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EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: GAME 1
Game 1 was a matchup between Josh Simpson (TUC) and Chris Nicholas (FLA).
Simpson pitched in 5 postseason games last year, going 2-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 26 innings. After striking out Danny Wolcott to open the game, he got into trouble. Jonathan Reyes hit a hard ground ball between third and short for a single. Then Orlando Avila crushes a line drive off the wall in left. He hit it hard enough that, despite it being a double, Reyes had to hold at third. Simpson got Brian Wade to hit a soft roller to second for the second out of the inning but Flagstaff got a run out of it. With two out and a runner in third, Simpson struck out Mike Powell to end the inning, holding the Axemen to just the one run.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Steve Kemp picked up a one out single. Steve Stoddard then crushed a 2-2 pitch into the right center field gap and kept running until he reached third with an RBI triple. At the end of 2, the game was tied at 1.
With the game still tied at 1 heading into the 6th, Josh Simpson was replaced by Matt Teter. Avila picked up a one out single for his second hit of the day. Wade doubled, advancing Avila to third, and once again, the Axemen has runners on second and third with less than two out. Mike Powell singles, scoring one and bringing up Larry Sykes. Teter was able to get Sykes to ground into an inning ending double play. Flagstaff had a 2-1 lead.
Chris Nicholas left the game in the 8th inning with a 2-1 lead. He was replaced by Flagstaff closer Isaiah Brennon.
Ryan Noble struck out to lead off the inning.
Miguel Rodriguez worked a walk to put the tying run on base.
Ben McDaniel hit a soft ground ball off the end of his bat toward third and Larry Sykes charged hard. He scooped it up with his bare hand and threw to first in time for the second out. Rodriguez was able to move to second on the play.
Steve Guilfoyle worked a full count against Brennon before hitting a sharp grounder into right for a game tying RBI single.
Elijah Leggett took a huge swing on the first pitch trying to give his team the lead. He missed the ball instead. Leggett stepped out, talked to himself for a few seconds, and stepped back in. Whatever he said worked. He drove the next pitch over the fence in left to give the Turtles a 4-2 lead.
Chris Lawrence came in and picked up the save in the 9th as Tucson won game one of the series 4-2.
Josh Simpson was outstanding, receiving a no decision, but pitching 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts.
Steve Stoddard was 3-3 with an RBI triple.
Elijah Leggett was 1-4 with a 2 run home run.
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