Valley View draws even with Twilight in finals

Valley View topped Linglestown Twilight 2-1 Friday evening at Valley View Gun Club to knot the best-of-seven East Shore Twilight League championship series at a game apiece.

Twilight played a solid game, actually a great game considering they were on hostile soil – shotgun blasts rang out throughout the contest and the umpires seemed to give the hosts the benefit of the doubt on a regular basis.

The game was in large part decided by a couple key plays and Twilight:

– With the gamed tied at one apiece, Twilight loaded the bases to start the third inning, but a potential big rally was short-circuited when a rocket down the third base line off the bat of right fielder Shawn Berwager was snagged by Valley View’s third baseman and he then doubled up Brad Sanders who was at third base.

– The second key play was a two-base error given up by Twilight on a pickoff play at first in the third inning that led to Valley View’s game-winning second run.

Our friends at The Patriot-News have a game summary in today's sports page. The news article misidentifies Linglestown shortstop Sam Phillips as Shawn Phillps.

Twilight notes … Jim Miller pitched a solid game for Twilight, allowing two runs on nine hits and an error. … Giving credit where credit’s due, Valley View pitcher Nolan Shaffer, the team’s top hurler, was tough down the stretch, giving up no hits and striking out three during Twilight’s last two at-bats. … Catcher Bryan Stovall gunned down Valley View catcher Randy Dengler when he attempted to steal second base in the third. … Where’s Rhys? Rhys Wolford (played left field; 0-3 at bat) and BB (I was on the bench filling in as the team’s scorebook guy) went with the rally-hat look during the team’s last at-bat, but the move had no magic this time around. ... Game #3 will be played today at Koons Park, first pitch at 3 pm, free admission. As always, I'll be operating the electronic scoreboard. Please stop by and say hello between innings or after the game.