TPG Scores 6 in the 7th to beat FXF 11-9

TPG took the field against FXF looking for some paypack after getting bounced from the playoffs as the #2 seed in 2008. FXF has always been one of the top teams in our league, and this game would be no exception. Due to some stellar defense by FXF, and very un-clutch hitting by TPG, the score was 6-0 FXF after 3 innings of play. It was getting late, the sky was getting dark, and depression was setting in for team TPG....

A moment of light occurred in the top of the 4th as FXF walked the bases loaded with 2 outs, and 2B Josh Ginsburg (2-3, SAC, 3 RBI) came through with a 2-run single to get TPG on the board, and cut the lead to 4.

Ahh, but darkness again as FXF answered with 3 more runs in the bottom of the 4th, and took a commanding 9-2 lead into the 5th inning. It was bleak, it was muggy, and some player from another team left their pants on our bench in a liquor bag (no liquor though).

Something happened in the 5th inning. Perhaps the barometer fell. Maybe we just got lucky. FXF walked the first 4 TPG hitters, and with 2 more runs scoring on a SAC fly to the FXF 1st baseman, TPG scored 3 without getting a single hit (or even hitting the ball out of the infield). The score was 9-5, and the TPG defense dug in not allowing any runs in an inning for the first time all game.

It all came down to this. Impending darkness, top of the 7th, FXF leading 9-5, and the top of the order for TPG coming to the plate. One of the greatest rallies in team history followed with a string of 8 consecutive singles by Omar Cevallos, Tony Franzese, Adam Woods, Justin Aharoni, Ron Alalouf, Dave Beauchamp, Mike Stevick, and Alison Hopke before an out was made giving TPG a 1 run lead. This inning would send all 11 hitters to the plate and after a SAC fly by Josh Ginsburg the lead was 2 going to the bottom of the 7th. TPG's defense held true including great catches by C Princess Salvacion and RCF Omar Bustamante in near darkness, as we closed out the game with an 11-9 victory.

Game balls go to everyone on the entire team for getting to the plate in the deciding 7th inning.