Hollacher 13th inning single spoils Storm comeback, Carnies win 3-2

Game 6 (2 vs 7)
Bertrand Island Carnies @ Stoughton Storm

For the third time in the series, the Bertrand Island Carnies and Stoughton Storm need extra frames to declare a winner.  Game 1 required 10 innings, Game 4 required 12, and tonight's game 6 lasted 13.  We're not sure the hearts of the Carnie and Storm faithful can handle much more of this.

Despite blowing a 2-run lead in the 7th, Carnie starter Curt Schilling had amazing stuff, striking out 9 in 6 2/3 innings.  Storm starter Roger Clemens was almost as good, striking out 7 over 8 innings.

The Carnies scored in the first, setup by an Orator Shaffer lead off triple.  Two innings later Shaffer struck again, singling home Ben Zobrist for a 2-0 Carnie lead.

Clemens settled down and cruised the rest of the way, keeping it close and affording his team a chance to comeback.  They did just that in the 7th, when Ken Caminiti led off with a single.  A walk and one out later Swish Nicholson doubled home two runs to tie the game at 2's.

From here the bullpen's took over and they were awesome.  Four Carnie relievers combined to 2-hit the Storm over the next six innings.

For their part, the Storm pen had an easy go of it until the 12th.  Back to back 1-out singles put runners at the corners for Johnny Mize.  The big first basemen tapped one back to the mound and Fred Carroll tried to score from first.  He was tagged out easily, spoiling a golden opportunity.

An inning later however, the Carnie's scored anyway, however improbably.  The Plodding DH Frank Thomas managed an infield single to lead off the inning, and advanced to second when George Gore grounded out softly to third for the first out.  This brought Charlie Hollacher to the plate, in the game after the starting second basemen Ben Zobrist was lifted for a pinch hitter.  Behind 1-2 in the count, Hollacher hit a soft liner to center, scoring Thomas and forcing Game 7.

Jason Schmidt will take the hill for the Carnies tomorro night.  He was very good in Game 3, going 8 strong innings, striking out 7 and giving up 5 hits and two runs.

The Storm counter will Bill Foster who started Games 1 and 3.  His results have been somewhat mixed.  The lefty has only given up 5 runs in almost 14 innings (3.29 ERA) but the Carnie's have managed 17 hits and 2 walks in the process (1.39 WHIP).

Starting Pitchers
Schilling - 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
Clemens - - 8.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K