Thunder Finishes Third in NWIBL Playoffs
August 28, 2010 – 04:04 PM —
The rules of baseball stipulate that each team gets three outs per inning. However, the Bridgetown Thunder gave the Portland Pirates six outs in the top of the second inning, leading to five unearned runs and a 7-4 loss to the Pirates on Saturday afternoon at Sckavone Field. The loss eliminates Bridgetown (25-6) from the Northwest Independent League playoffs, and the team finishes in third place. The Pirates advance to the championship game Sunday against the Portland River Hawks.
As has been the case for most of the playoffs, the Thunder found itself playing from behind in this one. In the top of the first, with runners on first and third and one out, Matt McCord roped a ground ball down the third-base line. Sam Pogue made a sparkling backhanded play and threw McCord out at first. But the run scored, giving the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.
Then the wheels came off for the Thunder defense in the top of the second. Tyler Colville reached on an infield grounder to lead off the inning. Bridgetown starter Mike Padgett (8-4) then induced a pop out and recorded a strikeout. Justice Kimbrow then grounded to Pogue, who threw the ball over Todd Hall’s head at first base, putting runners on the corners with one out. Cory Coate followed with a high chopper that Padgett couldn’t quite reach, making the score 2-0. Nic Lubasich then grounded a ball to Kyle Henderson at short, and Henderson’s throw to first was wild, allowing Kimbrow to score. Next, Jordan Carter grounded to Pogue, and Hall couldn’t handle the low throw to first, making the score 4-0. Jason Short and McCord continued the agonizing inning with back-to-back RBI singles to give Portland a six-run lead. “You just can’t give a good team any extra outs, let alone three,” Thunder player/manager Todd Hall said afterwards. “Our defense had been one of our strengths in this tournament, but it let us down in that inning.”
Bridgetown tried to fight its way back in the fourth. Brian McCoy relieved Pirate starter Jesse Martin, who pitched three scoreless innings, striking out five. With two outs, Hall’s single to left drove in Jared Sanders, who had reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second, to make the score 6-1. Padgett followed with a single and Kris Walker was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But Adam Kartheu’s line drive to second base ended the threat.
In the fifth, Todd Herbst’s solo home run made it 7-1. But the Thunder rallied to close the gap in the bottom of the frame. Travis Hardaker led off the inning with a single, and Patrick Jones walked. After a strikeout, Matt Guilfoyle’s single scored Hardaker to make it 7-2. Henderson’s deep fly to left field plated Jones and put runners on first and second with one out. Sanders followed with a bloop single to load the bases. Hall then walked, forcing in a run and running the score to 7-4. Lubasich, who pitched six innings in the Pirates’ loss to the River Hawks earlier in the day, then relieved McCoy and got Padgett to ground into an inning-ending double play.
That’s as close as the Thunder would get. In the seventh, the Thunder threatened to tie the game, getting the tying run to the plate. Sanders put together a nine-pitch at-bat, fouling off four pitches and forcing a full count. But Lubasich’s 3-2 curveball got Sanders looking and ended the game.
“This was a bitter pill to swallow,” Hall said. “It’s especially disappointing that we just didn’t play close to our best today. Our goal was to win both the regular season and playoff championships, and we fell a little short. But there’s still a lot to be proud of. We won a ton of games this summer, including posting the best record in the NWIBL, and we exemplified what a team in this league should be. The guys on this team have just been tremendous ballplayers and teammates all season. I have no doubt that we’ll come back even stronger next year.”
Bridgetown Turns Tables on Circles, Advances to Semifinals
August 27, 2010 – 10:23 PM —
The old adage says, “Turnabout is fair play.” The Bridgetown Thunder proved just that against the Portland Circles in the Northwest Independent Baseball League playoffs on Friday night at Walker Stadium. A year after being eliminated by the Circles, Bridgetown turned the tables and defeated Portland by the exact same score. Regan Schaller pitched six strong innings, and Jared Sanders and Patrick Jones drove in runs in the Thunder’s 3-1 victory. The win advances Bridgetown into the semifinals of the NWIBL playoffs on Saturday afternoon.
For the first time in the playoffs, the Thunder had a lead prior to the sixth inning. In the bottom of the first, Kyle Henderson lined a two-out double off Circles starter Stephen George. Sanders followed that up with a base hit to right field to give Bridgetown an early lead.
The Thunder would tack on two more runs in the second. Kris Walker ripped a one-out single and stole second. After a strikeout, Travis Hardaker rolled a groundball to second. Kyle Hummel’s throw was in the dirt, allowing Walker to score and Hardaker to advance to second. Jones then followed with a line drive to right, scoring Hardaker and giving Bridgetown a 3-0 lead.
