Vipers Drop Season Opener

Published on May 23, 2008 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


The Calgary Vipers held two seperate leads but eventually lost in the bottom of the ninth inning 8-7 to the Edmonton Cracker-Cats at Telus Field in Edmonton, Alberta. Calgary led 2-0 early in the game and then 7-5 into the bottom of the eighth but were unable to hang on in the first game of the 2008 season. As a team the Vipers only managed six hits despite scoring seven runs.

Darryl Brinkley led off the top of the first inning and wasted little time collecting his first hit with an infield single. After two wild pitches to move Brinkley to third base Jorge Mejia picked up his first run batted in of the season with a groundball to first base and Calgary had a 1-0 lead.

The Vipers doubled their lead in the second inning when with two outs Patrick Arlis and Jorge Tang picked up their first hits of the season to put two runners on. Making his professional debut Colin Moro smacked his first professional hit into center field and thanks to a great slide at the plate by Arlis he also collected his first RBI to give the Snakes a 2-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the third the Cracker-Cats got a leadoff single from Jordan Lundberg and after a groundball moved him to second base he scored on a Carlos Arroyo RBI double. With two outs Chris Van Rossum hit a groundball that got under the glove of third baseman Jose Morban for an error and Arroyo scored to tie the game at two.

Edmonton took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth with a solo homerun from Jason Bryan.

Calgary responded right back in the top of the fifth with a leadoff walk by Tang who moved to second base on a Moro sacrifice bunt. Brinkley promptly doubled to left field for the RBI and tie game at three.

Back to back doubles from Josh Carter and Joe Jiannetti in the bottom of the sixth gave the Cracker-Cats their second lead of the night with the 4-3 score.

A run was added an inning later with a Lundberg double and a Kevin House RBI single.

Jake Upwood came into the game in the eighth for Edmonton and walked Mejia, Drew Miller, and Max Soto to load the bases. Calgary then scored on a Nelson Castro RBI groundball and a Jose Morban RBI sacrifice fly to tie the game. With two outs shortstop Dave Detienne threw away a Tang groundball to allow Soto and Castro to score for the 7-5 lead.

Right back came Edmonton in the bottom of the inning with Josh Carter reaching on an error and Bryan walking. With RBI singles from Detienne and Jonathan Castro the game was once again tied.

In the bottom of the ninth Chris Van Rossum singled and Carter doubled to end the game in dramatic fashion for the Cracker-Cats and their 8-7 victory.

Pete Sikaras (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory while Geoff Freeborn (0-1) took the loss after giving up the winning run.

This series continues Saturday night at 7:05 PM (MDT) with Jordy Alexander pitching for the Vipers. Sunday at 1:35 PM (MDT) Nate Melek will get the start and the series concludes Monday at 7:05 PM (MDT) with Dallas Mahan taking the mound for Calgary. All games can be heard live online at www.calgaryvipers.com and www.sportsjuice.com.

The Vipers open their home schedule next Thursday night on "Theoren Fleury Night". The Stanley Cup champion and Olympic Gold Medalist will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and sign autographs throughout the game. And on Saturday, May 31 the Vipers will welcome Chris Reitsma to Foothills Stadium. The ex-major leaguer will also sign autographs and meet with fans.

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Golden Baseball League Stories from May 23, 2008


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