Deltas sweep Pirates; playoffs start Friday
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| Kyle Hall went 4-for-9 at the plate last weekend for the Deltas, scoring 4 runs. He also struck out 5 batters in 2 innings, finishing Sunday’s game on the mound. |
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| Ryan Fleischmann pitched 7 solid innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits in the Deltas’ win on Sunday. |
by Stephen Blue
After winning 6 of their last 8 league games, the Deltaville Deltas are right in the middle of contention for a league title. Deltaville swept a 2-game series with the Peninsula Pirates last weekend, setting them up for a potential 2nd-seed berth in this weekend’s Southern Virginia Adult Baseball League (SVABL) Tournament.
At press time, the Deltas (10-8) sit a half-game back of the 2nd-place Peninsula Cardinals (11-8). On Wednesday, July 28, the Deltas completed a suspended game with the Cardinals from earlier in the season, and made up a previously rained-out game with the Gloucester Astros (scores not available at press time).
With wins over the Cardinals and Astros, Deltaville would finish as the #2 seed in tournament play, and would likely host their first playoff game on Saturday night in Deltaville. If the Deltas lose either game, they will finish in 3rd place, and play on Friday night.
Scores from Wednesday’s games, as well as the playoff seeding, will be on the Deltas website by Thursday night. Visit http://www.DeltavilleDeltas.com, or check their Facebook feed at facebook.com/DeltavilleDeltas to check for the latest updates.
Kenny Belgrave blasted a 3-run home run, and Luke Saunders had a 4-hit night to lead the Deltas past the Peninsula Pirates, 10-9 last Friday night at Deltaville Ballpark.
The Deltas offense romped the entire night in support of starting pitcher Keith Parr, who picked up his first pitching victory of the year. Parr pitched into the 7th inning, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on just 3 hits.
Belgrave put the Deltas on the scoreboard in the 2nd inning, driving a hanging changeup over the left-field wall.
After the Pirates cut the lead to 3-1, the Deltas responded with runs in the bottom of the 3rd and 4th innings to take a 5-1 advantage. Saunders added 2 more runs in the 5th inning, knocking in Mike Cheatham with an RBI double, and then scoring on a single by Jason Dodson.
A critical defensive error led to an extended 5-run Pirates rally in the top of the 7th; however, the Deltas maintained a 7-6 lead.
Deltaville tallied 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th to pad their lead. Saunders again had his hand in the scoring. Kyle Hall tripled to score Jimmy Denny, and Saunders plated him with a single. Parr helped his own cause, singling home Saunders.
The Deltas weathered another Pirate rally in the 9th. After scoring twice to get within a run of the Deltas, the Pirates stroked a double to right field. As the tying run attempted to score, Belgrave hurled the ball into Cheatham, who relayed the ball to the plate, where Dodson tagged the runner out.
Saunders led the Deltas offense, going 4-for-5 with a double and 3 singles, while Belgrave homered and singled. Three other Deltas had multi-hit games—Jimmy Denny doubled twice, Hall tripled and singled, and Cheatham singled twice. Parr doubled, and Ryan Wiggins and Dodson each singled.
A pair of big offensive innings and a fantastic pitching performance from Ryan Fleischmann were the keys for the Deltas on Sunday, as they completed the weekend sweep in Williamsburg.
The Deltas offense made life worry-free for Fleischmann. Leading off the top of the 1st inning, 8 consecutive batters reached base on 7 hits and an error as Deltaville took a 6-0 lead. However, the Pirates changed pitchers, bringing in former minor-leaguer Ian Heisel, who would hold the Deltas in check for the next 6 innings.
Fleischmann didn’t need any more run support, however. The righthander allowed just 2 runs while scattering 7 hits over 7 innings of work, and improved to 3-2 on the mound this season. He issued no walks and struck out 3.
Kyle Hall came on in relief for the Deltas to finish the game. He struck out 5 batters in 2 innings, while allowing a walk, a hit and a run.
Jimmy Denny led the Deltas’ offense with a 3-single night, while Keith Parr, Jason Dodson and Hall each had 2-hit performances. Jay Moore and Mike Cheatham added a single apiece.