(August 25, 2017 – Plano, TX) The Spirits (45+) squad rebounded from an unexpected loss on Monday night with a can of “whoop-a**” in the NTABL Masters League playoffs by handing one to the friendly foe, DFW Hurricanes this past Friday night at Graham Field in Plano. The Hurricanes were without their crafty ace, Bob Delahunt, who usually has interesting things in mind for Spirits hitters.
Without the crafty pitcher on the bump for the Hurricanes, the Spirits used 11 hits to put up 16 runs as the ‘Canes pleaded no-contest in the shortened game that was ended by the league’s playoff mercy rule with the Spirits advancing following the 16 to 0 win. Pitchers, Kirk Sipila and Brant Finchum combined to allow just 3 hits while striking out 4 in the four and a half inning affair. The Spirits put up 3 runs in the first inning and followed with an additional 5 runs to lead 8 to 0 after three innings complete.
Despite a pair of singles and a free pass by Hurricanes hitters, the Spirits defense was able to shut down any scoring opportunity and then unleashed in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Finchum singled to start the inning and Chris Lewis made it two on with nobody out after wearing a pitch. Dennis Gonzalez singled to score Finchum and Jack Nash reached on an error, which allowed Lewis to score as well. Hurricanes pitcher, Paul Dominguez was able to get David Tipton on a strikeout and Mark Leemaster with an infield fly, however the ghosts weren’t finished. Patrick Bilgere followed with a triple to score both Gonzalez and Nash, and then immediately followed the two to the dish on a single by Sipila. Eric McPherson was also hit by pitch and Brian Hackney followed with a single to load the bases. Finchum then followed with a 1-1 single to score Sipila and McPherson and the Spirits were in landslide mode, with a 15 to 0 lead.
The ghouls were able to add an additional run to get your final score when Bilgere picked up another RBI with a single to score Gonzalez and after the defense shut down the Hurricanes in the fifth, the game was called.
The team returns to action again Monday night when they host the Caddo Reds at Graham Field. First pitch is slated for 8:45PM. The Spirits split the final two games of the three game series against the Reds, with victories going to each team by a score of 2 to 1. Earlier in the season, the Spirits handed one to the Reds by a margin of 13 to 2. The loser of Monday’s game will see their season come to an end, while the victor will await the loser of the Cubs vs. Orioles.
Waxahachie Autoplex Players of the Game
David Tipton (2-4, 2 R, RBI, SB)
Brant Finchum (2-3, R, 2 RBI; 2 IP, H, K)
Patrick Bilgere (2-3, 3B, 2 R, BB, 3 RBI)