Vipers Get 20 Hits in Victory Over St. George

Published on June 10, 2009 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


The Calgary Vipers collected 20 hits in defeating the St. George RoadRunners 13-3 at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. Calgary put the game away early with a four-run third inning and six more tallies in the fifth. With the victory the Vipers win the three game series with the RoadRunners and are now a half game behind St. George for the best overall mark in the Golden Baseball League. The Snakes also go 3-2 on their five-games-in-four-days home stand and improve to 12-6 overall to maintain sole possession of first place in the GBL's North Division.

Hideki Nagasaka (2-0) took the win in the game going six innings and allowing two runs. Frank James, Alan Webb, and Jon Huizinga all tossed an inning out of the bullpen with none giving up any earned runs against. Monte Mansfield (1-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up ten runs in four and two-third innings.

At the plate Mark Okano led the way going three-for-four with a home run and four runs batted in while Fehlandt Lentini went four-for-six with two runs scored. Ivan Reyes was the other Snake to collect three hits which included a big fly and two runs scored.

St. George opened the scoring for the second straight night in the top of the first as Ryan Stevenson singled and scored on a Angel Sanchez run batted in double for the 1-0 advantage.

Calgary wasted little time tying the game, as in the bottom of the inning Fehlandt Lentini singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, moved to third base on a Nelson Castro single, and scored on another wild pitch for the 1-1 score.

Drew Miller gave the Vipers the 2-1 lead in the second inning with his league high sixth home run of the season.

In the third inning the Snakes continued the scoring as Lentini doubled, Castro singled, and Mejia walked to load the bases. Mark Okano drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, Clint Johnson knocked in two with a base hit, and Miller plated a fourth tally for a 6-1 advantage with a base knock.

The Vipers blew the game wide-open in the bottom of the fifth as Miller walked, and both Ivan Reyes and Colin Moro walked to load the bases. Castro walked for a RBI, Mejia cashed another two with a single, and Okano launched a three run shot for six runs in the inning and a double-digit lead at 12-2.

Another run was added in the sixth inning as Reyes hit his first homer of the season and the Snakes' third of the night for a 13-2 lead.

In the top of the eighth St. George collected an unearned run when Cody Nowlin reached all the way to second base on a fielding error by first-baseman Johnston, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Brad Netzel sacrifice fly for the 13-3 score.

The Vipers now hit the road for a short three-game-series in Victoria to take on the Seals. Friday June 12th at 8:05 PM MDT Joe Sergent (2-1) toes the rubbers in a left-handed matchup against Isaac Hess (2-0). Sergent is coming off his second victory of the season where he retired 20 batters in a row and pitched a complete, seven-inning, game. Hess has made four starts on the season for 25 innings pitched and has struck out a league-high 25 batters for a 2.16 earned run average.

On Saturday June 13th at 8:05 PM MDT pitching coach Evan Greusel (2-1) takes to the mound against Eduardo Baeza (1-3). Greusel has made four starts this season and has struck out 17 batters in 21 innings pitched. Baeza has also made four starts and in 24.2 innings he has a 5.11 E.R.A.

Finally on Sunday June 14th at 1:05 PM MDT this three-game-set wraps up with Reggie Rivard (2-1) taking on Travis Wade (0-2). Rivard has made two starts in a row after four appearances out of the bullpen. Wade will be making his fourth start of the year and in 14.2 inning he has walked only three and struck out ten for a 6.75 E.R.A.

Monday June 15th at 7:05 PM MDT the Snakes return home to Foothills Stadium to take on the Seals in the back-half of this home-and-home series. Tuesday June 16th at 7:05 PM MDT will be game two while on Wednesday June 16th at 2:35 PM the two teams will play a special matinee game with the Calgary Stampeders opening game to follow in the evening across the parking lot.

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Golden Baseball League Stories from June 10, 2009


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