There was a lot of talk around the American Association when the Salina Stockade were added to the league with just two weeks left before the season began that this team was going to be a doormat. However, after playing three very competitive games against the league runner-up last season, the Wichita Wingnuts, the Stockade battled against the league champs from last year before finally coming up short as the Winnipeg Goldeyes won 12-10. Wes Darvill led the Goldeyes offense by driving in four and scoring two more runs, plus he stole two bases in the victory.

Tim Blackmon and Zach Dodson started the game, but neither hurler would play a part in the final decision. Both starters kept this a scoreless affair through the first but, in the second, the Stockade would grab the lead.

With one down, Brad Cuyos hit a ground ball that Casio Grider made a great play to stop at second. Cuyos beat the throw to first, but the throw was off the mark, allowing the runner to reach second on the error. Aaron Olivas followed by drawing a walk and Jesse Baker hit a sharp single to left to load the bases. With CJ Epperson at the plate, Dodson uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Cuyos to score, and the other two runners came home when Epperson lined a double down the left field line. That gave Salina the early 3-0 lead.

The Goldeyes responded right away in the bottom half of the inning. Andrew Sohn walked to start the frame and moved to second on a ground out. Darvill followed with a single to score Sohn. He then stole second and moved to third on a ground out. It looked like the inning would end with no further damage when David Rohm grounded to third, but the throw to first was off the mark, allowing Darvill to score on the error and it was 3-2.

In the fourth, Winnipeg tied the score. Grider laid down a perfect bunt that he beat out for a single to start the frame, and he moved to second when the throw by Blackmon went for an error. Rohm followed with a base hit that brought home Grider and the score was 3-3.

In the top of the fifth, the Stockade retook the lead. Epperson doubled to start the inning and Roche Woodard followed with a single that put runners at the corners with no one out. With Jimmy Heck at the plate, Dodson caught Woodard leaning, putting him in a run down. Shawn Pleffner alertly chased Woodard toward second, while ensuring that Epperson could not break for the plate. He would throw to the shortstop, who chased down Woodard and applied the tag, but Epperson seized the opportunity and stole home to make it 4-3. The lead would not last long, however.

Reggie Abercrombie was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the inning and that would be it for Blackmon. Connor Bach took over and the Goldeyes responded right away. Abercrombie stole second and moved to third on a base hit by Pleffner. Sohn then drew a walk that loaded the bases and there was no one out. A single by Alixon Suarez moved everyone up 90-feet and tied the score, and two batters later Grider drew a walk to give Winnipeg their first lead of the game. Bach would get out of the inning without any further damage, but this game was about to get wild.

In the top of the sixth, Salina tied the score again. Olivas doubled with one out and scored on a base hit by Jesse Baker. The Goldeyes came back with three in the bottom half of the inning. Abercrombie singled with one out and moved to second on a walk to Pleffner. Two batters later Suarez singled home Abercrombie, and the two runners came home on a triple by Darvill to make it 8-5.

It looked like the Winnipeg Goldeyes were starting to take command of this contest, but the Salina Stockade came right back in the top of the seventh to retake the lead. Back-to-back doubles by Jimmy Heck and Daniel Aldrich started the inning and made this a two-run game. A walk to Joey Miller put two on and an error loaded the bases with two down. The Stockade needed a big clutch hit, but it was the second Goldeyes of the inning that would be the key. A two-base error on a ball hit by Baker allowed all three runners to score and it was Salina that was back on top, 9-8.

In true Goldeyes fashion, they retook the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning. Rohm doubled to start the frame and scored on a double by David Bergin. Pleffner’s two out single scored Bergin and it was 10-9 Winnipeg.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Goldeyes extended their lead to three. Back-to-back doubles by Suarez and Darvill started the inning, and Darvill scored on a sacrifice fly by Rohm to make it 12-9.

In the ninth, the Stockade looked to rally once again. To begin the inning, Jordan Caillouet drilled his first homer of the season to make it 12-10. Olivas singled with one out and Epperson’s two-out single put the tying run at first. However, Ryan Chaffee struck out Woodard to end the game, and the Winnipeg Goldeyes were the winners.

Joeanthony Rivera (1-0) earned the victory. Ryan Chaffee earned his third save of the season. Wes Darvill went 3-5 with 2-runs scored, 4-RBI, a triple and a double. Alixon Suarez was 3-4 with 2-runs and 2-RBI. For the Salina Stockade, Jimmy Heck went 3-5 with a run scored, and CJ Epperson was 3-5 with a run and 2-RBI.

Game 2 of this three-game series is tomorrow. First pitch is 12:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier