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Scorpions' Game Recaps-May 2005
By Jim Howell 5/31/2005
May 31, 2005
Scorpions pull off amazing comeback! The Yuma Scorpions spot the Surprise Fightin' Falcons and 8-run lead, then come storming back to win in extra innings!
An 8-run lead. The Yuma Scorpions know better than any other baseball team just how much of a false sense of security that margin can provide a team. Last week, they watched their 8-run lead over the Mesa Miners evaporate in the span of a half-hour. Since that heartbreaking 11-9 loss in Mesa, the Scorps haven't lost. So when the Surprise Fightin' Falcons put an 8-0 lead up in the 3rd inning of Tuesday night's game at Desert Sun Stadium, there was no panic at all in the Scorpions' dugout. The climb back was slow. Gradual. But effective. Jason Dewey's 3rd inning RBI single started it. Then 2 more runs in the 5th. A solo homer by Alex Arias and 3 more runs in the 7th. A tying solo shot in the 8th by Matt Brunson. But the drama just wasn't enough for the Scorpions as they gave the lead right back to the Fightin' Falcons in the 9th as Falcons' pinch-hitter Richard Quihuis-Bell hit a 415-foot bomb over the centerfield wall to break the tie. No problem. A two-out Fightin' Falcons' error in the bottom of the 9th, followed by a stolen base and an RBI single by Javier Lopez sent it to extra innings, and four consecutive walks by Falcons' pitching in the 10th gave the Scorps' an incredible 10-9 win in 10 innings. The win gives the Scorpions sole possession of first place in the Arizona Division for the first time in their history!
The Scorpions and Fightin' Falcons finish off their exciting 3-game set Wednesday at 6:05PM. 8-year major league vet Rusty Meacham will try to help the Scorpions get a sweep as he squares off against the Fightin' Falcons' Steve Rain. It's also Weenie Wednesday-$1 hot dogs for the first part of the game (advice: get there early!). Get tickets by calling the Scorpions' ticket office at (928) 726-9149 or log onto www.yumascorpions.com and clicking on the 'Single Game Tickets' link.
May 30, 2005
OPENING DAY FAN FEST And what a fest it was! The Scorpions trail most of the game but come storming back in the 9th inning to knock off first-place Surprise, 8-7.
The Scorpions pulled out all the stops for Opening Day Fan Fest... on and off the field. A charity softball game that pitted Yuma area law enforcement against Yuma area fire and emergency personnel (tabbed "Guns n' Hoses"), a concert by the band 'Mogollon', a performance by the dog exhibition team "Fasttraxx", a flyover performance by the Black Sheep Squadron, and a parachute jump by none other than World Record Holder Jay Stokes and Scorpions' Manager Benny Castillo (his first, by the way)... and that was all BEFORE the actual game. After all of that whet the appetites of 4,867 newly crowned Scorpions' fans (a GBL attendance record, by the way), the actual baseball game began. No one knew quite what to expect, since these two teams had never seen each other (in preseason or otherwise), and the Scorpions had been a sort of "Jekyll and Hyde" team during their opening set in Mesa. For the third straight night, the Scorps got out of the gates first, scoring a run on a Matt Brunson walk and stolen base, Henry Calderon single, and Alex Arias RBI grounder. But from then on, the Fightin' Falcons led the way, scoring 2 in the 2nd, and 4 in the 5th to chase Scorpions' rookie starting pitcher Kevin Cheppenko. But this Scorpions' team has gotten used to late-inning heroics, and Monday night was no exception, putting 3 up in the 5th to come back to within one, plating 1 (on no hits) in the 8th to tie, and then when Surprise pushed one across in the top of the 9th to break the tie, the Scorpions fought it off again. A hard single by center fielder Javier Lopez off new Falcons' reliever Mike Shoaf, followed by a pinch hit double by Billy Malone put the tying and winning runs in scoring position. Two walks later, former World Series Champ Alex Arias stood at the plate with the score tied and the bases juiced. Arias-fresh off the disabled list-hit a high chopper to Fightin' Falcons' second baseman Kevin Brand who backed up on the ball, then threw high to home plate to try for the force on Malone. No dice. Malone beats the throw by an eyelash, and the Scorpions electrify the record crowd with the come-from-behind win. The W puts the Scorpions over the .500 mark for the first time in their history at 3-2, and ties them for first place in the Arizona Division.
The Scorpions and Fightin' Falcons square off in Game 2 of the 3-game set Tuesday at 6:05PM. Joe Davenport will try to shake off a rough Opening Night performance against Mesa as he goes to the hill for Yuma against Falcons' ace lefty Chris Russ. The first 1000 through the gates will receive a free Lady Scorpions' Dance Team Calendar-courtesy of State Farm Insurance. Get tickets by calling the Scorpions' ticket office at (928) 726-9149 or log onto www.yumascorpions.com and clicking on the 'Single Game Tickets' link.
May 29, 2005
Scorpions gain series split in Mesa
For the second straight night, the Yuma Scorpions come up with a big 8th inning to blow open a close game, and win their second straight game, 8-5!
Nothing like starting fast, and finishing strong. It took the Yuma Scorpions two extra days to get both sides of that equation correct. But now, they come home to Yuma for Monday's Opening Day Fan Fest after winning the last two games of their series in Mesa in impressive fashion. Sunday night, the Scorpions used two 4-run outbursts: one in the 1st inning to jump on Mesa Miners' starting pitcher Tim Kalita and build the lead; and then one in the 8th inning to break the game open after the Miners had tied it up. In the 1st, the Scorps strung together 5 straight hits-the highlight being a 2-run double by left fielder Billy Malone-to give Scorpions' starting pitcher Dustin Kupper a healthy cushion to pitch behind. But after the Miners chipped away at the lead in the middle innings-and finally tied it in the 6th to chase Kupper-the Scorpions exploded again in the 8th, scoring 4 times, thanks to doubles by Malone, pinch-hitter Larry Pittmon, 2nd Baseman Matt Brunson, and shortstop Henry Calderon. That was enough to let Scorpions' relievers Brian Hewitt and Daniel Griffin slam the door on the Miners and gain a split of the 4-game series.
The Scorpions put together a 12-hit attack, led by Calderon (2-4, double)and Malone (2-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI). And for the second straight night, the pitching was very strong, thanks to starter Kupper (5 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 K), and winning pitcher Jared Terrebonne (1 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K).
The Scorpions will now enjoy the friendly confines of Desert Sun Stadium for the next two weeks... starting off with Opening Day Fan Fest Monday. Rookie pitcher Kevin Cheppenko will get the start for Yuma against Surprise's James Beever, Jr. The gates open at 3PM with 'Guns n' Hoses'-a charity softball game pitting Yuma Area Law Enforcement with Yuma Area Fire and Emergency Personnel, a concert by the band "Mogollon", and a flyover performance by the Black Sheep Squadron, plus other surprises. Then the Scorps host the Surprise Fightin' Falcons, with first pitch set for 5:05PM. And after the game, a spectacular fireworks display. You can also get a reserved seat ticket, hot dog and soda for just $7. Get tickets by calling the Scorpions' ticket office at (928) 726-9149 or log onto www.yumascorpions.com and clicking on the 'Single Game Tickets' link.
May 28, 2005
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