Ten-run sixth leads Aces to Game 1 win
August 18, 2008 - United League Baseball (ULB)
San Angelo Colts News Release
SAN ANGELO, Texas - Brian Henschel was cruising along with a 2-0 lead, having allowed three hits through five. He got a nice defensive play from Aaron Cone at third base to start the sixth inning, taking a hit away from Eddie Fitzpatrick. But suddenly, Alexandria figured Henschel out, and the inning and the game quickly unraveled, as Alexandria scored 10 runs in the sixth to stun the Colts with a 12-5 win to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three first-round playoff series.
Bryan Sabatella tried to change the momentum with a bunt, and he did, reaching with a perfect bunt down the third-base line. Then the floodgates opened. Luis Guance ripped a single, and was followed by Selwyn Langaigne's single to left. At first, Sabatella held at third, but left fielder Jose Torres bobbled it, and Sabatella raced home to make it 2-1. Brian Nichols then singled to tie the game, and Rafael Ozuna smashed a two-run double to give Alexandria its first lead of the night at 4-2. Andre Marshall singled to make it 5-2, Jose Umbria followed with another single, and Homy Ovalles hit a two-run triple.
The eight straight hits chased Henschel (0-1), and Alex Merricks entered in relief. He was greeted by a Fitzpatrick RBI single, and after the streak of nine straight hits was finally ended by a Sabatella strikeout, Merricks walked Guance and gave up a double off the wall to Langaigne to score two more. All told, the Aces sent 14 men to the plate in the inning, scoring 10 times on 10 hits and a walk.
The Colts did not exactly go quietly after that though. San Angelo was given the early lead thanks to a two-out, two-run double by team MVP Andres Rodriguez in the third off lefty Chad Linder (1-0). Right after the big Aces rally, Jason Landreth homered off Linder, but the Colts could do nothing with Aaron's Cone double right after and Linder left after six innings with a 12-3 lead.
In the seventh, San Angelo got two more on another two-run double by Rodriguez off reliever Angel Guzman, but Ronald Ramirez got out of the inning without any further damage. The lefty then pitched around a leadoff single in the eighth and Juan Carlos Ovalles pitched a scoreless ninth to give the Aces the series lead.
The Colts will now need to take the next two games of the series to advance to the ULB Championship Series and end Alexandria's reign as the only champion in ULB history. Lefty and ULB wins leader Logan Williamson will go for the Colts against righty Wayne Hedden for the Aces.
Notes: Rodriguez was awarded a watch as the Holland's Jewelers Colts' Team MVP in a pre-game ceremony...The Colts won Game 1 of the two teams' prior playoff matchup, in 2006, before Alexandria came back to win Games 2 and 3 at Foster Field...The 10 runs in the sixth were more than the Colts allowed in any inning in any game of the regular season.
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The Colts continue their first-round series with the Aces at 7:05 p.m. CT on Tuesday, August 19. The Fan Appreciation Night festivities that were originally scheduled for August 17 will be held during that game. Colts fans have the chance to take home giveaway items from throughout the year and other assorted prizes. Advertising, ticket, and group information are available by calling the box office at (325) 942-6587. All Colts games are broadcast live on "Cool 100" - KCLL 100.1 FM and online at the Colts' official website, www.sanangelocolts.com, which is updated daily with the latest team news.
United League Baseball Stories from August 18, 2008
- Ten-run sixth leads Aces to Game 1 win - San Angelo Colts
- Aces win game one - Alexandria Aces
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