2016 Reds Top Ducks for Red Stick Championship in Louisiana
Red Stick (LA) Adult Baseball League
Red Stick Reds 11, Ducks 4
‘Bergeron Leads the Way on the Bump for the Reds’
Submitted by Doug Webster, Reds manager
The Capital Division champion Reds took on the Bayou Division winning Ducks in the RSABL league championship game Sunday July 24th at Pete Goldsby Field. It was a battle of the ages as five of the Reds regulars have children as old or older than the players on the Ducks.
The game was close through five innings as the Reds built a four run lead. Then the Reds tallied four runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to pull away. The Ducks plated three in the top of the ninth to make the final score 11-4.
Rob Bergeron took the bump for the Reds. He struck out nine, scattered eight hits, and held the Ducks to one earned run in eight innings. Whenever the Ducks threatened, he got a strike out or dealt a ground ball out. Shortstop Dirk Fairchild said, “Best game I’ve seen Rob throw this season.”
The Reds offense earned their stripes by scratching out three runs off Duck starter, Trevor Ragon, and one run off reliever Seth Montze. Then they were able to take advantage of lack of command by the third Duck pitcher. In two innings they tallied seven runs on four walks, four hits, two errors, and two wild pitches.
After struggling in the regular season games, the Reds came through with key defensive plays. Clean play in the first and second innings stranded runners on third and frustrated the Duck bats. Brandt and Levin Fairchild nailed a Duck runner at the plate and Dirk Fairchild snagged a smash line drive at short to kill a Duck rally in the sixth. Brandt drove the nail in the coffin when he tracked down Seth Montze’s deep fly ball to center and then grabbed Jose Martinez’ line drive in the seventh. Bergeron tipped his cap to the D, “That was awesome play behind me and the catchers did a great job behind the dish in that heat.”
The Ducks collected 10 hits and four walks but stranded 10. Stephan Porche went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBI. Jose Martinez was 3 for 4 with a double and one RBI. Tim Hutchinson was 2 for 3.
