Williams throw sends Long Beach to playoffs in win over OC

Published on August 31, 2008 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Orange County Flyers News Release


The Long Beach Armada (27-17) needed a St. George loss and to beat the Orange County Flyers (22-20) Saturday night and that is exactly what happened.

The Armada lead by as many as four but held on to one for the final play of the game, winning 7-6.

With runners on first and second and two outs Dave Bacani shot a line drive into right field that appeared to tie the game, but Julian Williams threw out Josh Arhart to end the ball game and punched their ticket to play those same Flyers for the Southern Division Championship next week.

Dustin Gober pitched 5.2 innings to qualify for the win, keeping Orange County to just one run to improve to 5-8 on the year.

Charles Merricks was tagged for the loss to drop to 6-5 on the season.

With their back against the wall, the Armada played accordingly, scoring two runs in the top of the first as Steve Moss doubled in Julian Williams before scoring himself after Ryan Lehr's grounder hit the base umpire preventing David Bacani from handling the ball.

The Flyers got one of those runs back in the second when Travon Jackson singled up the middle to score Fernando Pacheco.

The Armada added two more in the seventh on Norm Hutchins' two rbi single before Steve Moss was thrown out going to third to prevent any more damage.

Terry Mermer got those runs back for Orange County with one swing of the bat, a two run blast clearing the nets over the left field fence and pulling the Flyers back within two.

But the Armada got those runs back as Cleatus Davidson hit a two run double before he got thrown out by a great relay from Travon Jackson, David Bacani, and Nick Guerra applying the tag.

However, Orange County did not quit Jeff Van Houten drew a walk to start the inning as a pinch hitter before Acey came up with a two out RBI double that appeared to be a homer but fortunately advanced safely to third after an error by the third basemen. Jeff LaRue then made it a one run ball game with a big two run homer to keep the pressure on Long Beach.

In the ninth, Nick Cavanaugh came on to close the game out. Josh Arhart walked to start of the inning and was sacrificed to second by Gabe Mayorga. Mark Okano then flew out for the second out of the inning. Pat Breen pinch hit to draw the intentional walk before being ran for by Andre Simpson. Dave Bacani then came to the plate and Julian Williams became the hero as well as David Ramirez who made the tag.

Sunday the teams will meet in the regular season finale with nothing on the line. But Tuesday the Southern Division playoffs begin at Blair Field.

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Golden Baseball League Stories from August 31, 2008


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