Strong start from Siak sends Spirit to victory

July 24, 2006 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
North Shore Spirit News Release


A lights out performance from Joey Siak and some early offensive fireworks, sparked the Spirit to a 3-1 victory over the Pride in the series opener at Fraser Field on Monday night.

Siak was in control from the start during this game and the Spirit offense reward their starter by staking him to an early lead. B.J. Weed blooped a one-out single to right to get things started and moved all the way to third when Nashua right fielder Eliot Ayala misplayed the ball. He scored the first Spirit run on a groundout to right side from Vic Davilla. Chris Rowan followed that with a solo shot over the left field wall to put the Spirit ahead, 2-0 after one inning of play. The long ball was Rowan's seventh of the season.

Nashua cut the deficit in half with a fifth-inning score. Glenn Murray drew a walk from the leadoff spot and moved into scoring position on a Tommy Rojas single, the first Nashua hit of the contest. Bill Duplissie sent him home with an RBI for the first Pride score.

North Shore, however, tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth to reclaim the two-run advantage. Weed got things started with a single and moved to third on a double from Davilla. After Rowan was intentionally walked to load the bases, Andrew Wishy hit what appeared to be an inning-ending double play ball up the middle. Pride starter Mark Hamilton, however, got a glove on the ball and the deflection prevented the Pride from turning two. Weed scored on the play and the Spirit grabbed a 3-1 lead after six.

That would close out the scoring in the contest, as the pitchers kept the respective offenses in check during the final three innings.

Siak (3-4) went 7.2 innings for the win in this game, allowing just one run on five hits. Kevin Fitzgerald pitched a scoreless ninth for his league leading 12th save of the season. Hamilton suffered his fifth loss of the season (4-5), despite a solid starting performance.

The Spirit and the Pride resume the three-game series tomorrow night at Fraser Field. Bryan Morse gets the start for the Spirit while old friend Jarrad Lavergne takes the mound for Nashua. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.



Canadian American League Stories from July 24, 2006


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