Victoria Seals Rally on the Valley Isle
Published on July 10, 2010 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Victoria Seals News Release
Wailuku, HI - Looking to bounce back after a loss in game three, the Victoria Seals returned to Iron Maehara Stadium for a match against Na Koa Ikaika Maui on Friday night. Turning to Jino Gonzalez (1-4) for the start, the Seals took on Maui's All-Star Wes Ethridge (3-0) on a blustery evening on the Valley Isle.
Taking the lead right out of the gate, Maui opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when a lead-off walk to Gered Mochizuki scored with the help of an RBI single from Mark Okano. Answering back in the next half-inning, the Seals tied the score with the help of a double from Josh Arhart, a single off the bat of Brian Rios and a run-scoring fielder's choice courtesy of Matt Edgecombe to make it a 1-1 ball game.
Maui would respond with another run in the bottom of the second, however, using a one-out double off the bat of Rex Rundgren to set up back-to-back singles from Mochizuki and Paul Nishimura to grab a 2-1 advantage. Padding their lead in the bottom of the fifth, Na Koa Ikaika stretched the score to 3-1 with a lead-off home run from Phil Avlas, his seventh of the season.
The Seals then kicked off their comeback bid in the top of the eighth inning, pulling within one when Matt Kavanaugh picked up a double and later scored with the help of an error to Maui first basemen Jowen Murray-Thorton and a single from Wilver Perez.
Victoria then tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the ninth inning, forcing extra innings when Arhart led off the frame with a single, was replaced by pinch-runner Mike Mooney, who was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Chris Van Rossum before a clutch RBI single courtesy of Edgecombe.
The two teams would then exchange runs in the tenth inning of play. The Seals took a 4-3 lead thanks to more impressive base running from WIlver Perez, who picked up a one-out single before stealing both second and third base and scoring on an error to the Maui catcher Avlas. But the home side responded in the bottom of the frame, taking advantage of three walks, a wild pitch and a single issued by Seals reliever Aaron Easton to tie the game before Easton came back to preserve a tied game with the bases loaded.
Taking the lead for good in the top of the eleventh, a walk to Colin Moro along with another double from Kavanaugh brought Seals pitcher Chris Bodishbaugh to the dish, and he promptly picked up a two-run double to help his own cause with a 6-4 lead. After Maui's fourth error of the game helped score Bodishbaugh to put Victoria ahead by three runs, the Victoria pitcher took the hill in the bottom of the inning and stranded two Na Koa Ikaika runners, handing the Seals a dramatic 7-4 victory.
Aaron Easton earned the win for Victoria out of the bullpen, while Maui right-hander T.J. Macy gave up two hits and three runs in his lone inning of work for the loss. A pair of runs batted in from both Matt Edgecombe and Chris Bodishbaugh were the offensive highlights for the Seals, while Rex Rundgren posted a 3-for-5 outing in a losing effort for Na Koa Ikaika.
Full boxscore: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid12822
The Seals and Na Koa Ikaika return to action tonight at Iron Maehara Stadium, a 9:30 p.m. (PT) start time from town of Wailuku. The contest will not be broadcast online, but live updates will be available via the Seals website at www.victoriaseals.ca.
The Seals will finally return home on July 23 to kick off a six-game homestand at Royal Athletic Park. Single game and season tickets for the 2010 campaign are now on sale, available through the Victoria Seals office. Call (250) 220-7777 for more information, or to book your seat today!
Golden Baseball League Stories from July 10, 2010
- Caps Finish First Half With 12th Consecutive Win - Edmonton Capitals
- Ayala's Four Perfect Innings Hold Narrow Lead - Orange County Flyers
- First Half Ends on Winning Streak - Calgary Vipers
- Victoria Seals Rally on the Valley Isle - Victoria Seals
- Outlaws Go Extras For Third Time This Week; Sting Scorpions 9-5 - Chico Outlaws
- Little Comes Up Big In 11th Straight Win - Edmonton Capitals
- Tucson Loses To Orange County 4-1 - Tucson Toros
- Two in a Row for Snakes - Calgary Vipers
- Flyers topple Tucson; Paint the Park Pink Night & free parking on Saturday - Orange County Flyers
- Flyers Ride Altman's Arm To Win - Orange County Flyers
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