Team Photo courtesy of Ann BresinghamCLICK HERE for team and player statistics through Game #32 (FINAL 2009)
The Warriors capped off one of the most memorable baseball seasons ever with a tournament championship in Homer on Monday night! In typical fashion, the Warriors had to stage another come from behind victory in this final game of the 2009 season.
Bolingbrook struck first with a run in the top of the first inning. The damage could have been far worse, but Jason Waner struck out Bolingbrook's #6 hitter to leave two runners stranded in scoring position. The Warriors failed to score in the bottom of the inning despite having the first two hitters of the inning reach base.
Bolingbrook scored two more runs in the top of the second inning. After Jason Waner struck out the first two hitters, an infield error kept the inning alive for Bolingbrook. Two walks and a base hit later and the Warriors were down 3-0 in the game. But, Jason recovered to strike out another hitter to end the inning with two more runners left stranded in scoring position. Fortunately, leaving runners on base became a trend with Bolingbrook as it left 14 runners stranded in this game. Once again, the Warriors went down quickly in the bottom of the second inning.
Jason Waner had good stuff in this game. He threw a 1-2-3 inning in the third. Tim Prendergast had two assists from third base in this inning.
The Warriors came back with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. C.J. Brucki got things started for the Warriors with a towering double to deep centerfield. Ryan Novak singled sharply to leftfield. Tim Carroll then put the ball in play to bring C.J. in from third base. Lance Cardinal hit the ball down the third base line to score Ryan from third base. Dennis Bresingham lined a single into centerfield. The Warriors trailed by just one run as the game moved into the fourth inning.
The fourth inning opened with an infield error by the Warriors--followed by a double to rightfield to score the run. Bolingbrook now led the game by a score of 4-2. The Warriors scored three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a one run lead. After Robbie Maxfield reached base on an infield error and Jason Waner walked, Paco Lauciello hammered a triple to score both runners. Ryan Knightly then singled into leftfield to score Paco.
Bolingbrook regained the lead by scoring two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Once again, Jason Waner came up with the big strikeout as Bolingbrook left the bases loaded as the inning came to a close.
C.J. Brucki was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. Ryan Novak singled. With two outs and a strike on the batter, the Warriors perfectly executed its "delayed steal of home plate" play. This is a play that the team has practiced--but is only used for special occasions. As the unsuspecting catcher tossed the ball back to the pitcher, C.J. Brucki ran hard from third base and slid into the plate before the pitcher could get the ball back to the catcher--to tie the ballgame! This rattled Bolingbrook's pitcher who then promptly walked the next two hitters. A wild pitch or two later and the Warriors held an 8-6 lead over Bolingbrook as the fifth inning came to an end.
Bolingbrook scored a run in the top of the sixth inning to make it an 8-7 game. But, the Warriors bats really came alive with five hits (including 3 extra base hits) in the bottom of the inning. Sam Marc doubled to centerfield before Paco Lauciello tripled him home. Ryan Knightly singled Paco home. With the bases loaded and two outs (and two strikes), Tim Carroll lined a triple down the rightfield line to score all three runners. This huge hit gave the Warriors the cushion it needed to hold the lead through the seventh, and final, inning of play.
Ryan Novak earned his third save of the season after holding Bolingbrook scoreless in the bottom of the seventh inning.
WARRIORS: 13 runs, 11 hits, 4 errors, 6 left on base
BOLINGBROOK: 7 runs, 8 hits, 3 errors, 14 left on base
The Warriors capped off one of the most memorable baseball seasons ever with a tournament championship in Homer on Monday night! In typical fashion, the Warriors had to stage another come from behind victory in this final game of the 2009 season.
Bolingbrook struck first with a run in the top of the first inning. The damage could have been far worse, but Jason Waner struck out Bolingbrook's #6 hitter to leave two runners stranded in scoring position. The Warriors failed to score in the bottom of the inning despite having the first two hitters of the inning reach base.
Bolingbrook scored two more runs in the top of the second inning. After Jason Waner struck out the first two hitters, an infield error kept the inning alive for Bolingbrook. Two walks and a base hit later and the Warriors were down 3-0 in the game. But, Jason recovered to strike out another hitter to end the inning with two more runners left stranded in scoring position. Fortunately, leaving runners on base became a trend with Bolingbrook as it left 14 runners stranded in this game. Once again, the Warriors went down quickly in the bottom of the second inning.
Jason Waner had good stuff in this game. He threw a 1-2-3 inning in the third. Tim Prendergast had two assists from third base in this inning.
The Warriors came back with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. C.J. Brucki got things started for the Warriors with a towering double to deep centerfield. Ryan Novak singled sharply to leftfield. Tim Carroll then put the ball in play to bring C.J. in from third base. Lance Cardinal hit the ball down the third base line to score Ryan from third base. Dennis Bresingham lined a single into centerfield. The Warriors trailed by just one run as the game moved into the fourth inning.
The fourth inning opened with an infield error by the Warriors--followed by a double to rightfield to score the run. Bolingbrook now led the game by a score of 4-2. The Warriors scored three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a one run lead. After Robbie Maxfield reached base on an infield error and Jason Waner walked, Paco Lauciello hammered a triple to score both runners. Ryan Knightly then singled into leftfield to score Paco.
Bolingbrook regained the lead by scoring two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Once again, Jason Waner came up with the big strikeout as Bolingbrook left the bases loaded as the inning came to a close.
C.J. Brucki was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. Ryan Novak singled. With two outs and a strike on the batter, the Warriors perfectly executed its "delayed steal of home plate" play. This is a play that the team has practiced--but is only used for special occasions. As the unsuspecting catcher tossed the ball back to the pitcher, C.J. Brucki ran hard from third base and slid into the plate before the pitcher could get the ball back to the catcher--to tie the ballgame! This rattled Bolingbrook's pitcher who then promptly walked the next two hitters. A wild pitch or two later and the Warriors held an 8-6 lead over Bolingbrook as the fifth inning came to an end.
Bolingbrook scored a run in the top of the sixth inning to make it an 8-7 game. But, the Warriors bats really came alive with five hits (including 3 extra base hits) in the bottom of the inning. Sam Marc doubled to centerfield before Paco Lauciello tripled him home. Ryan Knightly singled Paco home. With the bases loaded and two outs (and two strikes), Tim Carroll lined a triple down the rightfield line to score all three runners. This huge hit gave the Warriors the cushion it needed to hold the lead through the seventh, and final, inning of play.
Ryan Novak earned his third save of the season after holding Bolingbrook scoreless in the bottom of the seventh inning.
WARRIORS: 13 runs, 11 hits, 4 errors, 6 left on base
BOLINGBROOK: 7 runs, 8 hits, 3 errors, 14 left on base
