He Scores!

Scorchers Take First Win

By Ted Waddell
LIBERTY --July 11, 2000 -- After two rainouts and three losses the Sullivan Scorchers (1ö5) ended the week with a dramatic 8-7 victory over Valley Central on Sunday. Kyle Brightâs (J-Y) gutsy pitching coupled with his suicide squeeze bunt to tie the game in the sixth helped set the stage for James Christiansenâs (J-Y) bases loaded walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh.
The visitors quickly jumped out to a 2-0 edge in the first off Bright (1ö0) and tacked on another three in the third, using four singles, two stolen bases and a walk.
Down 5-0, the home team took advantage of a one-out error that allowed Bill Reichmann (DV) to reach. Reichmann stole second and advanced to third with a single by Ryan OâMara (J-Y). Rory Carrier (DV) then plated Reichmann with a single. Christiansen and Matt Stoddard (Liberty) both followed with a RBI doubles to cut the lead to 5-4.
Neither team scored in the fourth but in the fifth VC added two with two straight singles and a double. In the bottom half, OâMara led off with a single, stole second and scored on Christiansenâs (3-for-4, 3 RBI) single to make the score 7-5.
Bright, who scattered 13 hits while striking out six, retired the side for the last two innings but it was his squeeze bunt in the sixth that tied the game. Stoddard (3-for-3, RBI) led off with a single and advanced to third on Chris McCarthyâs single. McCarthy (TV) moved up to second on a wild pitch and then Jon Fanning (J-Y) hit a RBI groundout. On the very next pitch Bright laid down a perfect suicide squeeze, plating McCarthy to tie the score at 7-7.
The bottom half of the seventh began with a walk to Reichmann who was then forced out at second on OâMaraâs attempted sacrifice bunt. OâMara then stole second, followed by walks to Carrier and Maynard Schmidt (J-Y). With the infield drawn in, Christiansen lined a single past the shortstop, scoring OâMara for Sullivanâs first victory of the year.
Other Games
Last Wednesday, June 28 the visiting Newburgh Reds took advantage of four leadoff runners reaching base and scoring as they beat Sullivan 8-1. Starting pitcher Ryan OâMara (0ö1) allowed three earned runs over four innings and Kyle Bright allowed three of his own over the last three innings. Rory Carrier was 2-for-3 with a double and scored on James Christiansenâs fifth inning sac fly.
On Saturday, July 1 Sullivan again hosted Newburgh in a doubleheader and dropped both ends. In the first game, starting pitcher Maynard Schmidt (0ö2) allowed three earned runs while striking out eight and walking none in a 5-2 loss. The Scorchers were limited to three hits, two by Delaware Valleyâs Bill Reichmann. In the second game both teamâs bats woke up resulting in a 19-8 defeat for the hosts. The Reds pounded out 20 hits and took advantage of 10 walks by six different pitchers. The turning point was a seven-run fifth which broke open a 6-6 ball game. Ryan OâMara (0ö2) absorbed the loss in relief of starter Bill Reichmann. Maynard Schmidt (2-for-3, RBI), Jon Fanning (2-2, RBI) and Matt Stoddard (2 RBI) led the offense.
This past Wednesday, the first two Sullivan batters scored in the first inning but none after that in a 7-2 defeat at the Mid-Hudson Mariners in Fishkill. Ryan OâMara (0ö3) allowed six runs over four innings and the Scorchers bats were limited to three hits.
In the first inning, Reichmann reached on an error, Ryan Edwards (LM) then singled, sending Reichmann to third. Edwards stole second and Reichmann scored on Carrierâs groundout. Maynard Schmidt followed with a sacrifice fly to center to cap the scoring.
The Scorchers have not committed an error in 12 innings.