Tension was thick as two fiery Papa John's alumni battled to extra innings on a hot night in Veto League Baseball, Wednesday.
While Jeff Kilgard still tosses the dough and lays down only the finest ingredients, Scott Ellefritz has traded in the apron for a calculator. The blood still boils when the two pizza artists meet on the diamond.
Kilgard's SNK Crushers (3-7) have been slow to deliver this season and remain in the basement after a 15-14 10th-inning loss to the River Bandits (7-3). The River Bandits now sit alone atop the Saukie Division one game ahead of the Meteors with two games to play.
The regular season has reached the final stretch. Six pivotal "flip" games are all the separates the VLB from the post season. Only the Eskimos have been eliminated from playoff contention.
River Bandits 15, SNK Crushers 14 (10)
Mounting and early 4-2 lead after four innings, Kilgard's crushers were making a lot out of a little. Three SNK players, Alex Leutzinger, Jim Wince, and Andy Moeller did the bulk of the offensive damage on the visitor’s side with four hits each. Chris Polton made due with a 2-for-7 day by driving in three runs on two doubles.
After the River Bandits took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth, the Crushers rallied for 7 runs in the top of the sixth taking a 12-6 lead. They made it 14-8 after 7 1/2 innings, but the Bandits made a run for it.
"I may not be a Papa John's employee anymore, but I can still cut the cheese better than Jeff," Ellefritz didn't say. "Better hitter, better glove, Scott Ellefritz."
The River Bandits scored four runs in the eighth, and two in the ninth to complete the comeback sending the game into extra. The Bandits needed only one run in the tenth to do away with the Crushers.
Kilgard's crew is still in the playoff hunt, but must defeat the first-place Vandals on Saturday in a flip contest at Veterans Park.
While Jeff Kilgard still tosses the dough and lays down only the finest ingredients, Scott Ellefritz has traded in the apron for a calculator. The blood still boils when the two pizza artists meet on the diamond.
Kilgard's SNK Crushers (3-7) have been slow to deliver this season and remain in the basement after a 15-14 10th-inning loss to the River Bandits (7-3). The River Bandits now sit alone atop the Saukie Division one game ahead of the Meteors with two games to play.
The regular season has reached the final stretch. Six pivotal "flip" games are all the separates the VLB from the post season. Only the Eskimos have been eliminated from playoff contention.
River Bandits 15, SNK Crushers 14 (10)
Mounting and early 4-2 lead after four innings, Kilgard's crushers were making a lot out of a little. Three SNK players, Alex Leutzinger, Jim Wince, and Andy Moeller did the bulk of the offensive damage on the visitor’s side with four hits each. Chris Polton made due with a 2-for-7 day by driving in three runs on two doubles.
After the River Bandits took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth, the Crushers rallied for 7 runs in the top of the sixth taking a 12-6 lead. They made it 14-8 after 7 1/2 innings, but the Bandits made a run for it.
"I may not be a Papa John's employee anymore, but I can still cut the cheese better than Jeff," Ellefritz didn't say. "Better hitter, better glove, Scott Ellefritz."
The River Bandits scored four runs in the eighth, and two in the ninth to complete the comeback sending the game into extra. The Bandits needed only one run in the tenth to do away with the Crushers.
Kilgard's crew is still in the playoff hunt, but must defeat the first-place Vandals on Saturday in a flip contest at Veterans Park.
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