Calarco tossed a
three-hitter in giving the defending champion
Yankees (24-7-1) a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five
series that resumes at 7 p.m. today at Limeport
Stadium.
"I wasn't at my best; I had
too many deep counts and too many walks," said
Calarco, a 27-year-old Tamaqua High School and Kings
College product. "The defense was huge today. The
guys picked me up. Obviously, one run can win a game
and it doesn't matter how you get it. It just
matters that you get it."
Maini, an Emmaus High and
Kutztown University product, was just as difficult
to solve as Calarco. He allowed four hits, struck
out six and walked none.
But the Yankees were able to
scratch out the game's only run in the fifth.
Dan Sharkey reached on an
error and Jeremy Faust slapped an opposite-field
single to left after failing to get down a sacrifice
bunt.
Mike Venarchick was able to
deliver a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to
second and third. After Maini struck out Ryan
McCauley for the second out, Nick Rabasco (two hits)
legged out an infield single on a ball chopped
toward the first-base side as Sharkey crossed with
the game's first and only run.
"We were fortunate to get
that run because we knew hits were going to be at a
premium," Yankees manager Brian Polaha said.
"Adam Maini threw
unbelievably well and it was a shame it was an
unearned run that decided it," Limeport
player-manager Jeremy Arner said. "Offensively, we
had more chances than they did, but we didn't
capitalize. We came up small in big spots. We played
right with them and didn't back down. We feel like
we gave this one away."
Calarco didn't allow a hit
until Matt Godusky singled in the fourth. Limeport's
best chance came when Cary Zimmerman and Godusky
singled in the sixth to put runners on the corners
with one out, but Arner hit into a double play
started by Yankees shortstop Adam Sandt and turned
by second baseman Rabasco to diffuse the threat.
"I felt I made a good pitch
on the double play and got [Arner] to hit it on the
ground and Sandt went to his right and turned it
real nice," Calarco said. "It was good execution all
around."
Calarco said the Bulls were
pests.
"Limeport was tough," he
said. They battle you and make you work on every
at-bat. They probably fouled off at least 10 3-2
pitches, but the important thing was to keep
battling. This was a big win. You want to set the
tone in Game 1 of any series."
Calarco, who struck out
seven, got more help in the seventh when Jason Okken,
who had walked, was thrown out trying to steal
second by Jeremy Faust.
Arner, whose team fell to
18-15, credited Calarco.
"He threw well, and when he
got himself in a little bit of trouble, he always
got out of it," Arner said. "He has been the best
pitcher in this league for probably the last three
years. We thought if we got a run, we'd have a shot,
but we couldn't get it."
Arner said he expects the
offenses to become more lively in Game 2 tonight.
"This game featured both of
our best and the other pitchers on both teams are a
little more hittable," Arner said. "I think both
teams will have more chances, but it's still going
to come down to who capitalizes and gets the big
hits."
