DESPITE LOSS, STORMERS REACH PLAYOFFS

Club Wins Third Straight Second Half Title

The Lancaster Stormers lost a battle on Thursday evening, but, a few minutes later, won the larger war.

On the field, Lancaster dropped a tight, 3-2 decision to the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars as the league’s top offense managed only five hits, none after the sixth inning.  With the team waiting on the field, the final two outs of the High Point-Long Island contest were played on the video board.  The Rockers wrapped up a 4-1 victory, locking out Long Island and sending the Stormers to the post-season.

At that point, the celebrations began on the field at Clipper Magazine Stadium and carried into the clubhouse later.

The Stormers had a tough night at the plate against six Hagerstown pitchers.  There were opportunities.  In both the first and fifth innings, Damon Dues and Gaige Howard reached base, but nothing further developed.  Lancaster also had runners at first and second with one out in the sixth without producing a run.

Lancaster’s only tallies came in the fourth when Jack Conley ripped a two-out double into the left field corner, scoring Mason Martin and Joe Stewart for a 2-1 lead.

Hagerstown struck back in the fifth.  With two outs, Demetrius Moorer reached base when Max Green made a wide throw to first on a topper to the left side of the mound.  Moorer stole second, despite Green’s move to first.  Osmy Gregorio picked up a walk, and Cito Culver rapped a ground single through the right side to tie the game.

The eventual winning run scored off Michael McAvene (0-1) in the sixth.  The right-hander walked both Nellie Rodrigez and Blake Berry to start the inning.  He fanned Ozzie Abreu and Dariel Gomez, but Tyler Hill lined a 1-2 offering into left center to score Rodriguez.

After Carlos Gomez got out of the jam in the bottom of the sixth, Lancaster did not produce a baserunner in the final three innings.

Rafael Kelly (3-4) notched the win while Aneudy Cortorreal picked up his sixth save.

Lancaster will send right-hander Matt Swarmer (5-4) to the hill on Friday evening against the Staten Island FerryHawks.  Nate Roe (1-1) will counter.  Fans may tune into FloBaseball beginning at 6:40.

NOTES:  This marks the first time in club history that the Stormers have gone to the playoffs three straight years…The Stormers are 119-67 in the second half the last three years after going a combined 85-107 in the first half…All three of Hagerstown’s wins in the season series came in series finales…Lancaster’s pitchers combined to strike out 15 in the game.