[Alsfastball] DD - Sat p1 GREY SOX REMAIN IN HUNT FOR TITLE; JARVIS CLAIMS 8TH

[Al Doran]

ISSUE #7  By John Thompson 
<mailto:sstj99 at yahoo.com>sstj99 at yahoo.com 
Saturday September 3, 2005

GREY SOX REMAIN IN HUNT FOR TITLE; JARVIS CLAIMS 8TH
Two out in the 7th is not sufficient reason to 
abandon your seat at the 2005 Canadians - 
especially if the margin between competing teams 
is only 2 runs or less. For the 2nd consecutive 
day on Diamond #4, Vancouver Grey Sox displayed a 
“Ne’er say die” attitude in its tie-breaker match 
vs Newfoundland. Trailing 5-3 in the B-7th, 
Vancouver scrambled to tie the match, setting the 
table for Gerry Kennedy to launch a deep rocket 
to right-centre, a 3-run ‘tater. Final 
tie-breaker score – Vancouver 8 - Newfoundland 5.
       Moments earlier on Diamond #1, Prince 
George Black Bears, trailing Mulgrave Eagles 4-3 
in the T-7th,  unveiled some late-game heroics of 
their own. Pesky Bears catcher Chad Ghostkeeper 
did what he’s been successfully doing all week - 
making things happen -  by lining a twisting shot 
off the 1st baseman’s glove for a single. Next 
batter Doug Cain displayed patience and restraint 
off Eagles P Tim Macumber, working the count to 
3-2.  Cain’s great piece of batting – a single to 
left field – advanced the runner.  Randy Potskin 
assumed his position in the batter’s box, and 
Macumber’s wild pitch advanced runners to 
2nd/3rd. Two pitches later, a 2nd WP plated 
Ghostkeeper. Potskin struck out. Tie game.
       Eagles playbook dictated use of the short 
game in the B-7, with the lead-off batter 
singling on a well-executed drop-bunt. On a 
second bunt, Stephane Leblanc failed to advance, 
but brother Ricky Leblanc laid down a beauty, 
scored as a single. Runners at 1st/2nd and Black 
Bears bring veteran southpaw Mike Piechnik from 
the bull-pen to face left-handed hitting 
infielder Jim Midgley.  Midgley was loose and 
confident, and stroked a single – Final 
tie-breaker score Mulgrave 5 Prince George 4.
       In the 4th tie-breaker game, the Grey Sox 
again rallied from a 1-0 deficit against Mulgrave 
on Scott Newitt’s HR and Nick Underhill’s 4 
hit-10 strikeout performance. The Sox’s 4th win 
in 30 hours provided them the right to meet the 
1st place unbeaten Kitchener Hallman Twins in the 
Friday night “Two Lives to Live” doubleheader. 
The Grey Sox, trailing 3-0 in the 7th, attempted 
yet again another rally. Two walks followed by a 
Derek Mayson double narrowed the margin to 3-2, 
but Twins P Todd Martin nailed the game shut with three straight strikeouts.
      In the other tie-breaker series to 
determine the 8th and final playoff spot, 
Innerkip Bright Cheese House Eagles  got a solid 
3-hit performance from P Jamie Simpson, and 2 
RBIs from Mike Pullin to white-wash Kinkora 6-0. 
Four hours later, Innerkip was eliminated by a 
well-rested Jarvis Merchants squad, and Jarvis 
advances to the Saturday play-off, facing 
Mulgrave. In round-robin play on Wednesday, 
Jarvis nipped Mulgrave on P Andrew Phibbs 6- 
hitter – look for another squeaker between these 
two balanced teams.  In the other single-life 
game today at noon, Prince George Black Bears and 
Newfoundland Impact Signs lock horns – (Prince 
George/Newfoundland did not meet in round-robin pool play.
Last night, in front of a huge crowd, the 
home-town host St. Thomas Evergreen Centennials 
maintained double-life with a 3-1 win over Saskatoon Black Sox.


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