In a game that featured a tremendous roaring comeback by the snake bit Scarlett team, the Green Machine pushed through for a 24-19 win.
The Lantern was lit for 5 1/2 innings as Mark Narciso held off the powerful Scarlett lineup to three runs in the first. We weren't hitting on all cylinders ourselves, yet had built a comfortable 14-3 lead. Highlights included two run doubles by Greg Wilson in the first, and by Tony Gorgone and Chris Nielsen in the fifth. Wilson also had two booming home runs - a solo shot in the fourth and a three run job in the sixth.
We couldn't hold off the Red Menace forever, and they plated six in their half of the sixth. We answered with our only five spot of the day in the next frame, but had a complete meltdown defensively in the bottom of the seventh, and their balls were finding holes besides the ones we were giving away. They knotted the game at 19.
Then a remarkable thing happened - we reverted to our solid defensive form and held Scarlett scoreless for the last two innings. In the mean time, Matt Meredith put us up with a massive home run to left center, and a few batters later, Darren Bobrosky sent a laser even further in the same direction for a two run shot.
In the top of the ninth we played small ball and added two for the final score of 24-19. In the bottom half, Meredith provided one of the defensive highlights when he ranged far to cover second for a force out on a smash up the middle to Val Hornstein. \
Other defensive highlights included a one hop scorcher to Phil Tucker up the middle in the third that was part great glove work and part self-preservation. Later with the game close, Chris Nielsen made one of his patented spears of a grounder seemingly headed to right center field and turned it into a routine 1-3 putout.
Our offense was kind of feast or famine, but Wilson had one of his best days, as he largely carried us. He had the two HRs, including one that seemingly was destined for Concord to the east, the double and a single for six RBIs. Hornstein had another 4-4 day, and has yet to make an out this season (although this was only his second game). Narciso and Gorgone also had 4-4 days but each had a grounder that turned into a generous scorekeeper's hit. But each had multiple clutch hits. Nielsen had three hits good for three RBIs, Kevin Fisher joined him with three knocks, and the bottom three in the order (David Partridge, Meredith and the Coach) had only three ABs but had two hits each.
I have to tip my hat to Scarlett - they are having a tough time of it, but they do not give up. I hope they can get a win - just not against us!
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