|
Eastern Conference Championship Game 1:
The crowd showed up early to the ballpark for the first playoff game in the league’s history. The weather was beautiful and the Turtles were coming off of a great season and looked like the team to beat in the playoffs. More than a few fans had to be reminded that they weren’t allowed to bring their firearms into the stadium, but they didn’t seem to mind. They just wanted to see the Turtles win. The fans were drinking, singing, and shouting as the teams warmed up on the field.
Josh Simpson was the starter in game one for Tucson. His first pitch was hit on the ground to short, but Andy Lepore mishandled the ball and the Jackrabbits had the leadoff man aboard. The next two batters flied out and Simpson looked like he might avoid any damage until he hit Chris Kelly on a 1-2 pitch. With runners at 1st and 2nd and two down, Phil Thooft battled to a full count, fouling off several pitches until he got one he liked. Thooft lines a ball to short right center to drive in a run and quite the crowd. Douglas had a one run lead before Tucson ever came to the plate.
Douglas starter Eric Peterson worked around a couple of singles to put up a scoreless first inning but wasn’t so lucky in the second. A single and two walks set up Steve Guilfoyle to come to the plate with the bases loaded and two out. Guilfoyle drove a 1-0 pitch to ten wall incenter for a three-run double, giving the Turtles the lead. Elijah Leggett drove Guilfoyle in with a double of his own and Tucson lead 4-1 after two. The crowd was back in the game.
Steve Stoddard added a home run in the third inning to stretch the lead to 5-1 and Josh Simpson was dealing, setting down 13 in a row after giving up a leadoff single in the 2nd. He was pulled with two out in the 5th, with his team still up by four.
Tucson added two more runs to its lead in the bottom of the 6th on a bases loaded walk followed by a bases loaded hit batter. They picked up two more in the 7th on a fielder’s choice and an RBI single by Elijah Leggett.
Rich Tidwell hit a solo home run in the 8th to give Douglas a second run but that would be all they could muster on this day. The final score was 9-2 Tucson. The Turtles took a 1-0 lead in the series.
Josh Simpson picked up the win, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 unearned run, and striking out 5.
Steve Guilfoyle went 3-5 with 1 double, 1 runs scored, and 3 RBI.
Elijah Leggett went 3-4 with 1 double and 2 RBI.
|