9/27/21 (Schenectady, NY) The #6 Seed Americans and #4 Seed Pirates squared off in the gloaming of the A-Diamond in a Win Or Go Home tilt! The Mike LaBarge led Americans were coming off a tough loss, against the Arachnids who walked it off with a huge 7th inning rally. The Americans were depleted in man-power, but gave it their all, as the Pirates moved on with the 14-3 victory.
Americans hung a 2-spot in the first with singles by Rich Garbarino, Ed Rogers and Jim Porter. Buccos answered right back in the bottom frame with 5 on an error, a walk, and a Paul Peters single, a 2-run ribby rip by Jim Ansel, singles by Wayne Newcomb, and Ray Meandro, followed by a booming triple by Jim Denney, who plated 1, and came in on the first of Ken Shaw's 3 rbis on the night with the run scoring bingle.
Bill Farrell settled in hanging zeroes in the 2nd, 3rd and 5th, scattering 7 hits, with 1 walk and 2 Ks in a route job, and a 2-0 record in the 62-Playoffs, and 3rd win in the post-season!
The Pirates banged out 11 hits, took advantage of 6 free passes, and grabbed 9 stolen bags.
Jim Ansel 3-3, 2 runs scored, and 4 rbi and 2 sb, Ken Shaw 2-3 with 3 rbi, and Jim Denney 1-1, 2 runs, 2 rbi and 2 walks paced the Pirates. Ansel has been the Pirates version of Rickey Henderson, and a candidate for MVP leading the Pirates and the league in stolen bases by a wide margin! Rich Garbarino 2-3 and a run scored, and Ed Rogers 1-3, 1 run and a ribby led the way for the Americans.
Pirates now take on their rival and nemesis in Dave Plew's Peppers on Thursday, in another elimination game. Pirates hold a 3-1 season edge, but these games always seem to play out the final out!
