Major Playoffs: 6/9/03
Carman 11, Hagans 1

Carman proved just how strong and deep they are, in their first playoff game, against Hagans
(which advanced by winning a thrilling, six-inning game in the league-tourney-opener against
Peterson.)

Mike Still started at pitcher for Carman. Matt Atkinson, Hagans leadoff, hit a 2-strike squibber
between first and second, as Carman's right-side infield seemed temporarily confused about who
should field, and who should cover. Atkinson hustled up the basepath, and was called safe. Atkinson
advanced to second on a passed ball. A "K" ensued, and Atkinson tried to advance to third on a
curveball in the dirt, but fortune smiled upon Carman's catcher, Matt Snow, as the passed ball
bounced off the umpire's shin guards, as Snow stooped to pick up the ball and throw hard to erase
the runner at third. Two outs. McCarthy, batting third, hit a sharp drive to "the hot corner",
which popped out Newby's mitt, to put another Hagans runner aboard. McCarthy stole second, but
the inning ended as Still recorded his second strikeout.

Bottom of the first, Matt Robinson pitching for Hagans. Carman came out swinging, as leadoff Kevin
Gillen flew-out to deep Left. McGough tripled, as he really gunned to reach third, and was safe by
about the width of a baseball. Still was up next, and launched a deep drive to left, which Infantino
almost caught, to score McGough. Carman was on the board, 1-0. Matt Snow likewise flew-out to left.
Troy Clinton was next up, with two outs, and Still on second, and cooly launched his second dinger
of the year to make the score 3-0. Robinson got the next over-eager Carman's batter on the first
pitch, on a 4-3 groundout.

Still was a lot cleaner in the second, against the middle of Hagans order, going K, 4-3, K.

Robinson retook the mound, as Boyer reached by E4, stole second and third (what else is new?), and
scored on Hobson's single (good to have you back, "D-Hob"). Kotkamp walked, and Gillen went 6-4, for
a fielders-choice. Gillen, as the "first" part of a "first and third", stole second on the next pitch,
and was erased, but allowed Hobson to score. Robinson got a PO1 to end the inning, as Carman took the
lead 5-0.

Still pitched again in the top of the third, as Infantino walked, and then he got the next two on
K's. C-Trav reached by E3, then McCarthy singled, scoring Infantino, before Still got the third out
on a "Backwards K". Carman 5, Hagans 1.

In the bottom of the third, Still once again launched a warning track shot, which once again eluded
being caught. Runner on second, safe by a whisker. Still advanced to third on a passed ball, then
Snow singled, scoring Still. 6-1. Snow was erased on a fielders-choice hit by Clifton. A Snow reached
by E7, Boyer walked, and Newby hit a sweet 1-3 sacrifice, scoring Clifton (who was 2-3, with two
dingers, and 3 runs scored.) A K ended the inning.

Gillen relieved Still to start the 4th, and went K, a walk to Reviello, another K, and then an
unassisted tagout of the advancing runner from first by Carman's secondbaseman.

Bottom of the fourth, Gillen reached by E9, McGough bunted a pitch way up out of the strike zone to
advance Gillen, but recorded an out. Still walked, and then Gillen and Still both scored on M Snow's
triple. 9-1. Snow stole home on a wild pitch. 10-1. Troy Clifton ended the game by the "mercy rule"
as he got all of a pitch down the middle at the letters, for his second dinger of the game, and a
"walk off" at that. Final score, Carman 11, Hagans 1.

A special tip of the hat to Troy Clifton, who moved into a tie for Media LL season dingers, at 3,
with M Snow.

       1 2 3 4  R  H  E
Hagans 0 0 1 0  1  2  5
Carman 3 2 2 4  11 6  2