Steve Berg shut down Parma with a complete-game performance, earning MVP honors and leading Santa Rosa to a 3-1 victory in a key Gray Division game at the Capitol Classic on Friday.
Both teams came into the game undefeated, but Santa Rosa (4-0) now controls its own destiny with two games remaining in division play. If it defeats Cherry Creek today and Austin on Sunday, it will advance to Sunday night's championship game. Parma (3-1) needs Santa Rosa to lose its final two games to have a chance at the division title.
Berg threw all seven innings, walking one and allowing only four hits. Chris Bacigalupi led the way offensively for Santa Rosa, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Kesler Craig, Jared Wilburn and Brian Hanson picked up Santa Rosa's other three hits.
Parma starter Brian Karpel pitched a strong game in his own right, going 6 innings. The game was tied 1-1 entering the seventh, but Santa Rosa finally broke through against Karpel to score the go-ahead run.
Wilson James, Jason Newcomb, Nick Colagiovanni and Greg Wisniewski picked up Parma's four hits.
Parma faces Carmel at 10 a.m. today.
Austin 6, Cherry Creek 5
The Slam (3-1) withstood a late Cherry Creek (1-3) rally to pull out the victory and stay in the race for the Gray Division's championship berth.
Game MVP Chris Lewis was 2-for-3 with a double, home run and an RBI to lead Austin, which scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-2 lead. Cherry Creek battled back with three in the bottom of the inning, but Slam reliever Shannon Keeney came on to shut the door on the rally.
Landon Kelso and Brian Tompkins both had two hits apiece to lead a 10-hit Austin attack. The Slam also rang up four homers, getting bombs from Kelso, Tompkins, Lewis and Joel Niemie. Clint Mokry picked up the win for Austin.
Matt Bransfield was 3-for-3 for Cherry Creek, and Tim Miller chipped in two RBIs.
The Slam face Boise at 11 a.m. today, while Cherry Creek will battle first-place Santa Rosa at 2 p.m.
Austin is still in the hunt because Santa Rosa beat Parma on Friday in the battle of the division's two remaining undefeated teams. If the Slam can win their final two games, they're guaranteed at least a tie for the division and will go to a tiebreak. If Santa Rosa loses its final two games, Austin could get in outright.
Red Division
Woodward 13, Honolulu 1
The Travelers (3-1) kept their division title hopes alive with a five-inning victory over the All-Hawaii Select Stars (0-4).
Beau Sullivan earned MVP honors, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and a whopping 6 RBIs. Ryan Kaney, who also started the game and went three innings on the mound, was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Tanner Dewald was 1-for-3 with four RBIs.
Woodward used four different pitchers, but as a unit it limited Honolulu to only four hits and eight total baserunners.
Chad Moriyama, Milton Grado and Brandon Sato all had hits for Honolulu.
Woodward is tied with Danville, which lost to Carson 4-1 on Friday night, for second place in the standings. The Travelers face Carson at 8 p.m. today, and they need to win to stay in the championship hunt. They also have to face Danville on Sunday afternoon, so their road is the toughest of the three teams still in the race.
Honolulu faces Ogden at 5 p.m. today. Both teams are winless.
St. Louis 14, Ogden 4
The Eagles (1-3) picked up their first victory of the Classic by scoring at least two runs in every inning and routing the Outlaws (0-4).
St. Louis scored six runs in the first inning, two in the second and three in their final two at bats, putting the game away early. David Jovaag picked up the victory, going four innings and keeping Ogden at bay.
St. Louis infielder Pat Condren was 3-for-3 with an RBI to earn MVP honors. Dan Chik was 1-for-2 with a double and three RBIs, while Scott Borcherding added a three-run homer. Kevin Wilke also had two RBIs for the Eagles.
Justin Abbott led the Ogden hitters, going 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Josh Barrett also had two hits for the Outlaws.
St. Louis faces Danville at 1 p.m. today, and Ogden draws Honolulu at 5 p.m.
