Solar Sox make playoffs in Arizona
Men?s Senior World Series
Batting .331 as a team in eight games, the Sun Valley Solar Sox represented the Wood River Valley very well during the 2004 Men?s Senior Baseball League World Series last week in Phoenix, Arizona.
Sponsored by The Waxroom of Ketchum, the Solar Sox made the playoffs and finished the week with a 4-4 record for a fifth-place tie out of 27 teams in the 28 Central Division. They outscored opponents 70-51.
Player/coach Curtis Bacca said, ?Our pitchers did a great job, particularly Pat Creighton, Jeff Poggi and David Fox. We also had the best defensive infield in the tourney with Sean Moran at second base, Craig Anderson at shortstop and Brian Nelson at third.
?Paul Creighton did a great job catching and was tough as nails battling injuries. The whole squad had timely hits and was very consistent in the playoffs. Making the playoffs and making the quarterfinals were highlights of the trip.?
After going 2-3 in preliminary rounds and making the playoffs, the Solar Sox beat the Tucson Cactus Rally Reds 10-2 and squashed the New Mexico Cubs 22-1 with a 21-hit attack. Robin Sarchett went 7-for-7 with 8 RBI in the two wins.
In the Tucson game, winning pitcher Poggi scattered 10 hits in seven frames. Dan Freeman and Craig Anderson each stroked three hits. Against New Mexico, Pat Creighton tossed a three-hitter and Brian Nelson drove home four runs for the winners.
With two key starters injured accounting for a bunch of unearned runs in the field, the Solar Sox fell 9-4 in the quarterfinals to top-seeded eventual champs L.A. Bulls.
Bacca said, ?We had a great run. All the other teams were cheering for us, calling us the Cinderella team.?
In batting statistics, Freeman (15-for-30, .500 with 7 RBI and 10 runs scored) led the way followed by Brian Nelson (13-for-28, .464, 9 RBI), Robin Sarchett (13-for-29, .448 with 8 RBI and 12 runs scored), Craig Anderson (11-for-27, .407) and Bacca (9-for-27, .333, 11 runs).
Pat Creighton (2-0. 0.64 ERA), Fox (1-0, 2.00 ERA) and Poggi (1-0, 2.77 ERA) paced the Solar Sox pitching staff.
Other team members in Arizona included Danny Turner and Jimmy Jorgensen.
