The Pirates and Highlanders locked horns last night at Ravena in a battle lasting 8 innings with a exciting ending. John Kalinski pitched all 8 innings going against former Highlander Roger Mason. Both pitcher's pitched well in this close contest. The Highlanders scored 1 in the top of the 1st and the Pirates answered with 2 in the bottom, with a leadoff single by Yakatan, an rbi double by Joe Burns and an rbi single by Rich Wander. The Pirates added 1 in the 2nd with the Highlanders keeping the heat on by scoring 1 in the 3rd. Not to be out done, the Pirates matched the Scotsmen, making it 4-2 after 3 innings. In the 5th Dwight Partridge made a great diving catch in right center on a line drive by Gorman, sure to be exta bases if not corraled by Partridge. With Kalinski coming up to the plate with a man on, after singling twice already, Mike Kane replaced Mason and was able to strike out Kalinski in deep count. In the top of the 6th, the Highlanders got 4 hits off Kane and tied the game at 4 apiece, where it stayed through regulation. In the top of 8, the Highlanders led off with a single and the Pirates turned a tough 5-4-3 DP and retired the next batter. With the light beginning to fade, and 1 out, Joe Burns smashed a long triple in left center. Mike Kane whiffed on strike 3 but the catcher dropped the ball and threw to first to retire Kane. As he did this, Burns took off for home and just beat the return throw from 1st on a close sliding play. Baseball just doesn't get any better than this.
