Walk Off Home Run Claims Scrappers Champions
By PCBL Staff Writer
It's a brisk fall evening. The Scrappers and the Heat are in a nail-biting extra innings title game. It's the bottom of the 10th and a 2-2 tie game.
With 2 outs, Tomio Mack drops his second double of the game down the right field line. Luis "Little Brother Lulu" Hernandez comes to the plate. He had been robbed earlier on probably one of the hardest hit balls all year with a line drive. I knew he was seeing the ball good, and this feeling of relief came over me.
I thought to myself; "I got speed on 2nd base, and my best hitter at the plate." Sure enough, moments later with the first crack off the bat it was a no doubter. It left the yard about as quick as Trent Holbrook can down a pint.
The Power Alley in Right Center field opened it's doors and and as we watched the ball land in the parking lot, the Scrappers clinch a back-to-back wood bat championship...The rest is history.
Special Props goes out to Will Oliver. He threw his heart in out in what
could possibly be his last game as a Scrapper as he is looking to sign professionally, or head to USC. Will threw 9 innings for us last night and gave up only 1 hit. It was only fitting that Lulu came in to swoop in on Will's "W". Lulu did it with his own bare hands. You can't complain. Tomio Mack came out to win last night as well. He was fighting a fever but managed to fill in at 2B (making all his plays), and come out with help win the game with 2 doubles (one of them in the 10th). Mike Kolbach also had a Triple/Double/Single (Don't know how they scored it but it was a cool hit, and looked cool too) last night.
Top 1st : Will Oliver strike out the Heat throwing heat.
Bottom 1st: Kolbach rips a 2 out triple, misplayed by the Heat’s center fielder, Jason Paul comes back with heat of his own striking out 2.
Top 2nd : Will Oliver’s great pitching gets him three grounds and great defense to shut down Scrapper’s.
Bottom 2nd: Jason Paul come back just as strong getting the same results as Will Oliver.
Top 3rd : Steady pitching by Will Oliver Shut down the Heat.
Bottom 3rd: Jason Paul keeps the pressure on the Scrapper’s nailing down key pitches and getting great defense
Top 4th: Will Oliver struggles with some control walking first two batter’s, then getting a ground ball to get an out, but gives up a run. John Lenord getting the job done by putting the ball in play to score Brian Spottbull and striking first blood, scoring the games first run.
Bottom 4th: Jason Paul continuing to shut the door on the Scrapper’s striking out 2 and a pop out to 2nd base.
Top 5th: Will Oliver strikes out first batter, then walks Pac Gutierrez. Oliver throws pick wide sending Pac to 2nd. Pac seals 3rd with 2 outs, Corey Moran make an excellent barehanded play to throw out the pitch Jason Paul to end a scoring threat.
Bottom 5th : The heat turns up the heat by playing solid defense and Jason Paul continuing to be a leader on the mound.
Top 6th: Will Oliver settles down and throws key pitches to get outs and solid defense in the 6th.
Bottom 6th: The Scrapper’s finally get to Jason Paul, an infield hit with a throwing error sends Tomio Mack to 2nd base. Darren Drennan comes through with a much need hit, a double to left center which drives in Mack. Mike Kolbach comes through with clutch hitting to score Drennan.
Top 7th: The Heat strike back to tie the game at 2. Rick Devininey get key hit up the middle with 2 outs. Scrapper’s Will Oliver throws wild pitch but gets a right on the money throw from the catcher to tag out the runner at the plate preventing the go a head run.
Bottom 7th: Jason Paul shuts down Scrapper’s again great pitching. A strike out and 2 fly outs.
Top 8th: Quit in top of the 8th , Will Oliver gets tough and shuts down Heat with 2 K’ in a row and a fly out to center.
Bottom 8th: Scrapper’s come out hungry but come up short stranding runners at 1st and 3rd ending there threat. Jason Paul showed a lot of heart pitching through a very tough inning not allowing any run’s with clutch pitching.
Top 9th: Scrapper’s dodge a bullet with great hustle from the catcher and Oliver once again to throw out Corey Pane at the plate.
Bottom 9th: Jason Paul just solid through 9 innings still throwing heat and getting consistent defense to put the game into extra innings.
Top 10th: Luis Hernandez comes in relief and keeps the Heat in check with 2 Co’s and a ground out.
Bottom 10th: Luis Hernandez closes the door on the Heat with a walk off HR to end the game and give the Scrapper’s their 2nd straight championship. Will Oliver strikes out 12, goes 9 complete, walks 5, and only 1 hit, 1 earned run. Jason Paul strikes out 10, goes 10 innings (not complete), No walks, 5 hits, 3 earned runs.
