[Elendil]

Game One


Downtown Fairbanks

September 4, 2017 - Over 3,100 fans were on hand for the opening of the 2017 Alaskan Championship Series. It was a Monday evening, chilly but not cold, with little wind.

Steven Henry and John Cormack both pitched well. Through four innings, Cormack had struck out five and allowed no walks, while Henry had struck out four and allowed no walks. The score was tied 1-1. Kodiak had taken the lead in the 1st inning off an RBI single by Michael Samson, and Toby Burns tied it in the 4th with an RBI double.

In the top of the 5th, the Grizzlies ran themselves out of a run for the first time in the game. Gregg Bolduc led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch, then got caught stealing second. After Wilkinson struck out, the pitcher Henry slapped a double down the right field line. Bolduc would have scored from first fairly easily on that ball. But Okawa then struck out, and the score remained 1-1.

The Grizzlies then ran themselves out of a run again in the top of the 8th. Cormack was still pitching for Fairbanks. Wilkinson got a groundball single to lead off the inning; then pinch-hitter Mark Oxford reached on an error by Cormack, putting runners on first and second. A flyball from Stan Okawa made the first out but put runners on the corners.

Then something inexplicable happened. Mark Navarro took a called strike, and Oxford took off running from first. Now, this is a guy who had never stolen a base in his Alaskan League career. In fact, he had never even attempted a steal before. Taking second base in that situation was only useful to avoid the double play, but getting caught was potentially disastrous, making the second out with a runner on third. Of course, that's exactly what happened: he was gunned down easily. After the game, Cardinal brushed it off with a comment to the effect that the signs must have been crossed up. Regardless of who was at fault, it was a crucial error, as Navarro then flied out to end the inning.

The Goldpanners then threatened in the bottom of the 8th, with Todd Simmons on the mound for Kodiak. It started when fresh third baseman Mike Gaston made an error, allowing Garry Garrett to reach with one out. Adam Joly then got hit on the elbow to put two runners on. Eric Alcock then followed with a groundball single into the hole in left, but Garrett had to hold up at third when Wilkinson came up with it but had no throw.

With the bases loaded and one out, Colin Garrett ripped a hard grounder to the first baseman Meehan, who alertly tagged Alcock and then took it to the bag himself to complete an unassisted double play. Still 1-1.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Goldpanners threatened again. With one out, Simmons yielded a single to Brett Small and a walk to Miles Pyke. He then struck out pinch-hitter John Dugles. Camden Neal worked a six-pitch walk, and the bases were again loaded, this time with two outs.

Cardinal came to the mound and took the ball from Simmons, bringing in closer Boutillier in a double switch that brought Kelyn Brisson in as the new left fielder. Boutillier got the job done, striking out Aaron Boudreau to end the threat.

So we went to extra innings - what else would you expect between these two teams? The Goldpanners brought in their closer Jon Funk for the 10th and 11th innings.

The Grizzlies got a rally going with two outs in the 11th. Navarro took a walk, then new catcher Tim Rowsell got an infield single. Mike Collette then hit a grounder that got past the second baseman, and Navarro came motoring around to score. Meehan then flied out to deep center, but the damage was done. 2-1.

Boutillier got the first two outs of the bottom half, then Davis Murdock, normally a starter, struck out Dave Squires to end the game. Had the Grizzlies lost, their critical baserunning mistakes would have come back to haunt them, but ultimately they got the job done, taking a one-game lead in the series. Final score: Kodiak 2, Fairbanks 1.