Liners Caught Trying to Steal Win At North
On a very windy day in Annandale the Stateliners looked to Alec Ricker to tame the Lions. While Slick Rick held up his end of the bargain the bats went silent for the visiting Liners. Sailor Stem started the game off on a good note with a leadoff single. However, in what would be a theme of the day, the North Hunterdon catcher, Trey Primatic would gun down a Stateliner runner. Although Pburg didn't realize how much of a monumental accomplishment it would be, courtesy runner Chuckie Dipz would steal second before the third out was recorded. Hat tip to you Mr. Dipz. Baby Rick (maybe not a baby anymore) made quick work of the Lions in the bottom of the first and the Liners were right back on the bases in the top of the second. And no quicker than they were on the bases were they erased by Primatic with another caught stealing (although this author seems to think when a Tree slides in well ahead and under a tag he's not really out). North struck for a run in the bottom of the second on a (guess who) double (if you guessed Primatic you were right) to deep center. The rare Ricker walk led to a Lion threat but Rick quickly got out of it with a foul pop and a three pitch K (don't know how to type a backwards K). The top of the third would feature Pburg's best scoring opportunity of the day. Go to first Rob would get to first on a beautiful bunt single. Sailor Stem would follow with a single. Staggy Bear then walked and the bases were loaded with nobody out. A wild pitch would enable Rob to --yes-- go home and tie the game. After Stem getting cut down at the plate the Pburg threat turned into one run and a runner on third with two outs. Sadly for the Liners fans, the next at bat would be the end of the highlights for the Garnet and Gray on the day. Nice Guy Nick Helman would single in Staggy Bear and the Liners would take a 2-1 lead. North Hunterdon then tied the game up in the bottom of the third on a sac fly from........you know from who. The catcher who shall not be named would then cut down his third baserunner of the game in the next half inning despite the fact that the runner was under the tag and ahead of the tag...I guess that doesn't matter anymore....North would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth on a sac fly. Pburg would fail to get a runner on base in the last two innings and they suffered their second one run loss in less than a week. Next up for the Liners is a date with undefeated Hillsborough.
