Oiler dominate Tradewater

Sunday, August 03, 2008

DAWSON SPRINGS – The Tradewater Pirates took the KIT League regular season pennant last week, but on Saturday night the team came up short in its effort to claim the post-season championship as well.

Down 1-0 in the best-of-three championship series with the third-seed Owensboro Oilers, Tradewater dropped the deciding game 11-1 at Riverside Park, bringing an end to one of the most successful seasons in Pirate history.

Starting pitcher Don Pugliese surrendered four runs on two home runs in the first inning, setting the tone in what would be difficult evening for Tradewater pitchers.

Pugliese recorded each of his first five outs by strikeout, but in between he allowed four runs.

Just three hitters into the game, Owensboro took a 3-0 lead on a Mykel Makorem no-doubt home run to right-centerfield. Two batters later, Oiler first baseman Tom Freeman left the yard on a solo shot putting Owensboro ahead 4-0.

Owensboro tacked another run on Pugliese in the third inning, and Tradewater finally broke up the shutout in its half of the fourth.

Nate Wright reached when he was hit by a pitch and then moved to second on a groundout to the pitcher. With two outs, second baseman Jason Cramer hit an RBI bloop single to centerfield cutting the lead to 5-1.

Pitcher Payne Spence relieved Pugliese in the top of the fourth inning and allowed just one baserunner in his first two innings of work.

Spence ran into some trouble, however, in the sixth inning when Owensboro tagged him for four runs.

The Oilers’ first five batters reached base to begin the rally. After one run scored on an errant throw to first by Spence, Makorem added an RBI single to left field. Two more runs scored on a bases-loaded walk and RBI grounder.

Tradewater’s Kevin Belk entered to end the inning, but struggled during the seventh inning. Belk allowed five runners to reach base and was charged with two runs.

As Owensboro continued to pour on the runs, Tradewater’s offense sputtered due to a dominating performance by Oiler starter Neil Holland.

The University of Louisville hurler worked five innings, striking out six Pirates and allowing just one run on two hits.

The Pirates had just as little success against the Owensboro bullpen.

Tradewater amounted just one baserunner over the final three innings.

Pirate pitchers Eric Faint and Jonathan Lee combined to shutdown the Oilers over the final couple innings, but in the end the pitching staff lacked the support to overcome a 10-run deficit.

Tradewater finishes the 2008 season 37-17, one victory shy of its all-time most winningest season.

That took place in 2006 when the Pirates recorded a club-record 38 wins.