KC Dodgers

Kyle Chapman's road to the 2003 PONY World Series Championship got just a tad longer tonight when K.C. lost to California-Lakewood, winner of the West Zone Championship by a score of 4-2. K.C. starter, Brett Gibson and Lakewood starter, Nick Evans, traded goose eggs through three innings of play. In those three innings, K.C.'s usually potent lineup could muster only a walk to Brett Gibson that Lakewood turned into a 4-3 double play to end the third inning. Meanwhile, Brett Gibson held Lakewood to a first inning infield ground ball error, a second inning seeing eye double grounder just over third base, and a single to left-centerfield, which were erased when the Lakewood 9-hole hitter flied out to shallow left-centerfield. The game was scoreless through 3 innings of play. In the top of the 4th, Lakewood got a leadoff single and a sac bunt, but stranded the runner on second on a groundout to Brian Borski at third and a flyout to Daniel Rothenberg in right field. In the bottom of the 4th, Brian Borski led off with a line drive home run over the right field wall to give K.C. a (short lived) 1-0 lead after 4 innings of play. Lakewood scored three times in the top of the 5th on a leadoff solo home run by Lakewood pitcher Nick Evans, an infield error, a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher, an RBI double to left-center by Michael Beltran, and an RBI double to right field by Trevor Coston. California-Lakewood lead 3-1 in the middle of the 5th. In the bottom of the 5th inning, K.C. got a 2-out single to right field by George Murphy, but could not capitalize on it. 3-1 Lakewood after 5 innings of play. In the top of the 6th, Lakewood pitcher, Nick Evans made sure everyone knew it was Nick Evans night in Washington, Pa., stroking his second home run of the game (and second in two innings) off reliever, Brian Borski with two outs in the 6th. K.C. got a one-out single to left by Brian Borski, but stranded him on two straight lineouts to centerfield, one of which was easily a webgem on a long shot hit by Karl Pringle. At the end of 6, it was Lakewood 4, K.C. 1. Brian held Lakewood scoreless in the top of the 7th, with the help of a neat 6-3 double play that was started by shortstop, Matt West. In the bottom of the 7th, K.C. tried to mount one of its patented late inning rallies. Jamie Reingold and Daniel Rothenberg led off with back-to-back singles up the middle. Sean Lamont advanced Jamie to third on a 4-6 fielder's choice force out at second. George Murphy drove in Jamie from third on a 4-6 fielder's choice force out at second. Joe Silver followed with a pinch hit single to the right side to bring the winning run to the plate in the person of Corey Triche. However, while lightning was striking in Houston, Texas, it did not on this night at Lew Hays field. A pitcher to first base grounder on a 1-0 count made the final score Lakewood 4, K.C. 2. What does this mean to K.C.? Not much. Instead of four straight wins, or 4 wins in 5 nights, K.C. now must simply win 5 games in 5 nights to claim the PONY World Series. Let's review the five really good things that came out of Sunday evening's loss: 1. We eliminated one of those pesky off-days and get to play 6 games in the World Series instead of 4 or 5. 2. The macaroni and cheese at the concession stand was rather tasty. 3. No one present at the field required any medical attention. 4. We helped raise the self-esteem of a bunch of poor, disadvantaged kids from Lakewood, California, before we beat the pants off 'em later this week in back-to-back games. 5. The K.C. players got to see just how privileged and fortunate they are by playing in a "friend's game" with special education youths from the Washington, Pennsylvania, area, before their game against Lakewood. After a night off tomorrow (Monday), K.C. begins its 5 games in 5 days juggernaut against the loser of tonight's game between Washington, Pa., and Chambersburg, Pa. at 5:30pm (4:30pm in Houston) on Tuesday afternoon. This is a philosophic Scott Rothenberg signing off from Washington, Pennsylvania, saying, "If you can't beat 'em, lose to 'em...... then beat the pants off 'em in a few days."