(Pomona, NY) – With a 6-4 win over the Champions (50-45) Wednesday night, the Boulders continue to show why they are playoff worthy.
Rockland took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, with Jared Schlehuber going yard. He crushed a two-run shot deep to left field, christening Cardullo’s Corner and bringing in Junior Arrojo from third base.
The Boulders put up a couple more runs in the third. Mike Fransoso took the ball the other way, past the Budweiser Short Porch to make it 3-0. After punching the ball into right field, Schlehuber drove in Arrojo again for his third RBI of the night. After three, the score was 4-0.
Ottawa got on the board in the top of the fourth. The left fielder, Matt Helms, hit a home run of his own just out of Mike Montville’s reach. The Champions cut Rockland’s lead down to 4-1.
Ottawa continued to chip away at the Boulders’ lead into the fifth inning. Kenny Bryant hit a sac fly to left that brought in the second baseman, Albert Cartwright. Immediately following, Montville made a leaping grab to retire Alexander Malleta for out number three. The defensive play kept the Champions at bay, behind 4-2.
Luis Munoz, starting pitcher for Ottawa, was done after 4.0IP. He gave up four runs on four hits and struck out three. The lefty, Miles Moeller, took over the bump for the fifth.
Matt Kostalos came in for relief for Jason Byers in the sixth inning. Byers allowed just two runs on six hits, walking three and striking out two.
The Champions tacked on a run in the top of the eighth. Helms hit an RBI double off of Tony Amezcua that scored Bryant. Daniel Carela came on to get a big strikeout, keeping Rockland ahead 4-3.
Hector Nelo entered the game in the ninth. He gave up a single to Cartwright that allowed Daniel Bick to come in and score. The run tied it all up at 4-4, eventually forcing the game into extra innings.
Rockland put it in the books after 10 innings when Fransoso hit his second home run of the night. The two-run walk-off against Randy Hamrick also drove in Elvin Soto to make it 6-4, the final.
The Boulders and the Champions play their last, regular season game against each other tomorrow night at 7:00pm. Tickets are still available by visiting the box office, www.RocklandBoulders.com, or by calling (845) 364-0009.