Majors Playoffs: 6/14/03
Carman 8, Baker 0

Baker faced Carman in the final winner's bracket game of the 2003 Media Little
League Majors Division playoff, and a number of big stories unfolded. Perhaps
biggest of all was Ryan Martin pitching 6 full innings for Baker against the
Carman machine, allowing no homers, and holding Carman to 8 runs, only 5 earned.

Mike Still, likewise, had his strongest outing of the season, going his full
remaining 3, and getting a no-no-no-no, facing only 9 batters, ringing up 7 K's,
against the aspiring Baker Inksters.

Kevin Gillen, in relief, also allowed no hits, combining with Still for the Major's
second no-hit performance in as many days (the other was C McCusker's performance
Friday night).

Wow, they oughta charge admission!

Top of the first, Still got a leadoff K. and then retired the next two on a 4-3,
and a 1-3.

Martin took the mound in the bottom half, throwing what seemed to be nothing but
deuces, as Carman patiently "took" to get the feel for his stuff. Gillen started
Carman rolling, with a single, but Martin remained in control to get an unassisted
fly to left. Still followed, getting a single to left, then M Snow hit a double to
score Gillen and Still. 2-0. Clifton reached by E-6. A Snow hit a sacrifice, 4-3,
but another two runs scored. Boyer walked, then Martin got a K for the final out.
Carman 4, Baker 0.

Top of the second, and Still went K, K, "backwards K".

Bottom of the second, and Martin got a groundout, gave up a double to Gillen, who
then stole 3rd, then got McGough on a weird "batter hit by batted ball" drag bunt
attempt, before a flyout to left-center, on a great running catch by J Green, ended
the inning.

Still pitched again, and went K, K, "backwards K".

Carman batted in the bottom of the 3rd, and once again - their trademark - scored 3
after two outs were recorded. Martin started the inning with a K, then Clifton and
A Snow both singled, before Martin got the 2nd out on yet another K. Coleman walked,
then Kotkamp singled (as Avery Coleman ran hard to second, and slid, earning a rarely-awarded game ball from Coach Still - barely beating the tag from Baker's
shortstop, who had fielded Kotkamp's missile, and decided to "take it himself" for
the potential inning-ending force at second, only to see Coleman's slide beat the
force), scoring 2 more for Carman. Gillen then doubled, scoring Coleman. Another fine
catch by Baker's centerfielder, Jeremiah Green, ended the inning. Carman 7, Baker 0.

Gillen relived for Still, and had the top of Baker's order to face, but calmly retired
the side on a 4-3, a popup that he caught himself, and a flyout to deep second, that
McGough made look like an easy play, even though it was halfway out to rightcenter.

Martin continued in the bottom of the 4th, and got a 4-3, on a really close play at
the bag, to prevent Still from reaching. M Snow next reached on an E1, before Martin
induced Clifton to flyout (once again to Green, who seemed to will himself into the
vicinity of every fly ball), before getting an inning-ending 4-3.

Gillen allowed the leadoff, JJ Andrews, aboard, with a full count walk, who also
advanced to second with a stolen base, before escaping the inning with 3 successive K's.

Martin gave up a leadoff double to Boyer, and then appeared to be heading out of trouble,
by getting the 8 & 9 batters on a K and a 4-3, before Gillen (who was 4-4 for the game,
with three doubles) doubled once again to score Boyer. Gillen stole 3rd, and then McGough
walked, to give Carman 1st and third. Next pitch, McGough stole 2nd, as Enterlin faked a
throw to get McGough, and caught Gillen leaning, throwing to third, to get the final out.

Top of the 6th, Carman up 8-0, and Baker was looking to find a way back. Gillen got the
first out on a 1-3, but then issued a walk to the 9 batter, Mizell. Green reached, via a
fielders-choice, erasing Mizell. The game ended on yet another 4-3 (the second-basemen
were busy this game).

Best of luck to Baker in their next game (as well as to Hagan), and also to Carman. This
tilt was well-played by both teams, and very few mistakes were made, as befitting a
quarterfinal-minus-one (is that a tri-final?) game.

       1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Baker  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Carman 4 0 3 0 1 - 8 8 0