by Thommy Brolin
Sundbyberg evens the swedish Championship Series after beating Karlskoga 5 – 4 in a very tight and exciting contest.
Sundbyberg had in earlier games against Karlskoga this season a tendency to give up runs early, and then being forced to chase a most often unreachable target, but in this game the reigning champions got off to a flying start. Karlskoga managed a double in top of the first inning, but Sundbybergs pitcher Nick SOUBIEA put the other three batters out. In the bottom half of the frame Sundbyberg showed much potent bats than they did in Saturdays defeat.
With one out, centerfielder Will RIKARD hits a double, rightfielder Philip GAJZLER draws a walk, and first baseman Robert PORSKLINT loads the bases with a basehit. DH Oliver GAJZLER draws first blood as he scores Will RIKARD with a sacrifice fly to leftfield. Leftfielder Per LINDGREN lines a double down the leftfield corner that scores Philip GAJZLER, and catcher Peter ELFWING concludes the scoring with a sharp singel to third base, and Sundbyberg leads Karlskoga 3 – 0 after the first inning.
In the third inning Karlskoga mounts a strong comeback, and levels the game at 3 – 3 after singles from DH Ruben GARCIA, leftfielder Petter LUNDBERG, catcher Joe ROVIROSA (RBI), third baseman Stefan FAHLIN and first baseman Olle ÖIJEN (2 RBI). Sundbybergs answers the challange in the bottom of the inning when Robert PORSKLINT get a basehit, Oliver GAJZLER sacrifices him over to second, Per LINDGREN brings him to third with a basehit, and Peppe ELFWING gets a RBI with a groundout to second. ELFWINGSlf groundout looked like a sure basehit when Karlskoga second baseman Elias SÖLVELING snatches the ball behind second base, and standing on his knees manages to throw Peppe out at first bas. Had that ball reached the outfield Sundbyberg had scored another run.
Nick SOUBIEA in Sundbyberg and Kent KARLSSON in Karlskoga both pitched very efficiently, and put nothing but zeroes on the scoreboard through the seventh inning. In the top of the frame Karlskoga levels the game yet again when Stefan FAHLIN belts a double to deep right-centerfield. Sundbybergs defense, up to this point absolutely solid, serves the tying run to Karlskoga with errors from both Per LINDGREN and shortstop Eric MERCADO.
But in this game Sundbyberg answers every move Karlskoga makes. With two outs Sundbyberg Big Bats Will RIKARD and Philip Gajzler are due. Will belts a singel to leftfield that brings up Philip Gajzler. Will steals second base, and with a runner in scoring position Philip hits a massive double over the head of righfielder Adam Sowell, and Will Rikard can easily score what would turn out to be the winning run from second base.
Adam Sowell mounts a last threat with a double in the top of the ninth inning with one out, but Nick Soubiea induces ground balls from shortstop Shawn Vance and Stefan Fahlin that Sundbyberg second baseman Johan Jansson can turn into game ending ground outs, and Sundbyberg wins the game and ties the series.
Together with Nick Soubiea’s pitching and Philip GAJZLERS clutch hitting, Will RIKARD and Per LINDGREN with three hits each are the driving forces behind their team’s win today. Robert PORSKLINT and Peppe ELFWING both had two hits, and very good defense to boost. In the Karlskoga team we see Joe ROVIROSA and Stefan FAHLIN as the strongest with their bats with each two hits, while leftfielder Petter LUNDBERG and second baseman Elias SÖLVELING constanly frustrates the Sundbyberg hitters with impressive defensive plays.
The Championship Series continues next weekend with the deciding three games being played in Karlskoga. As the first two games indicates, we can look forward to a weekend of very exciting baseball.