Game Date: 26 April 2004

Leagues: Senior-Minor

Red Sox 8    Cardinals 7

Red Sox Pitchers: Matt Rowe 6 innings; Ben Peterson 1 inning

Cardinal Pitchers: Frantz 3 innings; Pearce 3 innings; Willinger 1 inning

Description:

This Little League clash turned out to be a classic extra inning game. The Red Sox jumped out early in the 1st to take a 5-0 lead on excellent base running and a hard hit single by Matt Rowe. The Cardinals returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning by scoring 3 runs with excellent base running and a single by Willinger. The 2nd inning proved to be a pitchers duel as the Cardinals pitcher Frantz struck out two out of three Red Sox batter and Matt Rowe for the Red Sox also struck out 2 of 3 Cardinals batters, the score remained 5-3. The Red Sox then were denied once again in the 3rd as Frantz threw excellent from the mound retiring the Red Sox side of the inning. Matt Rowe then came back for the Red Sox to strike out the first batter, but then allowed a single by Pearce who did excellent base running to score for the Cardinals. Then the Red Sox defense took over on plays from Matt Rowe to 1B Caleb Chappell and an excellent play from C Brandon Funk to 1B to end the inning. The Red Sox scored 2 runs in the 4th off of new pitcher Pearce. Singles by Ben Peterson and Matt Rowe drove in the 2 runs needed. Pearce then retired the side by striking 2 batters and Matt Rowe was called out on a steal to home. Matt Rowe struck out two and gave up one run to the Cardinals on a wild pitch. The score after 5 was 7-5 Red Sox. Pearce once again shut down the Red Sox side of the order in the top half of the 6th. Several errors by the Red Sox in the bottom of the 6th proved to be costly as the Cardinals rallied to tie the game at 7-7, thus taking the game into extra innings. Willinger then came on in the top of the 7th for the Cardinals. He allowed a walk to Brandon Funk which turned out to be costly as he ran the bases on errors to eventually score what would be the winning run. Willinger then retired the Red Sox side with 2 strikeouts and good defense. Ben "Catfish" Peterson then came on in relief in the bottom of the 7th and recorded 3 straight K's to notch another win in the books for the Red Sox.