The Circles responded with their only run of the game in the top of the third. With one out, Schaller hit Josh Combs with a pitch. Mitch Moses then grounded a single to right field, putting runners on first and second. An errant pickoff attempt by Schaller allowed Combs to advance to third. George then followed with a fielder’s choice to score Combs. But Schaller got Kevin Davey to line out to center to end the inning.
The Bridgetown lefty settled in from there. Schaller was able to mix speeds and locate all of his pitches to keep the Portland hitters off balance most of the night. The Circles put the first two runners on in the top of the fifth. But Mitch Moses popped out to first and George grounded out. After a walk, Schaller got Bruce Barry to line out to center to avoid any damage. In the sixth, Schaller worked around two walks to retire the side. In all, the crafty veteran pitched six solid innings, striking out six and scattering six hits. “The two weeks of rest definitely helped me,” Schaller said afterwards. “I felt really good out there and was able to make pitches when I had to. They’re a good hitting team, but our team played great tonight.”
Sanders struck out a pair in the seventh to record his team-high sixth save of the season. Bridgetown will play the loser of the Portland River Hawks-Portland Pirates game on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 at Sckavone Field. The winner of that game will play for the NWIBL championship on Sunday at 10:00 am at Sckavone.
Clutch Home Runs Keep Thunder’s Season Alive
August 25, 2010 – 10:16 PM —
Todd Hall launched a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Bridgetown Thunder a thrilling 5-4 walk-off victory over the Portland Angels in the Northwest Independent Baseball League playoffs on Wednesday night at Tualatin Hills Field. The Bridgetown first baseman hammered the first pitch he saw from Angels reliever Kyle Corwin over the 380-foot sign in centerfield, extending the Thunder’s season and knocking the two-time defending champion Angels out of the playoffs. “I was just looking for a fastball that I could drive,” Hall said after he was mobbed by his teammates at home plate. “Although I’d been struggling offensively in the playoffs, I just tried to stay confident and put a good swing on the ball. Dramatic moments like these are why we all play this game. But it wouldn’t have been possible without Kyle’s big hit.”
Once again down to their final four outs, the Thunder rallied from a two-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth. Bridgetown shortstop Kyle Henderson lined a two-run, two-out homer to left field to tie the game and give the Thunder momentum it wouldn’t relinquish. “I hit the ball on a line, but I wasn’t sure it was going to get out,” Henderson said afterwards. “I’m just excited that we could come back the way we did.”
For the third consecutive game, Bridgetown fell behind in the early innings. Portland posted a run in the second inning on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice by Joe Norbeck, who slid into first to narrowly beat the throw. The Angels tacked on two more in the third on a two-out, two-run single by catcher Matt Spainer off Thunder starter Chad Warneke.
However, Bridgetown would close the gap to 3-1 in the bottom of the third. Travis Hardaker lined a double into the right centerfield gap, scoring Adam Kartheu, who had led off the inning with a single. With two outs, Matt Guilfoyle lined a single to center, but Hardaker was thrown out at the plate by outfielder Darrell Blunt to end the inning. In the fifth, the Thunder added another run. Kris Walker walked, and Kartheu reached first on a fielder’s choice. Hardaker then drove a flyball to deep left center that Angels left fielder Carlos White lost in the lights, allowing Kartheu to score all the way from first.
Portland recaptured a two-run lead in the top of the sixth. Steve Andrus led off the inning with a single off Bridgetown reliever Ben Maule. Jared Sanders then relieved Maule. Jason Daly sacrifice bunted to third base, and Mike Padgett’s throw to first was wild, allowing Andrus to score all the way from first. However, Sanders regrouped to retire the side in order from there. The Bridgetown closer pitched three impressive hitless innings, striking out two and walking one.
Then came Henderson’s clutch home run in the bottom of the inning. Corwin relieved Daly, who pitched five strong innings, surrendering just three hits and striking out four. Corwin immediately walked Sam Pogue to lead off the frame. After a strikeout, Henderson jumped on a 1-1 fastball to tie the game at four.
The game remained tied until Hall stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. It was Hall’s first home run of the season and the Thunder’s first walk-off home run since Kartheu’s two-run homer beat the Portland Royals on July 22, 2009. The win propels Bridgetown into a final-four showdown Friday against the winner of the Portland Circles-Portland Royals game. First pitch is set for 7:00 pm at Walker Stadium (SE 92nd Ave and Holgate).
Pirates Edge Thunder in Pitchers' Duel
August 22, 2010 – 08:12 PM —
Nic Lubisich tossed a complete game four-hitter as the Portland Pirates edged the Bridgetown Thunder, 2-1, in the quarterfinals of the Northwest Independent League playoffs on Sunday night at Walker Stadium. The former Chicago White Sox farmhand struck out nine and walked just one in going the distance. The loss sends the Thunder (23-5) into the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament.
