Capitol times. (Middletown, Pa.) 1982-2013, November 04, 2009, Image 15

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    orts
Scared Hidess beats Master Batters
By Seth Goodyear The game was extremely close,
Staff Writer and the Master Batters used a five
SMGS27B@PSU.EDU run fifth inning to defeat the Inap-
Nine players was all Scared Hit- propriates. The win allowed the
less needed to win the Intramural Master Batters to advance to the
Softball championship. championship game,
Scared Hitless faced the Mas
ter Batters in the championship
game. Both of the teams took
unique roads to get to the title
game, but both enjoyed the run
with Scared Hitless winning by a
score of 15 to 11.
The Master Batters, coached by
Jeff Cappello, were the four seed
entering the playoffs and had to
win a play in game, to reach the
first round. They faced the Co
brawks, coached by Cory Mum
mert and Seth Goodyear, in the
play in game and defeated them
by 15 runs.
Immediately after winning the
play in game, the Master Batters
faced the top seeded Inappropri
ates, coached by Joe DeOliveira,
in the first round of the playoffs.
By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
By the ninth inning, Phillies fans
were preparing for the worst.
The New York Yankees were at
it again, chipping away at a dwin
dling lead and threatening to take
away the Phils’ World Series title
right there at Citizens Bank Park.
Desperate to hang on, some
how Chase Utley and the Phillies
did. Derek Jeter grounded into a
double play, Mark Teixeira struck
out, and Philadelphia staved off
the Yankees and elimination with
an 8-6 win in Game 5 on Mon
day night. Now comes the hard
part: winning twice at Yankee
Stadium.
Game 6 [was] played Wednes
day night, with New York’s Andy
Pettitte going on short rest against
Pedro Martinez, not exactly a be
loved figure in the Bronx.
Utley hit two home runs to raise
his Series total to a record-tying
five, Cliff Lee won again and
Philadelphia cut its deficit to 3-2.
“We didn’t have a choice. It was
either go home and watch football
and college basketball or extend
the season,” Phillies shortstop
Jimmy Rollins said.
Ahead 8-2, the Phillies watched
New York score three times in
the eighth inning and put its first
two batters on in die ninth. Jeter’s
grounder drove in a run, but the
fans on their feet couldn’t exhale
The second seeded Scared Hit
less, coached by Mike Hoffecker,
team had their schedule affected
by rain. They were forced to play
the third seeded Free Agent team
in their first playoff game with
die winner immediately playing
in the championship game.
Scared. Hitless had only nine
players, but it did not stop them
from hitting the ball well. They
used a huge second inning to de
feat the free agents 16 to 6 and
qualify for the championship
game.
Mike Hoffecker said, “Playing
two games in the same day was
no disadvantage for his team.”
In the championship game the
lower seeded Master Batters, bat
ted first. They drew three walks
Utley, Lee help Phils stave off Series elimination
until Teixeira struck out asthe ty- after his ninth-inning meltdown. the worst feeling in the world to fielder Melky Cabrera for the rest
ing run. “I kind of wanted to just give have the chance to do something of the Series. Cabrera strained his
Utley hit a go-ahead, three-run Lidge a break tonight if I could,” special and fail like that. But what left hamstring in Game 4 and was
homer in the first inning off A.J. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel doesn’t kill you makes you stron- replaced on the roster by backup
Burnett and added a solo shot in said. ger.” infielder Ramiro Pena as Brett
the seventh to join Reggie Jack- Madson fell behind Jeter 2-1, Philadelphia ended baseball’s Gardner took over in center field,
son as the only players to hit five then induced a 6-4-3 double play record streak of five straight Se- Philadelphia received a scare
home runs in a single World Se- as Posada scored. After Johnny ries that ended in sweeps or five when center fielder Shane Vic-
Damon singled, Teixeira struck games, ensuring at least one more torino was hit with a pitch while
out. telecast in a matchup between squaring to bunt in the first. X
“We definitely have the momen- big-market teams that has revived rays were negative but the finger
turn,” said Madson, who got the baseball’s ratings. The Phillies swelled and he left after seven in
save. “I didn’t care if they scored still face a tall task: The Yankees nings.
one or two, as long as they didn’t lost three in a row just twice after “Hitting was difficult. I couldn’t
score three.” the All-Star break and dropped get my grip,” Victorino said.
The Yankees, who have won the consecutive home games only “A.J. apologized when I got to
Series all eight previous times once after mid-June. first, so it wasn’t retaliation, I can
they took a 3-1 lead, have two Just six of 43 teams facing 3-1 tell you that. Everything’s fine. I
more tries to close out title No. Series deficits have gone on to definitely feel great.”
