Barnstormers Down Ducks, 10-0

Total Team Effort Sweeps Doubleheader

The Lancaster Barnstormers pitched, hit, ran and fielded well in a 10-0 thumping of the Long Island Ducks Saturday evening to complete a sweep of a day-night doubleheader at Bethpage Ballpark.

Earlier, K.C. Hobson slugged two homers and drove in four runs as the Barnstormers captured the opener, 6-4 (see earlier story).

With the doubleheader sweep, the Barnstormers hold a two-game lead in the Freedom Division over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, who also swept a day-night doubleheader Saturday at New Britain.

Brad Bergesen (3-2) pitched the first five innings for Lancaster, retiring 15 of the 17 batters he faced.  Only an Elmer Reyes double inside the first base bag and a single to center by Delta Cleary, Jr. spoiled his perfect work.

Daniel Moskos picked up the next two.  He was followed by Kaohi Downing and R.J. Hivley.  Overall, the Ducks managed four hits in the nightcap with the Barnstormers staff striking out 10 and hitting one batter.  Long Island never advanced a runner to third in the game.

The staff was helped out by a couple of strong fielding plays by second baseman Garrett Weber in the hole.

Lancaster jumped on Tim Melville (2-3) in the first inning on singles by Rico Noel and Hobson around a steal of second.  Three more scored in the top of the third as Hobson doubled home Noel with two outs, and Sean Halton followed with a two-run homer on the next pitch.

Anderson De La Rosa and Noel stretched the lead even further with RBI singles in the fourth.  Halton tacked on an RBI single to right in the seventh before a wild pitch made it 8-0.  Lastings Milledge capped the scoring with a two-run double over Cleary’s head in the top of the ninth.

Overall, the Barnstormers gathered 11 hits, stole five bases, drew four walks and had three batters hit by pitches.

The series concludes on Sunday afternoon.  Nate Reed (0-1) takes the hill for the Barnstormers against Ducks all-time wins leader John Brownell (3-0).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 1:15.

NOTES:  Rico Noel made his first career start at shortstop but never got to handle a ground ball…Noel is 5-for-12 with four steals in his first four games…Darian Sandford failed to extend his hitting streak to 11…Halton’s homer was his first extra base hit since May 13…Hobson drove in six runs in the doubleheader to take the team lead with 29…Lancaster’s bullpen has thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings on four hits…The crew has walked two and struck out 16 in that stretch.