Just realized I had an error on the banner, so I edited it to reflect the proper league for Nordhagen Beach.
NCA #1 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (79-29) vs SCA #3 Atom Cats (64-44)
Game 1 - Nordhagen Beach 2, Atom 1, 10 inn.
Nut Handcuffs Cats, Party Boys Seize 1-0 Advantage in SSS
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys started the Sole Survivor Series in dramatic fashion today, stealing Game 1 from the Atom Cats in a walk-off in the 10th inning. Nordhagen Beach took the 2-1 win thanks in large part to a good day from starter Beachboy Nut. The left-hander threw 7.0 innings of 5-hit ball in the win, which gave the Party Boys a 1-0 lead to start the best-of-7 series.
With the game on the line, Ryan Combs came to bat in the bottom of the tenth. And the Nordhagen Beach first baseman came through, cracking a run-scoring single off Adam Forestman, the Atom pitcher.
"We had a chance to win," said Atom manager Paul Stands, "but we didn't get it done."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium in Winthrop.
Analysis
Just as we expected, Beachboy Nut came out firing on all cylinders, putting all the pressure on Atom's Deedee Martinson to do the same. The second-year player and first year as a full-time starter, Martinson proved to be impressive. In 7.0 innings, he allowed one earned run on just three hits. Unfortunately, two of those hits came in the bottom of the 1st, with Ryan Combs tripling to lead off the inning and Jonathan Angelou singling him in.
Nut seemed to be untouchable until he gave up a solo home run to Jeremy Schoolboy to lead off the 6th. He also got into more trouble in the inning before Jake Doucette's baserunning error killed the Cats' rally. That would prove to be the end of their offensive production, though there were scares. For Nut, he earned Game MVP honors by allowing only one earned run on five hits with 10 strikeouts in 7.0 innings. The one disturbing part about his game was the four walks allowed, something he did only once in the regular season but has now done three times in the postseason.
Doucette actually killed their chance on Nordhagen Beach reliever Matt Breakball in the top of the 9th. After he was walked to start the inning, Kareem Caravan then singled to put runners on first and second with nobody out. With one out and Justin Daros up to bat, Doucette tried to steal third, but was gunned down by the Boys' Mike Swift. Daros then struck out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 9th, the Boys had the middle of their lineup coming up against Atom reliever Danny Scorcher but the first two batter struck out. However, the next two batters--Michael Fogcrawler and Brian Masterson--successfuly reached on singles, putting the winning run in scoring position. Swift could not answer the call, though, flying out to end the 9th.
Breakball again walked the leadoff batter in the 10th, but then he struck out Earthbound Bussey, Shane Stabb, and Machete Thompson in order to kill any chance for a run.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Party Boys had the bottom of their order coming up, but they went to the bench for help. Pinch hitter Corey Cook led off with a single, chasing Jeff Rickashaw for Adam Forestman. Pointie Shroud grounded out on a hit and run, moving Cook into scoring position. Dopey Meanie then got a slow-rolling infield single to put runners at first and third with just one out. Combs then finished the game how he started it, successfully reaching base on a hit to end the game and give Nordhagen Beach the 1-0 series lead.