Dinger turned in his best pitching outing of the season, throwing a shutout in Game 1
Dinger delivered what may have been the best pitching performance of the 2012 season in game 1 of the Fish Sticks first round series against the Ham Slams, providing a complete game victory while giving up only 3 hits and no runs.
The Fish Sticks, who were the #2 seed in 2011, narrowly outlasted the now defunct 4 out of 5 Dentists in the first round of the 2011 playoffs en route to their championship win in the Wiffle Series. After losing the #1 seed late in the regular season this year, they would be matched up against the EWL’s newest franchise, the Ham Slams, who clinched the #3 seed.
Dinger started on the mound for the Sticks and cruised through the top of the first.
Alec, one of the EWL’s brightest young stars on the mound, started for the Slams. He gave up a single to Ivan to start the inning. Joey flew out for the first out, but Dinger followed with a single. Ivan, who was on second, attempted to go from first to third but was caught in between bases for the second out of the inning, and the score remained 0-0.
After Alec grounded out to left for the first out of the top of the second, Charlie singled. Anthony followed with a single, but was caught in between bases for the second out of the inning.
The Fish Sticks broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second. Blose, last year’s MVP and playoff hero for the Fish Sticks, hit a solo homer to lead off the inning, making the score 1-0. Vassallo grounded out to left for the first out of the inning, but Ivan followed with a solo homer of his own, and the score was 2-0. Joey was retired for the second out of the inning, and the Ham Slams were down two runs.
The Fish Sticks struck first when Blose hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second
Dinger continued to roll in the top of the third, retiring the Ham Slams in order.
The Sticks opened up the game in the bottom of the third. Dinger led off with a single, and moved to second when Blose also singled. Vassallo grounded out to center for the first out of the inning, but the runners moved to second and third. With one out and two runners in scoring position, Ivan singled, scoring Dinger from third and making the score 3-0.
Ivan, who went 3 for 4, drove in Dinger from third with an RBI single in the third inning
With runners on the corners and one out, Joey hit a 3-run homer to left-center, pushing the Sticks lead to 6-0. Dinger and Blose each followed with singles, their second singles in the inning, and Vassallo followed with a 3-run bomb, the second 3-run homer for the Fish Sticks in the inning, and the score was 9-0. Alec retired Ivan to end the third, but the damage was done.
The Sticks celebrate at home after Joey’s 3-run homer put them up 6-0
Dinger had all of the run support that he would need. He retired Charlie and Anthony in order in the top of the fourth.
After getting hit hard early, Alec got into a groove in the bottom of the fourth, sending down Joey and Dinger consecutively for a scoreless inning.
The Slams couldn’t rally in the top of the fifth. Dinger continued to mow down hitters, sending Steve and Alec down in order.
The Sticks wouldn’t add to their lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Alec retired Blose and Vassallo to end the inning.
With a 9-run lead, Dinger shut the door in the top of the sixth. Anthony doubled with one out after Charlie grounded out to left for the first out of the inning, but Dinger stranded him at second, getting Steve to fly out to left to end the inning and the game.
The win put the Sticks up 1-0 in the best of five series.
W: Dinger (1-0)
L: Alec (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Dinger pitched the complete game shutout, giving up only three hits.
– Four of the five Fish Sticks homered, as all but Dinger went yard. Dinger went 3 for 4 at the plate with 3 singles and 2 runs scored.
– Anthony was the only Ham Slam with multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with a single and a double.
Leave a Reply