27. win the title, including five in a While the Phillies have outhom
“lf we would have pitched today, row since Kansas City rallied past ered the Yankees 10-5 in the Se
we probably would have won,” St. Louis in 1985. ries, Ryan Howard is slumping
Yankees manager Joe Girardi But Pettitte and CC Sabathia, He went 0 for 2 with two walks
said. “That’s the bottom line.” the Yankees’ Game 7 starter, will and two strikeouts and is hitting
Pitching on short rest didn’t be pitching on short rest Pet- .158 (3 for 19) with 12 strike
work well for Burnett, who had titte for the first time this year and outs, tying the Series record set
been 4-0 previously in his career Sabathia for the third time in the by Kansas City’s Willie Wilson
on three days’ off and kept the postseason. in 1980.
Phillies off balance in Game 2. If the Phillies come back to be- NOTES: Eric Hinske, who
He kept falling behind batters and come the first NL team to win walked as a pinch-hitter for the
allowed six runs, four hits and consecutive Series titles since the Yankees in the fifth, homered for
four walks in two-plus innings, 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds, Girardi the Rays in last year’s Series. He
his shortest start since his first will be widely second-guessed appeared for Boston in the 2007
outing in 2007. for his pitching decisions. No Se- Series and joined Don Baylor
It marked the first time in 14 ries champion has gone the entire (1986-88) as the only players to
postseason games this year that a postseason with just three starters appear in three straight Series
Yankees starter failed to pitch at since the 1991 Minnesota Twins with three different teams,
least six innings. when there were just two
“You just feel like you let a bunch rounds of playoffs,
of guys down,” Burnett said. “It’s New York will be without center
“Obviously it’s great company,”
Utley said. “It’s pretty surreal.”
Philadelphia replicated its win
ning formula from the opener,
when Utley hit two solo homers
and Lee pitched a six-hitter. Raul
Ibanez set off fireworks from the
Liberty Bell one last time, adding
a second solo shot in the seventh
off Phil Coke that made it 8-2.
In a matchup of starters from Ar
kansas, Lee allowed five runs and
seven hits in seven-plus innings.
He is 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five
postseason starts.
“I don’t think my command was
as good as it has been,” Lee
said. “I had to battle a little bit.”
Alex Rodriguez had put the Yan
kees ahead with an RBI double in
the first and hit a two-run double
in the eighth off Lee. He scored
on Robinson Cano’s sacrifice fly
against Chan Ho Park to cut the
deficit to 8-5.
Jorge Posada clanked a double
against the right-field wall leading
off the ninth against Ryan Mad
son, and Hideki Matsui singled
him to third. Closer Brad Lidge
was nowhere to be seen one night
THE CAPITAL TIMES
to begin the inning and forced a
pitching change. Nate came into
pitch and Chris Heeney hit a sin
gle off him scoring two runs. Nate
Mcculloch took control then, end
ing getting out of the inning with
out any more damage.
Scared Hitless responded with
good all round hitting to score six
runs. This gave them a four run
lead. The Master Batters tried
to get back into the game with
three runs in the top of the sec
ond. Dylan Johnson hit a 2-run
homerun and pitcher Kurt Kosick
drove in another run.
Scared Hitless bats exploded in
the bottom of the second, scor
ing nine runs with big singles and
doubles from all nine players.
The Master Batters would give up
however and they scored 5 more
runs in the top of the third. Then
they held Scared Hitless to one hit
and no runs in the bottom of the
third.
November 4.2009
Lady Lions Undefeated in the NEAC
For the first time in program his
tory, the Penn State Harrisburg
women's soccer team completed
an undefeated conference regular
season after downing North East
ern Athletic Conference (NEAC)
opponent SUNY Morrisville 2-0
Saturday afternoon
on the SUNY Morris
ville campus
With the victory, the
Lady Lions improved
to 14-2, captured die
top seed and earned a
first round bye in the
upcoming conference
playoffs which begin
Saturday. Harrisburg will host
the semifinal games Saturday,
November 7th, at the Penn State
Harrisburg soccer field beginning
at 11:30 A.M.
In Saturday's match up, the blue
and white were able to put away
the home team Mustangs in harsh
winds and a cold climate by scor
ing in the 45th minute off the foot
of Lady Lion Allison Collins (Me
chanicsburg, PA/Bishop McDe
vitt) via Shelly Erb (Jonestown,
PA/ Northern Lebanon).
Harrisburg notched its second
tally in the 65th minute when
freshman Megan Frailey (Mid
dletown, PA/Middle
town) put the ball in
/ %
/ M\
off the assist of Adri
enne Stine (York, PA/
Northeastern) giving
the blue and white
the 2-0 lead.
The Lady Lions out
shot Morrisville 37-5
and held a 5-3 advantage on cor
ner kicks.
Penn State Harrisburg awaits the
winner of the SUNY Cobleskill/
Penn State Berks match up which
[was] held on Tuesday, Novem
ber 3rd at Penn State Berks.
Story and image courtesy of Penn
State Harrisburg Intercollegiate
Athletics
the opposite comer