Canadian comeback scuttles States - Next Playoff Round is Set
July 25, 2009
Saskatoon, SK
Canadian comeback scuttles States
As charitable hosts, Canada spotted USA four big runs in the middleinnings before roaring back with an awesome arsenal to win 6-4. In front of 6,800 fastball fans, the majorityof whom hung tough into the wee hours of the morning, USA sent Lefty Paul Koert to the mound to tame the Canadian bats - and itworked for five innings. Only OF DaleLevy could muster a hit, plus three walks, two by OF Ryan Wolfe and one by DP ColinAbbott, all of whom were stranded.
For Canada, P Sean Whitten was exemplary, striking out seven into the 4thinning when he allowed 3B Matt Palazzoto get on base. Canadafield manager Mark Smith elected fora pitching change with Trevor Ethiertaking charge. 1B Landy Rodriquez’sline drive hit to the right field gap scored Palazzo and Canada was downby one after four complete.
In T5, Canada went meekly. USA, pumpedwith the lead, kept the hammer down in B5 with 2B Steve Pinocchio stretching a routine single into a spectaculardouble. 2B Blake Miller gained firstwhen hit by a Ethier pitch, and Smith came to the mound again. P Dean Holoien was handed the ball withtwo runners on and one out, and made short work of USA pinch-hitter Nate Devine setting him down on strikes. Palazzo singled for USA’s second run and DP Chris Delarwelle punctuated the inningwith a double to the right-centre fence, scoring two more.
Fans were brought to their feet in T6 whenpinch-hitter Kevin Schellenbergslashed a single past 3B Matt Palazzoand SS Ian Fehrman lost one over thecentre field bleachers to score two. Abbott then walked on five pitches and Rob Giesbrecht came in to run. LF Steve Mullaley dropped a single overshortstop and Canadahad two on and none out. With one out, 1B DerekMayson lined to LF Nate Devinewho was blinded by the lights and was unable to corral the ball.
3B CraigCrawford’s timely grounder between first and second scored two and the gamewas knotted at 4 apiece. In B6 – P ToddMartin took the mound, gives up two base hits, but fans three to preservethe tie. In T7 Schellenberg againignites the rally followed by hits by Fehrman and Mullaley to score two more. Canada ahead 6-4.
In B7, USA will not die easily with twoaboard, but Martin strikes out pinch-hitter Frank DeGroat to preserve the comeback and mini-miracle.
Game summary courtesy John Thompson - editor of Diamond Dirt and major contributer to Champ's Chatter
Game Scoring By Inning:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Canada
0
0
0
0
0
4
2
6
8
0
United States
0
0
0
1
3
0
0
4
9
1
Winning Pitcher: Martin Todd Losing Pitcher: Koert Paul
