in game one of their opening round series with the Peninsula Pilots.

The Steamers, making their eighth consecutive appearance in the CPL Petitt Cup Playoffs, made the trip to take on their North Division rival Peninsula Pilots. The Steamers dominated the Pilots during the regular season, going 9-3 against them in 2011.

Tonight's game marked the fourth time the Pilots and the Steamers have met in the playoffs, and the first time the two teams will play a best of three playoff series. Peninsula holds a 2-1 play-off record over the Steamers all time.

It was a lefty, lefty match-up as Esterlin Paulino (5-1, 2.56 ERA) took the mound for Edenton. Jason Farley (1-1, 4.09 ERA) made the start for the home town Pilots.

The Steamers got their lead-off man aboard in the top of the first courtesy of a hit batsman. After back-to-back strikeouts, Bo Bigham reached on an error that pushed Brian Blasik to second base. Zach Stewart came up and hit the first pitch he saw into left center field for an RBI single to give Edenton a 1-0 lead.

The score remained 1-0 Steamers until the top of the fourth. Edenton picked up six hits in the inning and scored three times. Stewart singled and scored on Vinnie Mejia's double. After a Brett Christopher single, Kevin Whitehead hit into a double play that scored Mejia to make it 3-0 steamers. Two batters later Tim Saunders singled home Ryan Brenner to make it 4-0 Steamers.

Peninsula battled back against Paulino in the bottom of the fourth. Jimmy Rider reached on an infield single to begin the inning. Chas Crane knocked Rider in with a double to get Peninsula on the board. Phil Ruzbarsky moved Crane up to third base with a ground out and Tristan Moore singled home Crane to make it 4-2 Steamers. Moore eventually came home on a wild pitch from Paulino to complete the scoring for the inning. After four complete innings in Hampton, VA it was 4-3 Steamers.

Paulino began the bottom of the fifth after Edenton stranded two runners in the top half of the inning. Ryan Huck singled to lead-off the inning and then Steve Hodgins walked. The walk spelled the end of the night for Paulino. He pitched four plus innings, allowing five hits and four runs (all earned), he walked two and struck out one. Paulino earned a no decision for his effort. Jordan Glover entered the game and Ivan Hartle laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved up both runners. Jimmy Rider then hit a fielder's choice that scored Cameron Cecil, who entered as a pinch runner for the catcher Ryan Huck. It was a close play at home but the call went against the Steamers and the Pilots tied the game 4-4.

Jason Farley pitched six and two thirds innings for the Pilots and exited with runners on first and second and two outs in the top of the seventh. Jonathan Roberts came in and allowed a single to load the bases and then struck out Ryan Brenner to end the threat. Farley allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits, two walks and he struck out four.

Edenton reclaimed the lead in the top of the eighth. Brian Blasik hit his fourth single of the game to begin the inning. After a Tim Saunders fly out, Joey Wendle hit a line shot out to right field for a single. Brian Blasik, who had stolen second base, came around to score the go ahead run ahead of the throw to the plate to make it 5-4 Steamers.

Peninsula refused to go quietly and took the lead in the bottom of the eighth. David Teasley allowed a single to Jimmy Rider to begin the inning. Dirk Kinney went to his bullpen and brought Jordan Egan into the game. Chas Crane dropped a sacrifice bunt down to move Rider up to second base. Tristan Moore hit a bloop single down the left field line and Crane rounded third. Christopher threw a two hopper to the plate and Jeff Calhoon, who entered in the bottom of the fifth after Kevin Whitehead was ejected, couldn't handle the throw and Crane slid in safely to tie the game 5-5. Jake Cave was intentionally walked and then Egan hit Jake Hibberd. Cameron Cecil, who entered as a pinch runner in the fifth cleared the bases with a double to give the Pilots their first lead of the night 8-5 heading to the top of the ninth.

Patrick Scoggin emerged from the Pilots bullpen to close the game one victory for Peninsula. Scoggin walked the bases loaded and after issuing the third walk to Jeff Calhoon, Cameron Cecil, the catcher threw the ball into centerfielder that allowed Adam Giacalone to score from third base and make it 8-6 Pilots. With runners on first and third Ryan Brenner hit a ground ball to the shortstop. Christopher scored from third and Brenner beat out the back end of the double play for an RBI fielder's choice to make it 8-7 Pilots with one out and a runner at first. Brian Blasik hit his fifth single of the game and with Brenner on the move he went all the way to third base on the single. Tim Saunders chopped a single right back up the middle to score Brenner from third and tie the game 8-8 in the top of the ninth.

Jordan Egan remained in the game to begin the top of the ninth. He walked Ivan Hartle to begin the inning. Dirk Kinney went back to the bullpen and brought in his closer Ethan Cole. Cole retired three batters in a row to send the game to extra innings, tied 8-8.

Deshorn Lake, who allowed three runs to the Steamers in the top of the ninth, remained in the game in the top of the tenth. A walk to Zach Stewart began the inning. Adam Giacalone singled and Brett Christopher reached on an error to load the bases. Jeff Calhoon hit into a 5-3-2 double play. Runners were at second and third with Ryan Brenner up to the plate. Deshorn Lake threw a wild pitch that allowed Giacalone to score and then another error, Peninsula's seventh of the game, allowed Christopher to score from second base and give Edenton a 10-8 lead.

Ethan Cole came back out for his second inning of work, trying to earn his sixth victory of the season. He walked Tristan Moore and then got Jake Cave to ground into a fielder's choice for the first out of the inning. Cole struck out Jake Hibberd for out number two and Cameron Cecil struck out to end the ball game.

Ethan Cole picks up his team leading sixth victory of the season with his two innings of work. His record now stands at 6-1. Deshorn Lake took the loss and fell to 2-3 on the season. Edenton will have a chance to close out the series tomorrow night at Historic Hicks Field with a win.

The Edenton Steamers compete during the summer at Historic Hicks Field in downtown Historic Edenton, North Carolina. Currently in its 15th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. The CPL has had over 930 alumni drafted and 45 alums have made their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at http://www.coastalplain.com. For more information on the Edenton Steamers, please visit the team website at http://www.edentonsteamers.com.

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