Friday, October 23, 2082
ALMOST THERE; PRO CUP NEAR FOR KENWOOD WILDCATS
What a win!
When games really matter, the Kenwood Wildcats put on their best show. They skimmed by Crystal Lake 3-2 to cop crucial game three of the Pro Cup Series for an enormous three games to one edge in the best-of-seven series. One more victory for the Wildcats and they will get the dream prize of IPA baseball - the Pro Cup Trophy.
But it wasn't easy. Kenwood had to rally in the 8th and 9th frames to overcome Crystal Lake's 2-1 advantage. John Bircher (.290) deadlocked the duel with a solo swat in the 8th and Johnny Davidson (.324) led them to victory when he singled in Kenny Sergeant (.333) from third base with one away.
A trio of twirlers made it possible. Billy Batton , Andre LaFrance and Matty Mihalek joined forces and held Crystal Lake at bay. Batton (1-0/0.50 ERA) started and went the first 5 frames and gave up both runs, only one of them earned. Batton departed on the losing side of the 2-1 score. LaFrance (2-1/3.98 ERA/10 games) spun 3 scoreless innings and gave way to Mihalek (2-1/0.00 ERA/2 saves/8 games) in the 9th. He sat down the Skippers 1,2,3 and ended up being named the winning pitcher.
Both teams collected 7 hits apiece. Kenny Sergeant led Kenwood with 3 for 4 and 2 runs scored. Pacing Crystal Lake were Jake Osborne and Cookie Garland with 2 hits each.
Crystal Lake jumped out to an early lead in the 1st inning on 3 singles by Jake Osborne (.286) , Cookie Garland (.321) and Gino Lorenzetti (.322). The Skippers added another run in the 2nd frame. An error with 2 outs gave them new life and they took advantage of it. Culver Jensen (.203) singled in the second score, driving in Earl Noland (.111) from second base. The Wildcats cut the margin to 2-1 in the 4th inning, finally breaking through against Noland. Kenny Sergeant (.333) tripled and scored on Arnell Armstrong's (.220) sac fly.
Earl Noland did a fine job for the Shippers. He went into the 6th and held the Wildcats to just one run on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts and no walks. His relief Angelo Marinello blew the save and the game. Kenwood socked him for 2 runs and 4 hits in his 2 and two-third innings. Marinello (1-2/2.78 ERA) lost the game, but overall he has been very effective in the playoffs with 2 saves in 11 relief appearances.
The starting pitchers in game five will be Andre Hurst (5-2/2.89 ERA) for manager Pat Dillon of the Crystal Lake Skippers, who are desparate for a win. In the Pro Cup playoffs this year Hurst is 1-0 so far in 3 starts with a 3.18 ERA. The Skippers have to win 3 in a row to claim this year's Pro Cup -- Nope. Not likely to happen -- Rarely does in IPA Pro Cup Finals history. It has occurred only twice. Far Mountain rallied from a 3-1 deficit in 2011 and Kenwood also accomplished it in 2014.
Rusty Bradford, skipper for the Wildcats, has his main man, Casey Shipp (10-9/3.15 ERA), ready to go and wrap up Kenwood's second Pro Cup Trophy. Shipp is 2-1 in the postseason in 4 starts with a splendid 1.48 ERA. He beat the Skippers 2-1 in the opener of the series. Hurst also worked 5 innings in the game, gave up a run, but did not get the loss.
