FINAL: Utica 15, Sherrill 5

Hey guys. It's a beautfiful day/night for baseball here at DeLutis Field. Tonight's first match-up pits fourth-seed Utica vs. seventh-seed Sherrill in the losers bracket semifinal. First pitch is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m.

Feel free to chime in with any thoughts or questions through the game. I'll be happy to interact and answer any questions you guys may have on this game, the later game or anything else on your mind.

For a preview of the game, and tonight's winners bracket final between (1) Smith and (2) New Hartford that is scheduled to follow this one, click here: http://adonovan-uticaod.blogspot.com/2008/07/county-playoffs-friday-preview.html

Starting lineups:
Utica (13-7)
1. Devin Warmack, CF
2. Mike Scotellaro, 1B
3. Mark VanDreason, 2B
4. Ryan Donovan, 3B
5. Mike King, LF
6. Joe Mazzara, RF
7. Joe Perrotta, SS
8. Mike Obernesser, C
9. Justin Hall, DH
Pitcher: T.J. Abounader, RHP

Sherrill (11-9)
1. Jermey Roden, SS
2. Ryan Dungey, P
3. Mitch Iseneker, CF
4. Mark Dixon, 3B
5. Matt Sayles, C
6. Robert Sweet, 1B
7. Mike Blair, 2B
8. Lucas Voelker, LF
9. Joseph Barbano, RF
Pitcher: Ryan Dungey, LHP

*Tonight's pitching match-up is intriguing for more than one reason. Not only are two of the league's top guns going head-to-head, but one (Dungey) is going on just three days rest, while the other (Abounader) is pitching for the first time in 11 days due to a nagging injury. This should be an interesting match-up to follow and see how long each guy can go.

Top 1st: Roden led off with a ripped single up the middle that almost took Abounader's leg off. Dungey bunted the first pitch he saw, in an attempt to move Roden to second, but it was right back at Abounader and he got the force at second for the first out. Iseneker hit a single to left that Dungey hustled all the way to third on (Iseneker was able to reach second on the throw to third). Dixon ripped a two-RBI single to right, scoring Dungey and Iseneker. Sherrill 2, Utica 0. Sayles flew out to center on the first pitch for the second out. Sweet popped out to VanDreason at second for the third out.

Bottom 1st: Warmack was hit by a pitch to put the lead off man on for Utica. Warmack stole second. Scotellaro walked on four pitches to put runners on first and second with no outs. VanDreason drew a third straight free pass with a walk to load the bases with no outs. Donovan ripped a two-RBI single up the middle, but was thrown out trying to reach second after the threw to the plate (VanDreason went to third, one out). Utica 2, Sherrill 2. VanDreason scored on a passed ball to give Utica the lead. Utica 3, Sherrill 2. King reached on an error by Dungey on a soft ground ball that tipped off his glove and behind him. Mazzara walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Perrotta grounded into a full-count 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

*Dungey needed 31 pitches to get through the first inning.

Utica 3, Sherrill 2

Top 2nd: Blair and Voelker struck out swinging back-to-back for the first two outs. Barbano drew a full-count walk to put a runner on first with two down. Roden grounded out to Perrotta at short for the third out.

Bottom 2nd: Obernesser walked on a 3-2 fastball in the dirt. Hall popped up a bunt to Dungey for the first out. Warmack hit a tailormade double play ball to Roden at short, but it rolled through his legs, allowing the runners to reach first and second safely. Scotellaro hit another grounder at Roden that looked to be a sure-thing inning-ending double play, but after stepping on second for the first out, Roden's throw to first was in the dirt and tipped off Sweet's glove. Scotellaro reached on a fielder's choice on the play and Obernesser to score all the way from second. Utica 4, Sherrill 2. Scotellaro stole second and then VanDreason drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. Donovan poked an RBI single to right, plating Scotellaro from second and moving VanDreason to third. Utica 5, Sherrill 2. Donovan reached second on a passed ball (runners on second and third, two outs). King drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases (Dungey's seventh free pass of the game). Mazzara hit a grounder to Dixon that looked like it would end the inning, but the usually sure-handed Dixon bobbled it, allowing everyone to advance. Utica 6, Sherrill 2. Perrotta flew out to center to end the inning, leaving the bases loaded.

Utica 6, Sherrill 2

Top 3rd: Dungey struck out swinging for the first out. Iseneker singled to right. Dixon popped out to VanDreason for the second out. Sayles grounded out 1-3 for the third out.

Bottom 3rd: Obernesser hit a high pop up toward second that should have been the first out, but it was dropped by the first baseman (and don't ask me why the first baseman was trying to catch a ball near second base because I'm equally as baffled), allowing Obernesser to reach first on Sherrill's fourth error of the game. Hall struck out swinging for the first out. Warmack grounded into a 4-6 fielder's choice for the second out. Warmack stole second. Scotellaro struck out swinging to end the inning.

Utica 6, Sherrill 2

Top 4th: Sweet flew out to right for the first out. Blair drew a one-out walk. Voelker flew out to left on a nice running grab by King for the second out. Barbano struck out swinging for the third out, stranding Blair at first out.

Bottom 4th: VanDreason singled up the middle to lead off. Donovan walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. King grounded into a 4-6 fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners with one out. Mazzara struck out swinging for the second out. Perrotta hit an RBI single to center scoring VanDreason. Utica 7, Sherrill 2. King was thrown out trying to score from second to end the inning.

Utica 7, Sherrill 2

Top 5th: Roden led off with a single to right. Dungey ripped a double to deep left-center to put runners on second and third with no outs. Iseneker drew a walk to load the bases with none down. Dixon struck out swinging for the first out. Sayles drew a walk to pick up an RBI, bringing home Roden (bases loaded, one out). Utica 7, Sherrill 3. Sweet grounded into a 6-4 fielder’s choice for the second out, but another run scored. Utica 7, Sherrill 4. Blair walked to re-load the bases with two outs. Voelker hit what looked like an inning-ending ground ball to Donovan at third, but he booted it, allowing Sherrill to score another run and all the runners to advance. Utica 7, Sherrill 5. Tyler Mautner has come in to bat for Barbano. Mautner struck out looking for the third out, leaving the bases loaded.

Bottom 5th: Obernesser, Hall and Warmack drew three straight walks to load the bases with no outs. Dungey was relieved by Roden. Scotellaro brought home a run on an error by Mautner who moved to third when Roden came in. Utica 8, Sherrill 5. VanDreason ripped a two-RBI single, putting runners on first and second. Utica 10, Sherrill 5. Donovan picked up his third hit and fourth RBI of the night with an RBI single. Utica 11, Sherrill 5. King walked to load the bases with still no outs. Mazzara walked to bring home a run and keep the bases loaded with no outs. Utica 12, Sherrill 5. Blair came in to pitch in place of Roden. Perrotta greeted Blair with an RBI single to left, keeping the bases loaded. Utica 13, Sherrill 5. Donovan scored on a passed ball. Utica 14, Sherrill 5. Obenesser popped out to second for the first out. Hall hit an RBI sac fly to center to end the game, giving Utica a win by mercy rule. Utica 15, Sherrill 5.

FINAL: Utica 15, Sherrill 5