Friday, October 15, 2088
Ruthlandian Union First Round
BELLE PLAINE TOPS LAGRANGE TO ADVANCE TO THE RU TITLE SERIES
In game five of the Ruthlandian Union First Round at Musketeer Field in Belle Plaine, the Muskies finished off the LaGrange Gators 6-5 to cop the best-of-seven series four games to one and advance to the RU Title Series. Left fielder Callum Hayford (.312 BA) homered twice and batted in 4 scores to top the Musketeers at the plate. Third baseman Jace De Grom (.222 BA) went 2 for 4 and drove in a pair of runs. Claude Mayeux (.350 BA) pitched in with 3 hits and a run scored. Hayford won the game and the series with a solo shot in the last of the 8th inning sending reliever Jules Dufour (0-2/5.40 ERA) down to defeat. Hayford had a great series with 3 homers and 10 RBIs. Johnny Koonce (2-0/0.00 ERA) chalked up his second series victory with 2 runless innings. The big pitcher's battle between 20-game winner Richard Cartier (0-0/6.23 ERA) and Alfie Tuthill (7-2/2.17 ERA) never materialized. They both had a tough time and left the game with the score tied at 5-all. Belle Plaine now awaits the victor of the Forest City-Belair Beach tussle to see who they will be playing in the second round of the playoffs. The Firebirds are currently in the driver's seat with a three games to two edge. The series will be decided in Forest City, where the last two games are scheduled.
SUNBIRDS SKIM PAST FIREBIRDS TO NARROW RU SERIES TO 3-2
At home at Bayside Park, Belair Beach remained alive in the Ruthlandian Union First Round matchup by skimming past Forest City in a gripping 2-1 duel to cut the Firebirds' margin to three games to two. All the scoring came in the early going of the game. Forest City got its only runs on two errors in the opening frame, while Belair Beach tallied both its scores in the last of the 2nd. Catcher Taavo Dees (.231 BA) knocked in the first one with a double. He came in to score the eventual-winning run on a sac fly by third baseman Mees Achthoven (.222 BA). Gardiner Palmquist (1-1/3.09 ERA) got credit for the win with the aid of his bullpen buddies, Ty Griffith (0-0/7.36 ERA/2 games) and Orval Columbus (1-1/2.08 ERA/1 save/2 games). They combined to blank the potent Firebirds the last 3 and one-third frames. In a stellar stint Palmquist quelched Forest City on just one unearned run and 3 hits in his 5 and two-thirds innings. Also in a fine performance loser Shannon Slate (1-1/1.7 2 ERA) went the complete game for the Firebirds, holding the Sunbirds to 2 runs on 6 hits. Center fielder Kyran Carwell (.188 BA) made it close for the Firebirds in the 8th with a 3-run blast. The clubs will continue the series in Forest City with the last two games set for Riverside Stadium.
