[naterg1]

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS GAME 2:

The Turtles were looking to put their foot down in game two after a convincing game one victory. They sent Matt Bastow to the mound. He had pitched well against Douglas during the regular season, going 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA IN 16.2 innings over 3 starts. After retiring the leadoff man, Bastow walked RF Rich Tidwell after going to a full count. Douglas 1B followed that with a home run and the Jackrabbits jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

Josh Sheppard was pitching for Douglas. He shut down the top of the Turtles order on eight pitches in the 1st. He walked one in the 2nd but was off to an excellent start.

Rich Tidwell stepped up to the plate with one out in the 3rd and hit the ball hard to right. The 38-year-old still had good speed and, with the help of a funny bounce, was able to round the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

With the score sitting at 3-0 Douglas, Sheppard ran into some trouble in the 4th. Elijah Leggett worked a full count and singled up the middle, followed by a double by Justin Blohm. Steve Stoddard and Jaylen Lucas each drove in a run with a single to pull the Jackrabbits within 1 one. Sheppard induces a couple of ground ball outs but SS Andy Lapore hit a sharp grounder up the middle and into center for a single. Stoddard scores easily but Lucas was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. The game was tied at 3.

Barstow was removed from the game when Tidwell singled off of him with one out in the 5th. He was replaced by Gregg Sheridan who quickly retired the first batter he saw. However, he then gave up back to back singles, the second of which Phil Thooft knocked into left to drive in a run and put Douglas back up by one.

The Turtles tied the game back up in the 6th inning. Jaylen Lucas drew a walk then scored on a fielder’s choice a couple of betters later.

The next threat came in the top of the 9th inning. Mike Rems pinch hit for light-hitting shortstop Steve Hughes and tripled into right-center field. Tidwell walked with one out, setting the stage for Maine Campion. Campion wasn’t able to get the run in though. He grounded into a 4-6-3 double play instead.

Andy Lapore led off the bottom of the 9th with a single after fouling off several 0-2 pitches. Lapore was caught stealing just before Steve Guilfoyle singled to center and the Turtles failed to score, sending the game into extra innings.

The Tucson closer, Chris Lawrence was on the mound to start the 10th. He had originally entered the game to start the 8th. He got Chris Kelly to hit a lazy pop fly to left for the first out. He then struck out Phil Thooft but Tucson catcher Justin Blohm couldn’t hang on to the ball. Thooft reaches first base on the passed ball. The Turtles’ manager, Danny Farley, went to the mound and replaced Lawrence with Matt Teter. Teter pitches in 70 games on the year and racked up 10 saves with an ERA of 2.78. The first batter he faced was Kelvin Marin who hit a sharp line drive that was caught by the first baseman, Stoddard. The next batter he faced was the RF Danny Sosa. Teter fell behind 3-0 and tried to throw a get-me-over fastball in hopes that Sosa might be taking. Sosa came out of his shoes and crushed the ball into the left field seats to put the Jackrabbits up by two.

Justin Blohm led off the bottom of the 10th with a single. After Steve Stoddard flied out to left field, Blohm advanced to second when Jaylen Lucas reached on an error by shortstop Danny Farrar who had come into the game after the starter had been lifted for a pinch hitter. Second baseman Andy Sausser struck out looking and Roy Lewis singled to load the bases. With two out and the bags full in the bottom of the 10th, Andy Lapore, who is starting because of the injury to Eddie Dollard, hit a long fly ball to left field. Scott Klein chased it to the warning track, lept into the air, and came down with the ball.

The Douglas Jackrabbits held on for a thrilling 6-4 victory which evened the series at 1-1.

Andy Lapore had 3 hits and 2 RBI in a losing effort.

Mike Campion went 2-5 with 1 double, 1 home run, 1 run scored, and 2 RBI.

Rich Tidwell went 3-3 with 2 walks, 3 runs scored, an inside-the-park home run, and one RBI.

Danny Sosa Sosa went 2-4 with the game-winning two-run home run in the 10th inning.


Game 3 would move to Douglas.