Vipers Capture Second Half Title

August 23, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


The Calgary Vipers captured the second half title in the Golden Baseball League's North Division with a 14-4 victory over the Victoria Seals before 4228 fans at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, British Columbia. Now six games ahead of the second place Edmonton Capitals the two teams can only finish in a tie for first place but Calgary would own the tiebreaker with a better winning percentage. It is the first time in franchise history that the Vipers have won both halves of a season after the last two years only winning the first half. In the game Calgary knocked out 17 hits, five homeruns, and also got an excellent pitching performance from starter Dallas Mahan. Mahan (3-3) was fantastic for Calgary picking up the win and going six innings with only giving up one earned run. Mahan also struck out six while only allowing three hits and one walk. With the victory Calgary's second half record is 21-10 while overall they are 47-23 for the top record in the GBL.

At the plate Kit Pellow and Fehlandt Lentini led the way for Calgary as Pellow went four-for-six with a home run, two runs scored, and batted in while Lentini hit two home runs for four runs batted in and three runs scored in total.

Todd Moser threw a scoreless and hitless inning out of the bullpen while Mac Suzuki tossed a one-two-three ninth inning which included two strikeouts. Aaron Trolia (1-4) took the loss in the game giving up five runs in five innings.

Victoria opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Wilver Perez singled, stole second base, moved to on a fly-out, Jamar Hill walked, and the two Seals executed a double-steal for a 1-0 lead.

Calgary responded right away in the next half inning as Kit Pellow singled, Colin Moro was hit by a pitch, Caonabo Cosme reached on a fielder's choice, and Drew Miller drove in a run with a double while Cosme also scored on the play due to a throwing error for a 2-1 advantage.

The Vipers added to their lead in the top of the third frame as Nelson Castro tripled for a league high eighth time and Sergio Pedroza clubbed his 17th home run of the season for a 4-1 score.

In the top of the fourth frame Fehlandt Lentini hit his tenth big fly of the season for a 5-1 Calgary lead.

The Seals got a run back in the bottom of the inning for a 5-2 game when Brett Flowers reached on an error and scored on a Billy Krause run batted in double.

Calgary broke the game wide open in the top of the sixth with seven runs for a 12-2 advantage as Kevin Price and Jorge Mejia singled followed by Lentini who homered for a second time on the afternoon. Castro followed with a long ball of his own for back-to-back jacks and his tenth of the season. Pedroza was hit by a pitch, Pellow and Gonzalez singled to load the bases, Cosme gathered a RBI when he reached on a fielder's choice, Miller ground out for a RBI, and Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch to cap the inning.

Two more runs were scored in the seventh for the Vipers as Lentini walked and Pellow smashed a no-doubter out to deep left field for his first home run of the year and a 14-2 lead.

Victoria got back onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth inning as Perez singled and Brian Rios hit a two-out pinch-hit home run for a 14-4 score.

The Vipers now return home to Foothills Stadium on Tuesday August 25th, Wednesday August 26th, and Thursday August 27th all at 7:05 PM MDT for their final regular season home games of the year with the Edmonton Capitals in town. Tuesday will be "Toque Night" where Vipers' toques will be handed out at the game and Isaac Hess (9-2) will make his Snakes home debut. On Wednesday it will be "Grey Eagle Casino Night" at the ballpark.

For the third straight year the Vipers have qualified for the playoffs and will host Game 3 of the North Division Championship Series on Friday September 4th at 7:05 PM MDT. If necessary Games 4 & 5 will be held on Saturday September 5th at 4:00 PM MDT and Sunday September 6th at 3:00 PM MDT also at Foothills Stadium.



Golden Baseball League Stories from August 23, 2009


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