Athletes In Action Fire baserunner Will Watson, right, crosses first base moments before Anchorage Bucs first baseman Tyler Spurlin makes the catch during Saturday afternoon's, July 31, 2010, game at Growden Memorial Park. Despite actually being safe, Watson was called out on the play, which resulted in the end of the inning with Fire baserunners stranded in scoring position. John Wagner/News-Miner
Athletes In Action Fire pitcher Matt Addis hustles to collect a slow-rolling bunt by the Anchorage Bucs during Saturday afternoon's, July 31, 2010, game at Growden Memorial Park. John Wagner/News-Miner
“Bases were loaded, and we had no outs,” Schoch said after the game. “I just wanted a ball I could hit to the outfield. I got one, and it felt great.”
AIA loaded the bases in the extra inning with three back-to-back singles from Watson, third baseman Colby Everett and right fielder Chuck DiBella.
Everett led the Fire from the plate, having a 3-for-5 night. He scored one run and finished with two RBI.
“I knew I had to get deep in my stance and hit hard,” Everett said. “We’ve got a good group of guys, and we’ve had big comeback games. We were confident and didn’t hesitate at all. We kept taking hacks and going at it hard.”
The Fire had a four-run eighth inning to tie the game at 5. The Bucs scored one run in the ninth, but Fire designated hitter Aaron Parnell had a big ninth inning for the Fire, tying the game and sending it into extra innings.
Parnell doubled to center field, scoring left fielder Keith DePew from first. DePew had reached base earlier in the inning on a fielder’s choice.
Fire pitcher Harrison Helms, who entered the game to relieve Matt Addis in the seventh, faced five batters in the 10th. He walked one batter and gave up a single to another, but was able to get out of the inning, holding the Bucs scoreless, with two men left stranded.
Fire second baseman Hank Price finished 3 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored.
The Fire collected 13 hits in the contest.
“The game was frustrating at times,” Fire starting pitcher David Hawes said, “but it was fun. There were times in the seventh when I wanted to throw something, I was so frustrated, but I’m thankful for the great guys in the field who battled back.”
Hawes pitched seven innings for the Fire, giving up three runs on nine hits.
He managed four strike outs and two walks.
Helms got the win, however, after he pitched 2 1/3 innings. He gave up two hits and one run.
Chris Schierhorn pitched 1/3 inning for the Bucs and recorded the loss after giving up three hits and the game-winning run.
With the win, the Fire finished the season at 15-30 ABL and 18-30 overall. The Bucs finished 17-27 ABL and 13-22 overall.
Contact staff writer Renee Thony at 459-7583.
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