Tonight the Shaskys outlasted the Braves 6-5 in a very competitive game that ended as darkness was starting to fall at Knick Park. The game went to the bottom of the sixth tied at 5 as the Braves had climbed back from deficits of 4-1 and 5-2 earlier in the game. Mark Fleck doubled leading off the bottom of the sixth and Mark Callahan singled him home to deliver a walk-off victory for the Shasky nine.
Rich Cooney and Mark Callahan pitched well for the Shaskys, but the Braves kept fighting back as the game proceeded. The Shaskys narrowly escaped disaster in numerous innings by killing rallies with oddly constructed double-plays, pick-offs, and cut-off/relay putouts.
Also there was a bizarre play where Don Ball was running on the pitch and was retired to end an inning when he was hit on the basepath by a smoking frozen rope off the bat of Ostrander.
Mike Hart pitched well for the Braves with Ed Rogers finishing the last two innings. It was a very friendly yet fiercely competitive game played by both teams.
At the plate for the Braves Demaria, Ball, and Myers had two hits apiece, with runs driven in by Ball, Leinung, Myers, and Mike Hart.
For the Shaskys Callahan had two hits and 2RBI's, Cooney and Fleck had two hits, and Phillips and Burns each had an RBI. Grocki got his first hit of the year to break out of the schnied he was in.
The Braves certainly had the Shaskys on the ropes time and time again but divine intervention seemed to save the Shaskys from the jaws of defeat and deliver their victory in the end. A well played game on both sides.
Just wanted to echo Tony's remarks. It was a good competetive game, that unfortunatley for the Braves we came out on the losing side of. Tony was right - the Braves had multiple chances to go ahead and somehow the Shaskeys escaped each threat.
The Shaskeys are going to surprise some teams. The two pitchers we faced last night were both very solid.
Did want to note that unfortunately fading daylight came into play again in a Braves loss. The game winning hit was one that quite likely could (would?) have been caught under normal circumstances. Our left fielder never saw the ball off the bat and it fell to his side for a hit. That does not take away from the Shaskey's win - the winning baserunner had ripped a clean double to start the inning that daylight had nothing to do with. Just a frustrating part of these early season games and a reason why the games need to start on time (we started 15 minutes late due to a high school game that was taking place on the field before we could get on it).
Congrats again to the Shaskeys for the win - we'll see you again soon.
