[illeracula]

Game 1: Georgetown Sixteens at New Castle Colonials

I have a delima going into game 1, do I go with my ace who is 87% ready or do I go with a well rested Alberto Ramos who pitched well against the Colonials this season? The downfall is Ramos is going to go 5-6 innings, which means the bullpen will need to be up and ready to go. I don't feel strongly about starting my starts on short rest, so Ramos will be getting the ball. Ramos has no playoff expeirence, but he was 0-0 in 2 starts (15.0 Innings) against he Colonials.

The Colonials will go with their ace Pablo Garcia. Garcia went pitched one game against us this giving up 4 runs over 5 innings and taking the loss... the Colonials ace went 15-7 2.68 on the season, however, like Ramos does have a stamina problem. So the Colonials bullpen will be needed tonight as well.

Against lefties, the Sixteens went 24-19 (.558) so I like our chances tonight, but I am a little worried about this post-season. Our lineup will look like this:
CF Randy Downey (L), SS Stephen Bentall, DH Edgardo Perdnard, LF Blake Quirke, C John Herbert, 1B Francisco Gallegos (S), RF Dave Lewis, 3B Robinson Lopez, 2B Leon Mendoza

The only players on this roster with some solid playoff experience are Robinson Lopez and Francisco Gallegos on the offensive side and SP Ricardo Gonzalez.

For the Colonails their #1 offense will send this lineup up against Ramos:

RF Cris Flores, 3B Ramon Soto, 1B Jorge Trujillo (L), C Emilio Rivera, SS Tim Simmons (S), LF Jeff Williams, CF Steve Moon, DH Nick Watson, 2B Ian Sellers

I am a little nervous heading into game 1, not sure what to expect and this Colonials team looks tough.

Play Ball:
The first inning started off in my favor with a lead-off walk to Randy Downey, but on a first pitch hit-and-run Bentall swung and missed and Downey was gunned down... The Colonials fared a little better. A 1-out infield single by Soto go things started, and a 2-out 2-run shot (356ft) down the RF line by Rivera finished it off... after 1 the Colonials lead 2-0

In the 4th the Sixteens would try to chip away at the 2-0 lead. The inning started with a lead-off walk to Quirke, followed by a single by Herbert. Gallegos would ground into the 6-4-3 DP, moving Quirke to third. With 2-outs Lopez would single to right-center scoring Quirke and the Colonials lead was cut in half 2-1.

The Colonials would answer back in the bottom of the 4th, getting that run back, thanks to a solo-shot by Rivera (397ft). After 4 the Colonials lead 3-1

The Sixteens would get things going in the 6th, thanks to a 1-out walk to Francisco Gallegos. The walk would chase Garcia from the game, and the Sixteens would attack new pitcher Jose Lerma. Lopez would triple, scoring Gallegos and 2-batters later Leon Mendoza would tie the game with a single to right. After 5 1/2 the game is tied at 3.

After loading the bases in the 7th with no outs the Sixteens would try again in the 8th. Edgardo Perdnard leads the inning off with a single up the middle. Javier Janchez would run for him and steal second base, and would move to third on the errant throw by the catcher. One-out later Downey would be walked. After a Bentall strike out, Downey would steal second and with runners on 2nd and 3rd, Dave Lewis would come through with a single to left, scoring both Janchez and Downey... The Sixteens would have their first lead of the game 5-3.

Things would get a little nerving for the Sixteens in the 8th, after Alfonso Hernandez, righty/righty match-up, struck out Soto, Ramon Tirado would get Trujillo (lefty/lefty) to fly out. Leo Hampton would come in to try to finish off the inning. A walk to Rivera was followed by a double by Tim Simmons. With runners on 2nd and 3rd Hampton would hit Jeff Williams loading the bases. John Perez would come in and try to get us out of the inning... And with a 2-2 count to Steve Moon Perez would blow a fastball by him for strike three. After 8 the Sixteens continued to hold the 5-3 lead.

Bottom of the 9th Bernard McCormick on the hill to close out the game:
DH Nick Watson flies out to left.
2B Ian Sellers grounds out to first.
And with two outs the close on the hill... all hell would break loose.
Flores singles to third. Soto singles up the middle. Trujillo singles to right, scoring Flores. Rivera singles to left scoring Soto
Game tied! 5-5 and we are heading into the 10th.

McCormick would be left out their for the 10th. With one out Moon singled to right center. With 2 outs Ian Sellers walks moving Moon to second. And the next hitter Cris Flores would crush a "single" to right-center scoring Moon end the game. The Colonials win the extra-inning thriller 6-5.

Colonials lead the series 1-0

W: Luis Deleon (1-0) (2.0 IP, 2 K)
L: Bernard McCormick (0-1) (1.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, BB, K)
HR: GEO: none, NWC: Emilio Rivera 2 (2)

POG: Emilio Rivera (NWC): 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

Game Notes:
Each team had 3 players with multi-hit games: GEO: Dave Lewis (2-6), Robinson Lopez (3-4) and Leon Mendoza (2-5). NEW: Cris Flores (2-5), Ramon Soto (2-5) and Rivera (3-4)... The Sixteens had 1 extra-base hit, 6th inning triple by Robinson Lopez... The Sixteens used 6 pitchers on the evening. Ramos had a solid start going 7.0 innings, allowing 5 hits and 3 runs... The Colonials used 4 pitchers. Starter Pablo Garcia went 5.1 innings allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, walking 5 and striking out 4... The attendance was 48,071.

GM Notes:
Not much to say here. The bullpen let us down. We fought back and had the Colonials right where we wanted them and we blew it. At least this game should give us some confidence heading into tomorrows game. We can hang with these guys... Leaving the bases loaded in the 7th with no-outs was really the deciding factor of this game. Yes we took the lead in the 8th, but we missed a huge opportunity... We now have our ace ready and rested for Game 2. I actually think we could win this series. We just need one or two key hits... Our post-season inexperience showed tonight.

This one hurt...