NALB 2007 World Championship Series - Game 6

K. Fields
2008-11-15T19:07:22-05:00
Baseball

The World Championship was within reach for the Knights as the series returned to Brooklyn for game 6. The Knights were up three games to two and needed just one more win for the title. In their way was Wally Pemberton and the powerful bats of the Stade Maples. Brooklyn’s starter was Dave Hambright, eager to avenge his loss in game 2.

Things started poorly for the Knights when Hambright hit Mark Huff with a pitch inside. The next batter, Travis Araoz, made them pay when he smacked a 2-run home run. Roberto Rentería followed with a triple and scored on a Shayne Kimpel single. The Maples were up 3-0 after the first inning. Ted Rambo and Topper Blefary added hits in the third inning and the score was 4-0. Hambright lacked his usual control and did not look sharp. Brooklyn couldn’t pull him too early, however. The Knights had a tired bullpen after game 5 which lasted 16 innings and 4½ hours. Ted Pollet sparked some life into the Knights with a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning. The jubilation didn’t last long. Travis “the Beast” Araoz quieted the Brooklyn crowd in the fourth when he hit his second 2-run homer of the game. Balls were sailing out of the park a little easier with the wind blowing out to left field. In the seventh inning, Michael Duhon took advantage by hitting a home run to left and closing the gap a bit for the Knights. Heading into the eighth inning, the Maples clung to a 6-2 lead. Topper Blefary came through with a magnificent at bat against Brooklyn’s Erik Boyle. He drew a base on balls after fouling off nine pitches. Stade’s power was on display once again as Ariel Cadore nailed a 2-run shot to right-center field. The game appeared to be all but over with the score at 8-2. However, the Knights stormed back with five hits and three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Rentería provided an extra cushion in the ninth with a leadoff double. He later reached home plate and padded the score to 9-5. That is how the game would end. For the first time in the eight year history of North American League Baseball, there will be a game 7 to decide the World Championship.

Final score: Stade 9, Brooklyn 5