"Cardiac Fish" Do It Again

COLUMBIA SC - Every great team needs a comeback to cap off their resume. And the Columbia Blowfish (10-11, 22-27) might be in the midst of one of the most exciting comebacks in CPL history.

After starting off the second half on an 8 game losing skid, the Blowfish have clawed to within just a half-game of the final wild card spot, assuming current division leaders hold, by winning 10 of their last 13. The Blowfish extended that streak and picked up their fifth straight win by defeating the Wilmington Sharks (7-11, 21-25) 5-4 on a walk off infield single by Matt Williams (Liberty) that plated the tying and winning run with two outs in the ninth. Reliever Stew Brase (Charleston Southern, 5-4) picked up the win after pitching a scoreless top of the ninth to save starter John Long (East Tennessee State) from picking up his third loss of the season, although he pitched well in this one.

With the score tied at one heading into the bottom of the fourth, it looked as if the Blowfish might break this one open. Branfy Arias (Tusculum) hit a one out single, then stole second for his league-leading 34th stolen base of the season. He advanced to third courtesy of a passed ball charged to catcher Brian Paulhus (Francis Marion), one of his two passed balls on the game. Taylor Black (Kentucky) then walked and also stole second for his 19th stolen base in just his 18th game this season. Arias came around to score on a wild pitch by Sharks starter Atlee Pearson (Erskine), one of three wild pitches that Pearson threw on the night. Black also advanced ninety feet on the play, and scored on a seperate wild pitch to put his team ahead 3-0, but Columbia left a man on third in the inning.

But after that point, the Blowfish were stymied and Wilmington began to find their stroke. The Sharks finally broke through in the seventh inning and in a big way. Long allowed  consecutive one out singles before getting a fly ball for out number two that looked like it might end the inning. But, Conor Szczerba (Mercer) came around to score on a double by lead off hitter Aaron Hill (UNC-Wilmington) to chase Long. Thomas Little (South Carolina) came on to relieve Long, but allowed a bases clearing double that put Wilmington ahead 4-3 in what looked like it might be the game's final score.

But in the bottom of the ninth, the Blowfish seemed to cue the dramatic finish almost as if it was scripted. Greene launched a lead off double down the left field line on the first pitch he saw, and was subsequently replaced by pinch runner Max McEleny (San Diego), who represented the tying run. A perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Shawn Glover (Erskine) moved McEleny to third with one out and drew the infield in for the speedy Demontez Jones (Georgia Southern). But all Jones was able to do was hit a chopper back to the pitcher Patrick Mincey (Francis Marion, 1-4), and it looked like the Sharks might escape with a victory. Nick Orvin (Citadel) drew a full count walk as the crowd held its breath, and that brought Williams to the plate.

Williams had gone 1-3 to that point, but was thrown out trying to score in the fifth. He looked at the first pitch high and outside for a ball as Orvin swiped second base without so much as a throw from Fish for his 26th stolen base of the summer. With the infield back, Williams found a pitch to hit in a two ball two strike count. He drove a ground ball up the middle, directly over the pitchers mound, but it looked like second baseman Gregg Fujii (Virginia Commonwealth) was going to make a spectacular diving play to save a run, and perhaps the game, when he got a glove on it behind second in the outfield grass. But Orvin was running on contact with two outs, and never hesitated around third base as he raced safely across the plate to give his team the heart-stopping 5-4 victory.

"We're the comeback kids, the Cardiac Fish," Coach Gronkiewicz said in his post-game interview. "The team has a bit of a swagger about themselves right now. They believe that everytime they step out onto the field, they are going to win the game. Sometimes they are waiting for things to happen as opposed to going out and making things happen, but they're playing well."

The team may have been waiting for things to happen because of an exhausting roadtrip the day before. The team travelled to Morehead City to take on the division-leading Marlins Saturday night and did not return to Columbia until about 5:00 AM Sunday morning. When asked if it affect the team, Coach Gronkiewicz said,

"Everytime. Absolutely. These guys are tired."

NOTES: Columbia has now won 10 of their last 13 games... When asked if it felt really good to be the hero on the night, Williams simply responded, "Kinda."... Wilmington combined for 3 wild pitches and 4 passed balls. "Things are starting to finally bounce our way." Coach Gronkiewicz said... Columbia is off tomorrow before returning to the Cap Tuesday to play Fayetteville at 7:05. It will be Family Night in Columbia, meaning 2 hotdogs and 2 sodas will be just 5 dollars. All college students will be admitted free with student ID.