Kings grab 1-0 series lead over Sheboygan
August 1, 2012
The Kenosha Kings are one win away from capturing their sixth straight Langsdorf League championship after defeating the Sheboygan A's 3-2 in 11 innings on Tuesday.
(Two Wisconsin State League teams, the Kenosha Kings and Sheboygan A’s, are battling for the Langsdorf Leauge of Southeastern Wisconsin championship. This is not part of the Wisconsin State League schedule or standings.)
The Kenosha Kings are one win away from capturing their sixth straight Langsdorf League championship.
Billy Johnson stole home with the bases loaded as the Kings defeated Sheboygan 3-2 in 11 innings in the opening game of the best-of-three Langsdorf series Tuesday at Simmons Field.
The Kings (37-10) can clinch the league crown with a victory at Sheboygan 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Wildwood Park. A potential Game 3 is scheduled 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Simmons Field.
“Winning the first one is obviously the key,” Kings’ manager Tim Pulizzano said. “This put us in the driver’s seat. Worst case scenario we come back home.”
With the game knotted 2-2 in the 11th inning, Johnson reached on an error by the shortstop and Jason Dennis reached on a sacrifice bunt and fielding error.
Johnson stole third to put runners at first and third with no outs. After Mark Cibrario intentionally walked to load the bases, Pulizzano put on the suicide squeeze with John Hasser at the plate.
Sheboygan pitcher Brandon Winfield’s offering bounced low and outside and got away from the catcher allowing Johnson to score easily and end the game.
“We sold out for this game,” Pulizzano said. “We had our best pitchers throwing and we executed in the late part of the game and they didn’t.”Kings’ reliever Jon Snelton (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of starter Randy Johnson. Randy Johnson went nine innings and allowed six hits and two earned runs with one walk and 12 strikeouts.
“Randy painted the corners all game and pounded the strike zone,” Pulizzano said. “I don’t know what else to say. Randy was Randy.”
The Kings took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a RBI single from Kyle Frye and built a 2-1 lead in the fourth on a RBI single by Andrew Highland. Sheboygan tied it with a solo run in the eighth inning.
JT Schneider, Frye and Highland each had two hits.
Travis Vanderwall (6-1) will make his seventh start of the season for the Kings on Thursday.
Story by: The Kenosha News
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