Team Rainey played the Hallman Twins of Kitchner, Ontario scoreless to the 7th inning, before the Twins were able to push a run across in the bottom of the 7th inning, for a 1-0 final. Hallman pitcher Todd Martin struck out a record 20, while Team Rainey’s Rick Smith struck out 12. Brian Stere had two of his teams 4 hits, while Dan Whiteford had the lone hit for Team Rainey. Rainey escaped a two on, one out jam, thanks to some great play by catcher Dwayne Fowler, blocking a drop in the dirt, then throwing a runner out at third on the same play. Derek Shackleton lifted long single to the warning track in left center, scoring pinch runner Jason Daer, who came on to run for Brian Stere who led off the inning with a single to left.
From Al’s Fastball:
Tonight, Monday night, the Twins got their most serious challenge to date. They were on the late night bill scheduled for 10pm on diamond one against Team Rainey of Whittier California. The game did not get started until just before midnight thanks to a number of very long games ahead of them.
Todd Martin got the start and did he ever go the distance. He gave up no runs, only one hit and he struck out a record (tie) 20 batters. The Twins did not exactly have hot bats this evening but they got the hit that mattered, in the bottom of the 7th inning. Third base Derek Shackleton got the game-winning hit that drove in the winning run. Levy struck out swinging. Stere singled. Daer pinch ran for Stere. White grounded out to p; Daer advanced to second. Shackleton singled, RBI; Daer scored. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Team Rainey is now 1-1 in the tournament, with two games to go in the round robin portion of the tournament.
Click here for the box score and play-by-play.