Monday, October 20, 2081
SKIPPERS RALLY IN HEARTSTOPPING PRO CUP OPENER; AUGUSTUS OUTDUELS MALEK
The Crystal Lake Skippers saved the best for last in the opening game of the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series at Lakefront Park. Augie Augustus outdueled Ivan Malek 3-2 in a game decided in the bottom of the 9th on Dave Sewell's run-scoring single.
Ivan Malek was marvelous for the first 7 frames, blanking the Skippers on 4 hits. Rolling Hills was ahead 2-0 going into the last of the 8th. Harv Phelan's solo roundtripper put the Racers up 1-0 in the top of the 4th. Malek himself singled in the second score in the 6th inning. Crystal Lake finally put a run on the scoreboard in the 8th frame. Gino Lorenzetti doubled and tallied on Jake Osborne's base hit.
The Skippers really went to work in the 9th with three straight hits. Sookie Murphy tripled, pinch hitter Darrin Turpin singled him in and tied the score at 2-2. Then Sewell cracked a hard grounder past first base to decide the game on a walk-off single.
Augustus fired 7 strong innings, allowed 2 runs on 9 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 bases on balls. However, the victory went to Ethan Zahn (1-0/2.25 ERA), who shut down the Racers on one hit over his 2 frames.
Crystal Lake collected 9 hits, while Rolling Hills got 10.
Malek (1-1/2.81 ERA) went the distance in defeat, walking 2 batters and fanning 3.
Game two in Crystal Lake will pit Skeets Kazlauskas (17-8/2.94 ERA) for Rolling Hills, while Lloyd Mason (14-11/3.63 ERA) will work for the Skippers. Kazlauskas is 2-1 in the postseason in 4 starts. Mason is 3-0 in 3 assignments with a 2.39 ERA.
