This game played at Watervliet last night was very tough for both teams. The Cardinals, who earned the two seed had Bill Chichester on the mound, while the Arachnids went with Darrell Duncan. Stephen Koutsakis hit the first pitch of the game for a single and scored the games first run with two outs on a single by TJ Scorsone. The Cardinals took the lead scoring two runs in the bottom of the third and singles by Jack Radzik, Dave Sprague, and Don Shultis. 2-1 home team entering the 4th. Spiders got 2 in the fourth as Duncan led off with a double and was brought home by another Scorsone single. Joe Parker walked and Terry McCarthy singled to bring Scorsone home. 3-2 visitors. The Cardinals came out strong in the bottom of the fifth scoring three runs to put the game on a high shelf, now leading 5-3 The mood in the Arachnids dugout entering the top of the sixth was somber. Kenny Wellington led off with a single and TJ Scorsone followed with another single. Runners on first and 2nd with no outs, down 2 runs. Arachnids GM Jim Edelman, whos still kicking himself this morning, called for a double steal. Wellington on second was out on a high back handed tag when the ball is thrown wide of the 3rd base bag. The air went out of the balloon. Big credit goes to Wayne Nicholson, who, with two outs, scorched a hard line drive single in the gap to left center bringing Scorsone home, making it a 5-4 ballgame after 5 1/2. Bottom of the sixth, Bill Chichester, worked a walk to start. Ed Potash followed with a line drive up the middle that looked like a sure base hit to center but somehow Koutsakis, who was playing second raced towards the middle and made a fantastic, probably game saving catch and proceeded to double Chichester off at first. The next two batters, Jerry Hawkins and Al Freer, hit singles but they didnt go anywhere as the inning ended on a pop up to shortstop. Still 5-4 Cardinals after 6 full. It was very quiet when the spiders came to bat in the top of the seventh. 8-9-10 batters scheduled up. It is essential to get production from all parts of the batting order somewhere in tight games if you expect to be a successful TEAM. Emphasis on team. The second half of the order isnt there to fill spots waiting for the big guns to come up again. Gentlemen-we need you. Find a way ! Tom King quietly strides to the plate and proceeds to hit the second pitch , an 0-1 curve, for a beautiful line drive single 3 feet fair down the left field line. Hope springs. Electricity back in the line. Terry McCarthy as the courtesy runner in to run for King steals second. John Reel lays down a beautiful bunt and the ball gets by the first baseman on the throw from the pitcher McCarthy scores tie ball game. Don Wixon walks. Runners now at first and second with no outs. Pitching change. Jeff Martin on the mound. Hes a hard thrower. Edelman pinch hitting for Draves comes to the plate. First pitch, hard, high, and inside spinning Edelman away. Second pitch is bunted between the pitcher and third base and the only person able to field the ball was the third baseman. The only possible play was going to first, but in the heat of the moment the third baseman did not get a handle on the ball and was unable to make a throw. Everybody safe bases loaded no outs. Lead off hitter Koutsakis works a walk bringing home Reel. Duncan reaches on an E-6 and Wixon scores. Wellington walks and Edelman evidently scores and proceeds to relieve Nicholsen coaching at first base. When he arrives to coach first base Edelman is told he is out because he did not touch the plate which was news to me. When questioned about the alleged miss at home, the umpire pointed to the dirt a quarter inch in front of the plate, saying thats where, the foot went down, but there was no footprint or cleat mark there. Drama. Theres a bit more to this part of the story, but no need to take it any further. But an umpires judgment call stands. Martin strikes out the next two batters and the Arachnids half of the inning was over. 7-5 visitors. Jeff Martin leads off the bottom of the seventh with a single and steals second base. Paul Maguire grounds out 63. Dave Sprague grounds to first base for a second out. Don Shultis singles home Martin. 7-6 game. The ever dangerous and I mean very dangerous Rick Seidenberg hits a clean single to right center. Runners on first and second two outs. TJ Scorsone in relief gets Steve Schaeffer to hit a game ending 6-3 grounder. The game ends as the spiders leave the field with a very hard earned 7-6 win over a most worthy Cardinal team. Hats off to Jerry Hawkins and his charges. My stomach is still in knots this morning. I mean it.
The Arachnids used three pitchers, Duncan, Nicholsen, and Scorsone. 14 hits for the spiders were led by Reel 33, Scorsone, 34, King 23, and Koutsakis 2-3. Darrell Duncan had the only extra base hit of the night with a long double in the fourth inning. TJ Scorsone had the prettiest play of the game when he went deep in the hole to backhand a hard grounder by Steve Schafer and threw him out by half a step at first in the bottom of the second inning. It was a beautiful, beautiful play.
The Cardinals used two pitchers, Bill, Chichester, and Jeff, Martin, and had 13 hits and were led by Dave Sprague 34, Don Shultis 23, Jack Radzik, 23, and Jeff Martin, 22.
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