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Gladiators Conquered by Late STAMPEDE Rally

Jun. 27, 2012

The Smithtown STAMPEDE staged a late 3 run rally to defeat the LI Gladiators 4 - 3 in their single game contest at CYA field earlier this evening.  Four workman-like innings by Smithtown starter, Meatball, carried him 2 batters into the 5th inning.  A leadoff walk followed by a single to start the 5th frame had a flip-flop take place... Meat to SS, SS Nicholas to the mound in relief.  A Smithtown hiccup let two unearned runs in after a single and an error. But, a fly out to Elliott in RF, and then a grounder to SS Meat resulted in him tagging the passing runner and flipping to Hit Man Anthony waiting at 2B for the double-play limited the damage and kept Smithtown within striking distance, down 3 - 1.

Prior to building their 3 - 1 lead, the Gladiators played the STAMPEDE evenly through the first 4 innings.  Meat allowed a one out double in the 1st, but stranded the runner with a strike out and highlight reel catch by SS Nicholas who went all out in a sprint to short right center on a fly ball for the sprawling grab to end the threat.  Now. as Nick the Stick, he led off the Smithtown 1st with a lined single to center.  After stealing 2nd & 3rd, he too, was stranded.

Both teams picked up a run in the 2nd inning.  The Gladiators on a double, single and 2 walks despite Meat picking off a Gladiator runner on third base.  Smithtown countered to tie it at one apiece as Meat walked and Jason's single to right center sent Meat to third.  Hit Man Anthony and Meat executed a perfect suicide squeeze with Hit Man barely getting nipped at 1B for the out.  Meat through a scoreless third and fourth innings, as did the Gladiator hurler who allowed harmless walks to Brian & The Stick in the 3rd.

Meat tired after 2 batters (walk, single) in the 5th & was relieved by The Stick.  A double, walk, and error scored 2 for the Gladiators.  Elliott shagged a fly to RF holding the runner at second.  Meat then snagged a grounder at SS and flipped to Hit Man at 2B for the double play.  3 - 1 Gladiators after 4 1/2.  Bottom fifth, 2 out walks to Elliott and Scatch yielded nothing as they were stranded.  Nicholas was tagged for a leadoff triple in the 6th, but got 2 big strikeouts and a groundout to 3B Frankie to nullify the Gladiator threat.

Bottom 6th, Smithtown fired up the furnace.  with one out, Salvatore singled to the SS hole.  Josh lined a single to RC sending Salvatore to third.   Frankie then hit a dunker for a single into the 2B hole to load the bases.  Ricky stepped in and hit a shoulder high rocket at the Gladiator third baseman.  It overpowered his glove, ricocheting down the LF line to score Salvotore & Josh.  Frankie hustled into third.  Still one out, Meat sent a 275' SAC fly that the Gladiator LF ran down on the line for the second out, scoring Frankie for the 4 - 3 Smithtown lead.

Nicholas retired the side in the 7th 1-2-3.  A groundout to Frankie at third, another big strikeout, and a combacker for the victory.