Sharks 2003 Fall Season Federal Division Champions
Game Summary
It was a little before 8am on a beautiful Sunday morning in Northridge. Clear skies directly above with scattered clouds along the horizon. The sun was bright and it appeared that the field would be in perfect shape following the light rains which hit the area the night before. The stage was certainly set for some fall PCBL Championship Baseball!
Our first game of this championship double-header was the Federal Division Championship between the visiting Cowboys and the home team Sharks. The Sharks drew blood quickly in the bottom of the 1st inning. Marty Orosco led off with a single, after which Pierre Rodnunsky was hit by a pitch. Then, Pitcher Jim Vatcher singled to drive home 2 runs. With 2 outs, Mark Glennie singled and Dan Douglas followed with a walk. With 2 on, Andrew Robbins doubled to score a run. Sharks jump out to an early 3-0 lead.
The Cowboys would remain scoreless through the 1st 5 innings, due primarily to the Shark's pitcher Jim Vatcher. Through 5 complete innings, Vatcher was pitching a 2-hit shutout and had already recorded 5 strikeouts. He retired 14 of the first 16 batters he faced. A huge performance to say the least. Meanwhile, the Sharks added to their early 3-run lead with single runs in the 3rd, 4th & 5th innings, increasing their lead to 6-0 through 5 complete innings.
The Cowboys finally found some much-needed offense in the top of the 6th inning. Mike Kennedy led off the inning with a single. He was followed by Garrett Binke who tripled in the gap to score the first Cowboy run of the day. With Binke on 3rd, Peter Langenbruner hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Binke to cut the gap to four, down 6-2.
Just as soon as the Cowboys had managed to put some runs on the board, the Sharks took them right back in the bottom of the inning. The Sharks start off the bottom half of the sixth when Dave Jones, coming off the bench to bat for Marc Schwartz, promptly singles to lead off the inning. Next up is Marty Orosco who homers to extend the Shark's lead to 8-2.
The 7th inning was scoreless for both teams, which brought the Cowboys up in the top of the 8th needing to do something quick, trailing 8-2. Bob Diaz, hitting for Cedrick Holmes, leads of the 8th inning with a double. With 1 out, Garrett Binke singles. Next, Peter Langenbruner steps up and he doubles home Diaz. With still only 1 out, Jeremy Shields comes to the plate and he doubles home Binke and Langenbruner. The Cowboys add 4 runs and now only trail by 2 runs, down 8-6.
And yes, as the Sharks had done in the 6th inning; they would do once again in the 8th. Get back what they gave away. Marty Orosco, who had homered and singled earlier in the game, comes through once again with a leadoff single; his 3rd hit of the game. Up steps Pierre Rodnunsky, who had only reached base so far by being hit by a pitch in the 1st inning and by way of a fielding error in the 4th. But not for long. He hits the second pitch out of the park for a 2-run homer. Sharks increase their lead once again, going up 10-6. But they weren't quite done yet. Alan Jaeger singles with 1 out to keep the drive alive. Next, Mark Glennie walks and Dan Douglas comes to the plate. He singles home Jaeger to put the Sharks up 11-6.
The Cowboys would come up with a pair of hits in the top of the ninth, but were unable to stop the bleeding. The Sharks close the door on the Cowboys in the ninth to capture the Federal Division Championship by a final score of 11-6. A well played ballgame by the Sharks and an incredible pitching performance by Jim Vatcher, who gets the victory by striking out 12 and walking none. He's undoubtedly deserving of MVP honors in this game, at least from this writer's perspective.
The losing pitcher was David Forshee, who pitched 4 innings, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and walked 3.
Bob Diaz came on in relief in the 5th inning and pitched 3 complete, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and walked 2 batters. Jeremy Shields worked the 8th inning for the Cowboys in relief of Bob Diaz to end the game.
Congratulations to the Sharks on a great performance, as they become the 2004 Fall Season Federal Division Champions!
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