ONE GAME AWAY FROM BEING THE APPALACHIAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!

Last night was IN-tense.

In the first inning, Ryan Mullins didn't look so hot.  He gave up a run and then loaded the bases.  But then something wonderful happened.  He struck out the next three batters.  That was nice of him.

Our boys came up to bat with "Bring 'Em Out" playing (an excellent choice by the D.J....lol).  Yancarlos grounded out.  Then Mark Robinson singled.  A passed ball allowed him to advance to second.  And then it happened.  JUAN PORTES HIT A TWO-RUN HOMER!!!  It was absolutely beautiful.  Unfortunately, Eddie and Erik both struck out.

Mullins was looking hot in the second inning, striking out the side.

Caleb Moore flied out, and Sean Richardson struck out to start the bottom of the inning.  But our boys have a habit of getting 2-out runs.  Jilmer Arratia doubled.  Then Matt Betsill reached on a throwing error, while Arratia scored.  Yancarlos grounded out again.

Lead-off batter in the third homered.  Ick.  But then three consecutive strike-outs.

A not-so-good bottom of the third, but we were still winning.

In fact, no one scored again until the 8th inning.

So the 8th inning comes up.  Pitching is now Johan Pino.  Ovandy Suero strikes out.  Quentin Davis grounds out.  Then Eric Campbell doubles.  And then with a count of 0-2, Max Rameriez homered.  How could Pino let that happen?  We were behind again.  Fortunately, Pino struck out the next batter.

Bottom of the 8th: tension so thick I can taste it.  And it tasted like the richest chocolate mousse known to the world.  Juan Portes singles.  Then a passed ball while Eddie Ovalle was batting allowed Portes to move to second.  Ovealle grounded out.  Then Erik Lis came up to bat.  The crowd was absolutely silent.  We're talking no sound at all from over 1,000 people.  Lis doubles, and Portes scores.  Then Caleb Moore, who had been 0 for 3 so far came up.  Moore singles, and Lis scores.  We were winning again.  Then two more outs.

Top 9, Tim "The Big Guy" Lahey comes in to pitch.  Ground out.  Ground out.  Single.  Single.  Strike-out swinging.  Mass-hysteria.  Hallelujah chorus.  Celebration.  Baseball card signed.  A memorable hug.  An email address.  A high-five.  Tears because they're leaving.  Rejoicing!!!

	August 31, 2005
	Final    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9      R   H   E   Danville   1   0   1   0   0   0   0   2   0      4   7   1   Elizabethton   2   1   0   0   0   0   0   2   X      5   7   1  wrap | box | log W: Y. Pino  (1-0, 6.00); L: N. Tisone  (0-1, 5.40); SV: T. Lahey  (1) HR: DAN: Q. Davis  (1),  M. Ramirez  (1). ELI: J. Portes  (1).

peace.