Valley Dodgers Fall Apart in Series Opener

WICHITA, Kan. —  To a man, the Valley Dodgers agreed about their performance Friday night in an opening-round game of the National Baseball Congress World Series.

“It’s the worst game I’ve seen this team play this year,” left fielder Ted Higgins said. “It wasn’t pretty at all.”

Sloppy defense, terrible baserunning and a lack of hitting added up to a 6-2 loss to the Hartselle (Ala.) Expos, who tied for seventh in last year’s World Series.

The Dodgers drop into the elimination bracket and will play today at 12:30 p.m. (PDT) against the Greensboro (N.C.) Brewers, who dropped their first-round contest to Mobile, Ala., 5-4, Thursday.

The double-elimination tournament, which includes 33 teams, runs through Aug. 15.

Hartselle right-hander Terry Bradford, one of the standout pitchers in last year’s tournament, limited the Dodgers to eight hits, walking three and striking out five. He also benefitted from the Dodgers’ often-damaging baserunning.

Trailing, 2-0, the Dodgers made some noise in the top of the fourth when Ray Palagyi led off with a double, advanced to third on Lorenzo Lesky’s single and scored on a double by catcher Scott McIntyre.

Lesky probably should have scored, too, but he got a late jump off second and had to stop at third. Still, runners at second and third with no outs seemed promising.

However, Glenn Stevenson popped out, Corey Aurand grounded to Hartselle third baseman Mike Brenner, who threw out Lesky at the plate, and Jeff Light flied out to end the inning.

Hartselle scored two more runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead.

But the Dodgers had--and blew--some more chances.

Light singled to lead off the seventh. Higgins grounded to Hartselle first baseman Pete Rodi, who threw the ball into left field trying to force Light at second.

Light tried to go to third, but was thrown out. He complained that he had been interfered with by shortstop Mike Peter as he rounded second, but the call stood.

After Mark Gieseke grounded out, first baseman Al Kolesar singled to drive home Higgins, making it 4-2.

The Dodgers had another opportunity in the eighth, but a blunder on the basepaths again ended the threat.

With pinch-runner Nate Palmer at second and two out, Aurand walked. Palmer, thinking a runner also was at first, took off for third, realizing his mistake too late. He was tagged out.

Hartselle scored two more runs in the eighth to put the game away.

“That was a nightmare,” said Valley Coach Mark Morton, who watched his team make four fielding errors in addition to the numerous mental mistakes. “I’ve never seen this team play a game like that this year. I don’t know if it was World Series jitters or what.”

Higgins pointed out that the team spent most of Thursday night flying to Wichita, arriving in town at 7 a.m. Friday. But he realized there really was no excuse for Friday’s performance.

“This is just one we’ve got to forget right now,” he said. “We didn’t play our game at all tonight. The people in the stands were ragging on us quite a bit. I could hear them.”

Left-hander Fili Martinez took the loss. The Cal State Northridge pitcher allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 innings.