Bridgetown ace Mike Padgett (7-3) started for the Thunder and was nearly as dominant. The right-hander also pitched a complete game, surrendering just six hits and one earned run. Padgett struck out six and walked just one. “Mike pitched a fantastic ballgame against a really good lineup,” Bridgetown player/manager Todd Hall said. “We just couldn’t get anything going off Lubisich. He was just a little bit better than we were tonight.”
The Pirates jumped out on top in the top of the first inning. Lubisich walked to lead off the game and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a fly out, Matt McCord lined a singe, giving Portland an early lead. The game remained that way until the top of the fourth. A one-out error by the Thunder’s Kyle Henderson put a runner on first with one out. McCord then singled again before Shane Lindley lined a double to right to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead. “Poor pitch selection” is what Padgett called it after the game. “I wish I could have that one back.” However, Padgett was able to escape the jam without further damage.
Bridgetown finally broke through against Lubisich in the sixth. Henderson led off the inning with a booming double to left center. Matt Guilfoyle followed with an infield single to give the Thunder its first legitimate scoring chance of the game. But Guilfoyle was picked off first, getting in a rundown long enough for Henderson to score from first. Lubisich recorded two straight outs from there to retire the side.
In the seventh, Sam Pogue reached with a one-out single. However, Lubisich struck out the next two Thunder hitters in order to end the game and pick up the victory. “Tonight was two good teams going at it,” Hall said afterwards. “Hopefully we’ll see them again.”
Bridgetown takes on the winner of the Portland Indians-Portland Angels game in an elimination contest Wednesday night. The first pitch is set for 7:00 pm at Tualatin Hills Field #1 (15707 SW Walker Road in Beaverton).
Thunder's Furious Comeback Beats Dodgers
August 18, 2010 – 10:14 PM —
Four outs. That's what stood between the Bridgetown Thunder and a second-round upset loss in the NWIBL tournament to the Portland Dodgers. But the Thunder rallied for six runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to overcome a two-run deficit and give the team a 6-2 victory. With the win, Bridgetown advances to face the winner of the Portland Flyers-Portland Pirates match-up. In the process, the team runs its record to 23-4 overall.
The game started a pitcher's duel, as both starters cruised through the first few innings. The Thunder threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the third inning off Portland starter Ryan Smith. With two outs, Kyle Henderson reached on an error by Dodger centerfielder David DeLomba, and Matt Guilfoyle singled. Todd Hall followed with a line drive to center field that DeLomba dove and caught, saving two runs.
Meanwhile, Bridgetown starter Chad Warneke was in a groove of his own. The right-hander cruised through the first four innings, scattering just two hits. However, Warneke ran into trouble in the fifth. Back-to-back singles put runners on first and second with one out. Joey Mayer then hit a slow roller to Guilfoyle at second, and Guilfoyle's do-or-die throw got past Hall at first, allowing a run to score and runners to advance to second and third. After Warneke struck out Jon Connelly, DeLomba hit a grounder to third that Mike Padgett couldn't handle, allowing the second run to score in the inning. Warneke then got Tyson Langford to ground out to short to end the inning.
The score remained that way until the decisive sixth inning. Guilfoyle walked to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a ground out. Jared Sanders then flew out to centerfield for two quick outs. After falling behind 1-2, Padgett walked. Sam Pogue then blooped an infield single between the pitcher and second base to load the bases. Then came the game's most scrutinized at-bat. Kris Walker worked a 3-2 count, fouling off several two-strike pitches in the process. Then Smith threw a borderline curveball that was called a ball, forcing in a run and making the score 2-1. "The umpire hadn't called anything around the letters all night, and I applaud him for staying consistent," Walker said afterwards. Adam Kartheu then roped a double down the third-base line that bounced off the glove of a reaching Langford and into left field, scoring Padgett and Pogue and giving the Thunder a 3-2 lead. Patrick Jones followed with a two-run single and Kyle Henderson added an RBI hit of his own to extend the lead to 6-2 over the shell-shocked Dodgers.
Sanders (2-0), who had relieved Warneke in the top of the sixth, then struck out the side in the seventh around a two-out walk to pick up the victory. "Tonight was a huge win for us," player/manager Todd Hall said afterwards. "Smith pitched a nice ballgame, but we couldn't seem to get the hit we needed through the first five innings. I think part of it was that we came out pretty tight. But a bunch of guys came up clutch in the sixth to give us the lead. Hopefully we got our playoff jitters out of our system and will come out ready to go on Sunday."
The Thunder continues NWIBL playoff action on Sunday, August 22. First pitch is set for 6:00 pm at Walker Stadium.
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