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Vipers Begin Title Defence with Victory

May 19, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


Slow to start, the Calgary Vipers scored eight runs in the final four innings to defeat the Yuma Scorpions 8-5 at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona. Down 3-0 after the first inning, the Vipers waited until the sixth inning to unleash their offence and tie the game. In the seventh Calgary added two runs and followed that with three more in the eighth frame to close out the Scorpions. With the victory the Snakes start the 2010 Golden Baseball Season with a 1-0 record.

Calgary veterans Drew Miller and Jorge Mejia led the way helped out by newcomer Julio Ramirez. Miller finished two-for-three with a home run and four runs batted in, Mejia went three-for-five with a go-ahead home run and two runs both scored and batted in, and Ramirez hit two-for-five with two RBI.

Berek Fasking (1-0) pitched excellent out of the bullpen for Calgary throwing a scoreless fifth and sixth innings, giving up one hit, striking out one, and not walking a batter for the win. Adam Kramer (0-1), younger brother of former Viper Sean Kramer, took the loss giving up three runs in an inning pitched.

Manager Morgan Burkhart was pleased. "I'm very happy with the way our guys battled, it was a little bit of a slow start but our guys stuck with it and it was nice to see we have some fighters".

Yuma jumped onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning as Javier Herrera smacked a leadoff home run, Alex Prieto followed with a walk, Lee Cruz doubled, Timothy Rodriguez grounded out for a run batted in, and Santo DeLeon singled to drive in a run for a 3-0 lead.

In the fourth and the fifth innings, Calgary put two runners on with less than two outs but in both frames hit into inning-ending double-plays.

Batting through the order for the third time, the Vipers finally struck in the sixth inning as Jonny Kaplan and Jorge Mejia singled to chase starter Bill Pulispher from the game. In came Matt Stone who promptly gave up a two-run double to Julio Ramirez and a RBI single to Drew Miller for a 3-3 score.

The Snakes took the lead in the top of the seventh inning as Geraldo Nova was hit by a pitch, pinch-hitting Dillon O'Krane sacrificed Nova to second base, and Mejia clubbed a two-run homer for a 5-3 advantage.

Calgary added to their lead in the eighth frame as Matt Edgecombe and Caonabo Cosme singled followed by a Miller three-run shot for a 8-3 advantage.

Yuma got a run back in the bottom of the inning as Johny Celis, Ruben Sanchez, and Herrera all singled for a 8-4 score.

In the ninth inning the Scorpions Rodriguez and DeLeon singled followed by a Celis sacrifice fly for a 8-5 final.

The Vipers will also play in Yuma against the Scorpions on Thursday May 20th at 7:30 PM MDT, Friday May 21st at 8:00 PM MDT, and Saturday May 22nd at 8:00 PM MDT. After the four games the team will wrap up the seven game road trip in Tucson, Arizona against the Toros on Sunday May 23rd, Monday May 24th, and Tuesday May 25th all at 8:00 PM MDT.

Opening Day at Foothills Stadium is scheduled for Thursday May 27th at 7:00 PM MDT with the Strong Warriors of Maui, Hawaii making their first ever appearance in Calgary. Maui is one of two new teams in the G.B.L. with Tijuana, Mexico being the other. The league now stretches over three countries and three different time zones and this season a new rule change has been implemented that will eliminate the designated hitter and allow pitchers to bat for themselves.

Tickets are currently on sale at the Vipers' office (2255 Crowchild Trail NW), you can also call 403-277-2255 or visit the Calgary Vipers' website: www.calgaryvipers.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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