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Vipers Squander Lead in Ninth

June 17, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


Leading by one run in the ninth inning the Calgary Vipers were unable to get the final two outs needed and were defeated by the Victoria Seals 6-5 in ten innings at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. An unearned run cost the Vipers in the ninth as the Seals scored three times in the first extra inning to take the lead for good. With the defeat Calgary drops to 15-9 but remain in first place in the Golden Baseball League's North Division.

Making his first start of the season Dillon O'Krane had a great game going two-for-four with four runs batted in while also making two solid defensive plays at third base. Nelson Castro had a three-hit game for the Snakes while Clint Johnston scored three times. For the Seals Josh Arhart had a monster game going four-for-five with a home run, three doubles, three runs scored, and two batted in.

Javier Garcia (1-1) picked up the win throwing the final two innings for Victoria while Jon Huizinga (0-1) picked the loss after giving up the three earned runs in the tenth inning. Joe Sergent threw a great game for Calgary going seven innings and allowing only four hits for one earned run while striking out eight. Evan Greusel made his first appearance out of the bullpen and threw a scoreless eighth inning.

Victoria opened the scoring in the top of the second inning as Josh Arhart doubled, advanced to third base when Brian Rios reached on an error by left-fielder Colin Moro, and scored on a Chris Van Rossum two-out run batted in single for the 1-0 lead.

The Vipers responded right back in the bottom of the inning as Clint Johnston and Moro singled, Drew Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Dillon O'Krane tied the game at 1-1 with a sacrifice fly.

The Seals took back the lead in the top of the fourth frame as Arhart hit a home run on the first pitch of the inning for a 2-1 advantage.

Calgary tied the game up again in the bottom of the fifth inning as with two outs Nelson Castro singled and Jorge Mejia tripled him in for the 2-2 score.

In the bottom of the sixth the Snakes took their first lead as Johnston and Rick Guarno singled and O'Krane also collected a base hit for his second RBI of the game for a 3-2 lead.

Down to their last two outs Victoria tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the ninth inning as Van Rossum reached on a error by first-baseman Johnston, Matt Kavanaugh singled, and Trevor Davidson knocked in the tying run with a base hit.

The Seals retook the lead in the top of the tenth as Jamar Hill singled, Arhart knocked him in with a double, Brian Rios also doubled for a RBI, and with Rios at third base after an error he scored on a Brett Flowers sacrifice fly for a 6-3 advantage.

Calgary made the game interesting in the bottom of the ninth as Mark Okano, Johnston, and Rick Guarno all walked to load the bases for O'Krane who singled home two to bring the Vipers within one run at 6-5.

The Vipers now have a five day break between games as originally they were suppose to play the now disbanded Tijuana Portos over the weekend. Instead on Friday the players will be visiting schools around the city. Some players will be participating in physical.education classes and playing with the kids while at another school an assembly will be held for the players. They all will be signing autographs and distributing a Vipers Workbook to students with different puzzles and facts about the team. All kids will receive two tickets to the Vipers game on June 28.

Calgary returns to game action on Tuesday June 23rd at 7:05 PM MDT as they open a seven-games-in-six-days home stand against the Victoria Seals. Starting on Friday June 26th at 7:05 PM MDT the Snakes will welcome the Tuscon Toros for their first visit of the year.

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Golden Baseball League Stories from June 17, 2009


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