Published: July 02, 2008 11:33 pm            

Winning, at last, for the pitcher

NORAC Lab had seen this script unfold too often during this AAABA League season.

A last-inning comeback.

A one-run game with a late lead change.

Only, this time NORAC Lab made the unlikely seventh-inning surge, scoring a pair in the bottom of the frame to beat Delweld 4-3 in Wednesday’s early game at Point Stadium.

NORAC Lab won for the fourth time in a season that has included nine disappointing one-run setbacks.

“Definitely, it’s a big deal for us, especially with Zak Satira pitching,” said NORAC Lab first baseman Russ Gray, who had two hits, a pair of RBIs and put the eventual winning run on base before giving way to pinch-runner Josh Bodenschatz. “We’ve gotten beat by teams coming back when he’s pitching. We’ve lost one-run games when he was pitching. It was nice to pull one out for him.”

Satira and Delweld’s Jake Rougeaux locked in a pitchers duel. Satira scattered seven hits while striking out two and walking none. He retired the side in order three times and picked off two baserunners.

“Zak was hitting his spots and had a lot of movement,” said NORAC Lab lead-off hitter/catcher Kevin Erickson, whose one-out, infield single started the seventh inning rally. “It’s about time we got him a win. He’s pitched his butt off all season.”

Delweld led 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh.

After Erickson reached base, Gray singled to left field, and both runners moved up an extra base after the throw to the infield.

Bodenschatz pinch ran and nearly was picked off at second by reliever George Roberts, but the ball sailed into center field, allowing Erickson to score the tying run.

Two wild pitches allowed Bodenschatz to score the winning run.

“We just didn’t make the plays,” Delweld manager Rick Roberts said. “Two routine plays in the last inning got away from us. We throw a wild pitch, game over. There were two very good pitching performances. It’s hard to take a loss when you pitch your butt off like Jake did. It’s a shame that he got a no decision when he should have gotten a win. We just didn’t get it done.”

Delweld led 1-0 in the third after singles by Matt Cornetti, George Roberts and Seth Roy. Nick Hogue singled and Brandon Varmecky was hit by a pitch in the fifth. George Roberts’ sacrifice fly plated Hogue, and Varmecky scored on a passed ball to make it 3-0.

NORAC Lab countered with a pair in the fifth. Nick Samko, Erickson and Gray had three straight singles, with Gray driving in a pair.

“When we scored the two runs in the fifth, we felt something good was about to happen,” Gray said.

        

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