ICC rallies to stay alive, 4-3
Chad Waelchli goes 3-for-3 with a HR
and scores the game-winner in the 7th to tie series.
BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP --
The ICC Pirates rallied to beat the Limeport Bulls 4-3 and even their best of three
playoff series at a game apiece. A deciding Game Three is set for Monday night
at 7:30 at Limeport Stadium.
Starting pitchers Chad Arnold and Ryan Lindley traded
goose eggs for the first four innings before the Bulls finally solved Lindley
in the fifth. Nick Remaly roped a one-out double into center field, but was
erased at third base on Christian Bensing's fielder's choice when Chad Stecker
made a gutsy decision going away from the sure out at first base. The next
batter, Jon Michael Vito, smacked a triple into the right field fence that put
the Bulls up 1-0. Joe Pochron stranded him at third base, lining out to left
field.
The Pirates answered right back in the bottom half of
the frame. Cory Schneck singled with one out, and then scored on Chad
Waelchli's homerun off the top of the right field fence, putting ICC up 2-1.
The Pirates' lead soon turned into a deficit. Kevin Kershner led off the sixth inning with a walk, one of only two issued by
Lindley, who also struck out three. Glenn Kushma then outdid Waelchli, homering
OVER the left field fence. Limeport led 3-2 at that point, and it looked like
it might be another playoff series win over ICC.
Arnold held the Pirates scoreless in the bottom of the
sixth, and then gave way to fellow ace Pat Toner in
the seventh. Toner got Kyle Ruff to ground out for the first out. Schneck
doubled into right field to put some wind back into the ICC sails. He was
replaced on the bases by Len Melton. Melton raced home and slid under Vito's
tag on an RBI single by Waelchli, tying the game at 3-3. Todd Brosious struck
out for the second out, adding some suspense. Stecker won the game a few
pitches later when he hit a long single into right field, scoring Waelchli.
Limeport's only batter with a multi-hit game was Vito,
who was 2-3 with an RBI triple. ICC's big hitter was Chad Waelchli. Wakes went
3-3 with a double, a homer, three RBI, and scored the winning run. Cory Schneck
added two hits.
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