The Burlington Royals fell short in their championship bid while NW Arkansas got off to a powerful start in their first playoff game.
HR Roll Call: Corey Toups 2 (14), Jon McCray 2 (9)
BP KC Player of the Day – Corey Toups 3-4, 4R, HBP, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Playoffs
Junction City wins series 2-0
Junction City Cardinals 11 Burlington Royals 6
Despite a stellar season in the Appy League that saw them put together the league’s best record, the Royals couldn’t get things done in the championship series. The league’s top pitching staff was unable to slow down the Cardinals offense, allowing 13 hits and 11 runs including a five-run seventh inning that broke open a 4-4 game that the Royals offense had tied in the top half of the frame. The Royals plated six runs on the night, but went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.
Jon McCray 2-4, 2 HR
Kort Peterson 1-3, 2 RBI
Nicky Lopez 1-3, 2R, 2b, 2 RBI
NW Arkansas up 1-0 best of 5
NW Arkansas Naturals 9 Springfield Cardinals 6
The Naturals defense let them down in the game one of their series on Wednesday, but the bats made up for it to come away with a big win. After building a 5-1 lead on the backs of a four-run third inning that featured six Naturals hitters reaching base in a row to start the frame, the defense committed two errors in the fifth to allow Springfield to knot the game at five. That tie wouldn’t last long as second baseman Corey Toups homered with one out in the top of the sixth to take back a 6-5 lead. Toups connected once again just two innings later, this time a two-run home run. A run of three consecutive singles pushed the lead to four and the bullpen allowed just one run the rest of the way to close out the win. The two home run game was the first for Toups of his career.
Mauricio Ramos 4-5, 2R, RBI
Frank Schwindel 3-5, 2b, 2 RBI
Daniel Stumpf 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GO-FO, 21p/13k
Idaho Falls Chukars 10 Orem Owlz 6
The Chukars knocked out 15 hits and 10 runs to win their second to last game of the season. The win secured a winning record for the year, with a chance to finish with the best record in the Pioneer League South with a win on Thursday. A nice night by backup catcher Mark Sanchez with a four hits in four at bats and a couple of runs scored while driving in two, connecting on his second double of the season in the process. Reliever Drew Milligan finished the final inning and one-third with three strikeouts to complete the win for Idaho Falls.
Drew Milligan 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Mark Sanchez 4-4, 2R, 2b, 2 RBI
Jordan Ebert 2-4, R, 2b, 3b, 2 RBI