Long ball puts Twilight back on top in finals

Talk about no-questions-asked exciting baseball.

The situation: Game #3 of the East Shore Twilight League title series, game tied at two and lightning hot Linglestown first baseman Sean Frailey (pictured), who homered in the second inning, stepped into the batter’s box in the home half of the first extra inning with two outs and no one on base.

On the one ball, one strike offering from Valley View pitcher Mike Toomey, whaaaaack! Frailey sent a towering shot to the power alley in right field. Valley View right fielder Randy Dengler gave chase and appeared to have a shot at making the play, but no ... the darn thing stayed in the air and landed on the Koons Park basketball courts for a walk-off roundtripper, and just like that Linglestown grabbed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series for all the marbles. Holy cow!

“[Toomey] threw a slider up and down the middle, the same pitch I hit earlier,” said Frailey. “It just came right into my wheelhouse.”

Frailey, a staff accountant at Members 1st Federal Credit Union, has been on a big-time roll in the championship series, going an eye-popping five-for-seven with three homers and two singles. He attributed his hot streak to making a change to his stance to avoid stepping too wide into the ball. Others say his recent engagement to be married has sharpened his reflexes to a razor's edge. Whatever it is, here's hoping it continues for a few more days.

Lost in the hoopla of Frailey’s offensive fireworks was an outstanding 122-pitch effort by lefty Rhys Wolford, who was making his first start since rehabbing an injured shoulder. Brad Sanders relieved Wolford and picked up the win by pitching out of a jam in the seventh inning, and then retiring Valley View in order in the eighth and final inning.

Patriot-News sports writer Jeremy Elliott has more details on Linglestown's hard-fought victory.

Twilight notes ... Twilight coach Steve Econ made it into the scorebook by going in as a courtesy runner in the sixth inning. He made a head-first slide trying to avoid being forced out at second base. … Second baseman Nick Barbera displayed amazing speed and quickness by covering first base and just beating the runner to the bag on a grounder fielded by first baseman Frailey. … No need to do a “Where’s Rhys?” segment this time around. … Action returns to Koons Park on Tuesday for game #5 of the series, 5:45 pm first pitch. If you haven’t attended a game this season, what the heck are you waiting for? Come out Tuesday night to see two talented teams do battle for the league crown, FREE admission.