Sweep Is Oh So Sweet: Tourists Headed to the Championship
Published on September 6, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
Savannah, GA-- The Asheville Tourists moved one step closer to their ultimate goal, a South Atlantic League title, by defeating the Savannah Sand Gnats 2-1 and winning the Southern Division Championship Series. The win had to come a full day after the game began when rain created an unplayable Grayson Stadium on Friday night. The contest resumed Saturday evening in the bottom of the eighth and the Tourists made sure it would be the only one played that night.
Leading in the series one game to none, Asheville needed just one more victory over Savannah with the Sand Gnats needing to win two straight. The Gnats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on Amed Rosario's sacrifice fly to right-center. Asheville's response came in the form of a Correlle Prime solo Home Run in the fourth.
Both teams sent arguably their aces to the mound. The Sand Gnats went with South Atlantic League Right-Handed Pitcher of the Year John Michael Gant, while the Tourists went with 15- game winner Antonio Senzatela, who many thought should have collected the award. Neither pitcher disappointed. Gant used his change-up to work out of a number of jams and Senzatela displayed pinpoint control with his fastball which consistently registered between 96-98 mph.
Troy Neiman relieved Senzatela in the bottom of the seventh and had to work around a bases- loaded, one-out jam. Yeixon Ruiz hit a ground ball to Prime and Asheville's first-baseman threw home to acquire a force out; keeping the game tied. Jose Briceno made a great stretch to catch Prime's throw and hold his toe on home plate. Neiman struck out Champ Stuart to end the threat.
David Dahl led off the top of the eighth with a double down the right field line. Ryan McMahon dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Dahl over to third. Savannah brought in their closer Akeel Morris, but the right-hander threw a wild pitch allowing Dahl to score the go-ahead run.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, the rain delay forced both teams to wait overnight before the action resumed. Matt Carasiti stuck out Matt Oberste right off the bat and Trent Daniel notched the final out of the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, Daniel retired the Gnats in order with help from a brilliant bare-handed put out from McMahon.
Asheville now opens up a best-of-five Championship Series against the Hagerstown Suns. Game one will be played at McCormick Field on Monday with the first pitch slated for 7:05pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from September 6, 2014
- Sweep Is Oh So Sweet: Tourists Headed to the Championship - Asheville Tourists
- Asheville Holds on Saturday to Sweep Gnats out of Playoffs - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Hoppers "Can't Hang Their Heads" After Season Ends - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Unplayable Field Suspends Game Two in the Eighth Inning - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Game Two Suspended in the Bottom of the 8th - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Suns Dispatch Greensboro 6-2, Advance to Championship Series - Hagerstown Suns
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