NALB 2006 World Championship Series - Game 4

K. Fields
2007-10-25T18:47:50-04:00
Baseball

Game 4 had a lot riding on it. The Knights needed a win to even the Series while the Maples hoped to extend their lead to a commanding 3-1 margin. Brooklyn had Fred Millard (19-4) on the mound. Millard is a seasoned veteran and the winningest pitcher in NALB history. Opposing Millard was Stade's Luis Hesterfer (9-12). Hesterfer was acquired earlier in the season from the St. James Crusaders. He struggled for the Maples with a 3-7 record after the trade.

Topper Blefary got the Maples on the board first with a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. The Knights came right back in the third with a few hits and took the lead, 2-1. Yale Burns added to Brooklyn's lead in the fourth with a solo homer of his own. In the sixth inning, Jeromy Bezanson hit a sacrifice fly to score Burns from third. The Knights extended to a 4-1 lead. Brooklyn neglected to pinch hit for Millard in the sixth, a decision it would later regret. Millard started the bottom half of the inning by walking the first two batters. After Travis Araoz doubled and two more runs had scored, Sam Faust came on in relief. Faust was unable to get Blefary out and gave up a game-tying double over the center-fielder's head. With Erik Boyle on to pitch the eighth inning, the Maples scored the go ahead run of the game. Jimmy Gomez hit a leadoff single and Ted Rambo singled home the run after a wild pitch. In the ninth inning, closer Floyd Minoso retired the side in order to lock down Stade's third win of the Series.

Final score: Stade 5, Brooklyn 4