Timber! Black Bears Blank Lumberjacks Again

Published on August 15, 2003 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Berkshire Black Bears News Release


For the second straight evening the Berkshire Black Bears received a stellar outing from their starter, as Rick Guttormson threw 8.0 shutout innings en route to a 6-0 victory over the Bangor Lumberjacks.

Following a complete game 2-hit shutout by Tony Harden Thursday night, Guttormson (6-8) proved that he was equal to the task. The strong right-hander picked up the win, giving up just only three hits and two walks over on the night, and continued to keep pace in the Northeast League strikeout race. Guttormson fanned seven Lumberjacks, giving him 108 strikeouts on the season, just three behind Allentown's John Dillinger for the League lead.

The Black Bears quickly went to work offensively in the first inning by exercising the fundamentals. Jose Mateo walked, moved up to second on a Mark Burnett sacrifice bunt and then Shane Hopper smashed the ball to center, scoring Mateo to make it 1-0. When the owner's cash is on the block, the Black Bears seem to respond at the plate. It was another addition of Win Jonathan Fleisig's Money Night at Wahconah, at the Berkshire bats did not disappoint. In the fifth inning, Chris Briones singled to center, Mateo singled down the left field line and Hopper again singled to right field, his second RBI of the night, giving the Black Bears a 2-0 lead.

Pete Paciorek reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Mateo from third, to increase the margin to three. The Black Bears would pile three more runs on the scoreboard in the seventh inning, making the final score 6-0 tonight. Hopper was the offensive star tonight, going 4-for-5 with three singles, a double, two RBIs and a stolen base (15). Mateo also did well for himself, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Bangor starter, Jerry Long fell to 2-6 with the loss, allowing three runs (two earned), six hits over four and 2/3 innings. The Black Bears will go for the sweep tomorrow night at 7:05 pm; Dan Henderson (2-8) for Berkshire will go against Lumberjacks right-hander John Vigue (4-6).

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Canadian American League Stories from August 15, 2003


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