Game Summary

In the first of three PCBL Championship games within the confines of beautiful Jethawk Stadium in Lancaster; the Durham Bulls defeated the Conejo Angels in the Federal Division Championship game by a score of 10-6.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 2nd inning, when the Bull's Royce Farrar came home to score on Dave Fox's sacrifice fly to put the Bulls ahead 1-0. The Angels answered back in the top of the third with singles by John Wenzel and Fran Adams; followed by a 2-out, 2-run double by Brian Corralejo to put the Angels up 2-1. The Angels put 2 more on the board in the 4th inning with singles by Ryan Hamill and Kyle Sarosi, as well as a sacrifice fly by Jason Canton, to put the Angels up 4-1.

Three innings of scoreless ball followed until the bottom of the 7th, when it appeared that the heat had started to take it's toll on a number of players; especially on that of the Angel's pitching staff, who preceded to allow a whopping 4 walks and 4 hits in a long and frustrating defensive stand for the Angels. The result was a 5-run inning for the Bulls, who suddenly went from a 3-run deficit to a 2-run lead, going up by a score of 6-4.

The Angels weren't about to take this laying down, however. In the top of the 8th inning; Brian Corralejo hit a 1-out single, afterwhich Charlie Hirsh drew a walk. Then with 2 on and 1 out, brother Bobby (Robert Hirsh) stepped up and provided a much needed 2-run single to draw the game back to even, 6-6. The Angels were pumped and appeared to have regained some momentum going into the bottom of the 8th.

However, their momentum would not last long. Coming up in the bottom of the 8th, the Bull's Michael Charalambus would be hit by a pitch; which would then be followed up with the game's only homerun. A 2-run shot to left-center by the lead-off hitter, Robert Ruiz, to quickly re-take the lead, going up 8-6. The Bulls would not be finished just yet, however, adding 2 more runs to go into the 9th with a 10-6 lead.

This turned out to be all they would need, as the Angels went quietly in the top of the 9th; giving the Durham Bulls their first PCBL Championship in this, their 7th year in the league. The celebration on the field commenced, and the game's MVP, quite fittingly, was awarded to the man who provided the game's only homerun; the much-needed 2-run shot that put them ahead for good, courtesy of Robert Ruiz. Congratulations to Robert and to the entire Bulls team for a great season and for providing such an exciting end to a Championship Game!

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