Revolution Reigns over ‘Stormers

By Sam Valentin-

The five game series and ultimately the Barnstormers season  came down to one run in the tenth inning. But the run that decided both teams destinies was not scored by Lancaster.

The Revolution beat the Barnstormers 5-4 in 10 innings and are now penciled in to play the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League Championship Series starting Wednesday in New York.

The York Revolution celebrate their Freedom Divison Championship. Photo courtesy of York Daily.

The game was close until the top of the tenth inning when the ‘Revs bats found new life,  scoring four in the inning after capitalizing off an error.

Heading into Lancaster’s side of the frame, the score was 5-1 and it looked as if the game had already been decided. But Terry Tiffee smashed a two-out, three run home run off York closer R.J Rodriguez to bring them within one run. The Stormers thought they might live to fight again. But Travis Metcalf came up against Revolution reliever Dumas Garcia who struck him out to end the series.

Immediately  following the game Lancaster Barnstormers manager Butch Hobson walked into the the visitor’s dugout to shake hands with his good friend and Revolution manager, Andy Etchebarron.

“I said congratulations and that I loved him,” said Hobson to the ‘Revs manager, Etchebarron.

The Barnstormers did not have quite enough steam to pull off the series comeback. After dropping the first two games at York. Lancaster came home with the series in many people’s minds. Fridays game was rained out but the Barnstormers won game three and four which made the series go to the decisive game five Monday night.

Stephen Douglas hit a homer to right to put Lancaster up 1-o but that is all they could muster off ‘Revs starter Corey Thurman who gave up only three hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked only three in a commanding performance.

“We didn’t do much with Corey,” Hobson said of Thurman, who got the win in the series opener. “It’s amazing. He gets people out with that change-up. He throws (batting practice) fastballs. And he throws a cutter.”

‘Stormers lefty, Steve Hammond’s, performance was just as good only giving up one hit in six shut out innings.

“The biggest mistake I made tonight was not sticking with Hammond,” Hobson said. “But he’d been through the order twice and (reliever Jeff) Bennett’s been a guy they haven’t hit all year.”

Jeff Bennett gave up the tying run off an Eric Eymann RBI single.That was all the scoring until York broke open the game in their half of the tenth.They scored four runs off three relievers in an explosive tenth inning.

The rally really started after former Barnstormer, Bryant Nelson hit a hard chopper to second baseman, Gilberto Mejia. Mejia waited for the ball to come to him but it eluded his glove bouncing into shallow center field.

“It was an in-between hop and I was just hoping it would hit me in the chest,” said Mejia in an interview with Lancaster Newspapers.

Lancaster just could not respond in the bottom of the tenth. So York proceeded to celebrate on Lancaster’s home field. They brought on the champagne and music and were having a very jovial time in the clubhouse.

“The season’s over,” Hobson said after the heartbreaking defeat to the York Revolution. “I’m proud of this team. I’m proud of the city, the support. I love it here. I love the people here. I just wish we could have gotten to the finals for them.”

 

 

 

 

Barnstomer’s head into Decisive Game Five Tonight

By Sam Valentin-

The Lancaster Barnstormers have evened up the best of five series with a 6-1 victory over the York Revolution Sunday night at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Tommy Everidge, Lancaster's slugging first baseman. Photo courtesy of lancasterbarnstomers.com.

The possibility of a game five seemed unlikely to players in both clubhouses about four days ago when the Revs’ were in control of the series after two quick wins in York.

For some reason the Barnstormers strong offense went dormant when the playoffs started. But even after going down two games to York, the Barnstormers never lost focus or energy.

“I told them they were destined to win it and I still believe that,” Lancaster manager Butch Hobson said of his team after their game two lost.

And then the ‘Stormers came back east of the Susquehanna, found their bats and went back to their winning ways taking two in a row from the Revolution.

Game three was a masterful pitching performance from pitcher John  Halama. He led Lancaster to a 5-1 win with help from Tommy Everidge, Travis Metcalf and Terry Tiffee who all sent balls flying over the outfield fence.

“He was outstanding,” Hobson said in an interview about Halama who threw 112 pitches, surrendering a lone run and only giving up two hits over the course of the entire game.  “He’s a big-game pitcher.”

In game four, Matt Wright was on the mound and followed in Halama’s footsteps Sunday night with a great pitching performance in his return from a left knee injury. He allowed one run, giving up only three hits to the Revs’ over six innings pitched.

Tonight the ‘Stormers look to win game five which they knew was theirs from the start.

“After we win three at home, you guys can say Butch knows what he’s talking about,” said Hobson “We’re going to go home and win it in front of our fans. That’s what I wanted to do.”

They hope to do just that tonight at Clipper Magazine Stadium at 6:30pm in front of what they hope is a huge crowd that can witness history.