1998 – AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD ROUND

PREVIEW – Castle Rock hosts Flossmoor for the AL Wildcard series. Flossmoor had the slight advantage in the season series, taking 7 out of 12 games between the two teams.

Here’s how the two teams stack up:
Fielding: Flossmoor 11th in AL, Castle Rock, 8th.
Pitching: Flossmoor 5th in ERA, Castle Rock, 4th.
Hitting: Flossmoor 5th in batting average, Castle Rock 4th. Both teams favor the long-ball, with Castle Rock finishing 2nd in the AL in homers, right in front of Flossmoor in 3rd.

Should be a good series.

Bohanon (16), who disappointed in the regular season, gets the start vs. Ashby (12) for the visitors.
T1: Flossmoor gets on the board first as Fryman delivers a two-out double and Bagwell singles him home.
T2: Ron Gant smacks a two-run homer to give Flossmoor an early 3-0 lead (Bichette had reached on a Clayton error).
T4: Blauser is hit by a pitch and he is knocked out for 15 games (ouch!).
T5: Bichette adds to the lead with a two-out double to make it 4-0, Flossmoor.
B6: Castle Rock finally gets on the board with a 2-run Bonds homer to cut the lead in half, 4-2.
B8: Tatis gets a two-out walk to bring up Bonds. Bonds gets an infield single to bring up Easley. Easley flies out and it stays 4-2.
T9: Fryman and Bagwell deliver security RBI for Flossmoor, as they extend their lead to 6-2.
B9: Olson closes it out for Flossmoor as they take the first game by a 6-2 final.

Final Score: Flossmoor 6 – Castle Rock 2
Series 1-0 (FFS)

Win: Andy Ashby 1-0 (2.57)
Loss: Brian Bohanon 0-1 (3.86)
Save: Gregg Olson #1  

Castle Rock has its back up against the wall.

T2: Flossmoor strikes first again, with Bichette hitting a sac fly to score Bagwell.
T6: after a bunch of quick innings, Bagwell delivers a 3-run homer to make it 4-0, Flossmoor. The Hounds are getting their golf bags ready.
T9: Walt Weiss delivers a two-out RBI triple to extend the lead to 5-0, Flossmoor.
In an amazing display of catching ineptitude, Chris Widger manages to have four passed balls in the game. But, it doesn’t really matter, as Castle Rock can only manage 3 hits off of Neagle, who gets a complete game shutout.

Final Score: Flossmoor 5 – Castle Rock 0
Series 2-0 (FFS)

Win: Denny Neagle 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Dustin Hermanson 0-1 (6.00)