Lefty’s rallies,
wins World Series
11-7 River Dogs victory over Snappers
Sparked by the pitching of Dan Freeman and
the hitting of Jeremy Lotz, Lefty’s River Dogs (10-5) captured the Blaine County
Title Men’s Baseball League "World Series" title Monday at Founders Field.
Lefty’s first baseman Dave Hausmann tags out Curtis Bacca of Waxroom Snappers
to complete a twin killing during Monday’s opening game won the Snappers 13-6.
Bacca (3 hits) had just cracked a two-run single putting the Snappers ahead
12-6, but he strayed too far on a fly ball and was caught. Umpire Harold Nelson
gets ready to make the out call. Express photo by David N. Seelig
Lefty’s defeated the Waxroom Snappers by
an 11-7 score in the "if necessary" championship game of the best-of-three
"World Series." The River Dogs had to rally from 5-0 and 7-3 deficits to nail
down their first-ever "World Series" crown.
Indeed, Lefty’s carried away the title
despite being outhit 26-14 in Monday’s doubleheader.
Outfielder Lotz (2 hits, 2 runs, 3 RBI)
delivered a two-out, two-run double in the River Dogs’ four-run sixth that
boosted Lefty’s into a 10-7 lead. Relief pitcher Erik Nilsen shut the door on
the Snappers with four innings of scoreless work.
Leadoff batter Mark Ellsbree of Lefty’s River Dogs rips a hit during
Monday’s Labor Day "World Series" doubleheader at Founders Field. Express
photo by David N. Seelig
Although the Snappers (6-9) outhit the
River Dogs 13-7 led by leadoff Matt Buxton (2 hits, triple, 3 runs), Patrick
Mullen (3 hits, double) and Anthony Anderson (2 hits, 2 RBI), the River Dogs
hung in there and capitalized on 11 free passes from three Snapper pitchers.
Freeman, a righthander who hurled the
Alley Cats to the "World Series" championship in 1998, pitched nearly 12 innings
as the River Dogs and Snappers played two Labor Day games to settle the Sun
Valley Men’s Adult Baseball title.
In Monday’s first game, starting pitcher
Freeman picked up the loss as the Snappers forced a deciding game with a 13-6
victory behind the seven-hit complete-game pitching effort of righthander
Anthony Anderson (5 K).
The Snappers had eight unearned runs and
rode the hitting of its 1-2-3-4 batters Buxton (3 hits, 3 runs), Curtis Bacca (3
hits, 3 RBI), Anderson (2 hits, 3 runs, 2 RBI) and Jimmy Jorgensen (2 hits, 2
runs). Jeff Sarchett added two RBI.
Lotz’s three-run, first-inning double did
most of the River Dogs damage in the opener. Erik Nilsen added two hits.
The "World Series," opened Sunday
afternoon on the Hailey diamond with a 6-5 River Dogs victory over the Snappers.
Jeff "Little Unit" Poggi outdueled Jimmy Jorgensen in a duel of righthanded
pitchers. The teams combined for 27 hits.
In all three of its games, shorthanded
Lefty’s was helped by pick-up players in an arrangement that the Snappers
approved. For instance, in the 6-5 game, Robin Sarchett of the Alley Cats led
off with a double in the seventh that sparked the decisive Lefty’s two-run
rally.
Top hitters for the Dogs in Sunday’s
opening game were leadoff Mark Ellsbree (2 hits, 2 runs), Mike Abaid (2 hits),
Dave Hausmann (2 hits), Freeman (2 hits), Poggi (2 hits) and Robin Sarchett.
For the Snappers leadoff Buxton (2 hits)
scored four runs and Jorgensen went 4-for-4. Chris Zarkos added two hits.
Thursday night, the Coors Light Cyclones
(6-4-2) and Twist ‘N Trout Alley Cats (3-7-2) clashed in a one-game playoff to
see if the Cyclones would qualify for the "World Series." The teams tied 9-9
after nine innings, meaning the Snappers made it instead of the Cyclones.
Cyclones pitcher John Rathfon threw nine
frames, scored three runs and added a two-run homer. Tim Mott chipped in three
hits, Anthony Naghsh and Dennis McLean two each.
Top hitters for the Alley Cats were James
Cordes (4 hits, 3 runs), Craig Anderson (2 hits, triple, 3 runs) and Danny
Turner (2 hits, 3 RBI). Cats relievers Tim Carter and Brian Nelson kept the game
close.
Next summer, the SVMABL is planning to
have a new draft and once again play with wood bats. But the season is scheduled
to end earlier with the "World Series" on Aug. 20-21.