The Golden Marlins advanced to the 46+ Finals last night with a hard fought win over the Yankees at Cook Park. We were lucky to get the game in as heavy rain fell all around Cook Park but missed the ball field. The Marlins used the good fortune to their advantage as the Fish struck for five runs in the top half of the first as seven out of the first eight batters had base hits. The Yankees answered back with a singleton in the bottom of the first as Steve VanGelder went the other way beautifully for the RBI single. Both starting pitchers (Jerry Solomon and Dennis Scimeca) settled in and hung up goose eggs in the second and third innings. Each team got a single run in the fourth as veterans John Reel and Kevin Jackson drove in runs for their respective clubs. The Marlins scratched out another run in the top of the fifth, when Tom Maney hit his fourth of five singles, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out, and scored on a wild pitch. The Marlins got an unearned run in the top of the sixth to push the score to 8-2, but the Yankees got back two in the bottom of the sixth with a long home run by Kevin Jackson and three singles and a walk. Just when the Yanks had clawed their way back into the game 8-4, the Goldens got two runs in the top of the seventh to close it out. The Golden Marlins attack was led by Tom Maney's five singles and Mike Girard's two doubles and a single. Dennis Scimeca scattered 10 hits through his 6 innings and John Latorre cleaned up things in the seventh. The Golden Marlins move on to the finals against the Hornets. The series opens Sunday with two games at New Scotland (times to be announced). Rumors have game three (if necessary) being played Monday or Tuesday night under the lights at Cook Park. Congrats to the Yankees on another fine season!
