Game Date:        5/22/04
Leagues:          Senior-Minor
Cardinals 2    Devil Rays 0

Cardinal Pitchers:  Pearce 3, Willinger 3
Devil Ray Pitchers:   Whitaker 3, Merrill 3

Description:

When the schedule came out in March, everyone knew this inter-division game between the Cardinals and Devil Rays would be one of the better games of the season.  As with most important games, the teams were prepared to pitch their best.  This game set up with 4 of the best pitchers in the Senior Minor division poised to do battle.  The pitching of the 4, Layne Whitaker and Justin Merrill for the Devil Rays; Evan Pearce and Andrew Willinger for the Cardinals, was as good as you would expect.  Their great pitching produced one of the most competitive and exciting games of the year.

Whitaker started for the Devil Rays and was at his best, striking out 6 Cardinals in his 3 shut out innings.  Merrill followed Whitaker to the mound and also had his best stuff, striking out 6 Cardinals in his 3 innings of work.

Pearce, the Cardinals starter, was as good as ever.  He struck out 8 Devil Rays while pitching to the minimum 9 batters in his 3 shut out innings.  Willinger then came in to finish the game for the Cardinals, striking out 9 Devil Rays to preserve the shutout.

The only scoring in the game occurred in the top of the 6th inning when the Cardinals were able to turn a couple of hits into 2 runs with some heads up base running.  With 1 out in the inning, Nathan Frantz singled into center field.  He alertly took off toward second when a late, off line throw came toward first.  He was able to get to third on the play.  While Michael Taylor was batting, Frantz displayed his blazing speed by scoring the game’s first run on a passed ball.  After the run scored, Taylor, who also can fly on the base paths, reached first by beating out an infield hit.  With Evan Pearce batting, Taylor advanced all the way to third, taking advantage of a wild pitch and passed ball.  Pearce was able to coax a walk.  With runners now on first and third, Pearce took off toward second.  A great throw by the Devil Rays catcher nailed Pearce, however Taylor stole home on the throw to second, scoring an all important insurance run.

This was a great game played by two very good baseball teams, a game which could have gone either way.  The Cardinals and Devil Rays are two teams which will have to be reckoned with in the upcoming season ending tournament.