May 26, 2007 | Dan Thompson | 395 views
Road Warriors
With a six game winning streak on the line and severely short handed with roster players away with the Junior National Team, proms and school trips, the 10 Terriers that made their way to Welland Stadium to face the Niagara Rebels Saturday afternoon gutted out two wins backed by outstanding pitching, solid defense and clutch hitting.
In the first inning of game one second baseman Marty Chasels walked, Brian Burton doubled off the left field wall and later scored on a Nathan
Linseman RBI.
Freshman shortstop Joel Stubbs also singled in the inning staking the Terriers to a 3-0 lead.
The Rebels mustered a run in the third off starter Tyler Fischer, but the Terriers bounced back in the top of the 4th when Stubbs led the inning off with a double. Joe Mihaly walked and Evan Kipfer reached on a fielders choice. With two out, Jeff Skelhorne-Gross and Brian Burton doubled back to back,making the score 5-1.
The scrappy Rebels bounced back with three runs of there own in the bottom half of the inning,closing the gap to 5-4,however Terrier insurance runs came in the top of the seventh. Marty Chasles tripled, Skelhorne-Gross doubled, advanced on a pass ball then scored on a Brian Burton sac fly. Nathan Linseman and Joel Stubbs also had hits in the top of the seventh rally. RHP Billy Martin closed out the game,an 8-4 Terriers victory.
Ace lefty Nathan Linseman had the ball in game two. Trailing 1-0 after one the Terriers took the lead in their half of the second when Evan Kipfer singled and stole second. Joe Mihaly walked, then both advanced on a wild pitch. Tyler Fischer scorched a ball over the short stops head to tie the game, and Mihaly later scored on a Nathan Loehle sac fly. 2-1 Terriers after two.
The Terriers defensive play of the year to date came in the bottom of the third. With a runner at third base and no one out,Rebels Drew Petit hit a high fly ball to shallow right field. Second baseman Marty Chasles ran it down, made a spectacular over the shoulder catch, then planted his right foot, spun and threw the Rebels runner who had tagged, out at home preserving the 2-1 lead.
On the momentum of that highlight reel play, Skelhorne-Gross scored in the top of the fourth on a clutch Joel Stubbs RBI. The Terriers tacked on a couple of more runs in the fifth when Loehle,who had doubled, scored on a double steal, and a Skelhorne-Gross RBI cashed Marty Chasles.
The Rebels staged a minor rally in the bottom of the seventh but lefty Nathan Linseman was determined to finish what he started, closing out the complete game 5-3 win.
The Terriers host the Rebels Sunday at Dickson Park, closing out their 4 game season series.