Brooklyn Eliminates Elk County in 200th Game
August 9, 2011 - Playing in their franchise's 200th national tournament game, the Bonnie Rams of Brooklyn staged a late comeback to eliminate Elk County. The Rams opened an early lead, but lost it in one inning. The teams then exchanged 5 runs in the eighth with the Bonnies coming out on top 7-6.
The Rams opened a 3-0 lead after 2 innings, but the Northern Tier Rookies rallied in the top of the fourth. Joe Chippesper doubled off the screen to score one runs, and Derek Danver singled in another. A bad pick off attempt allowed the tying run to score, and Nick Beamenderfer hit an RBI single to put the Rookies on top. Brooklyn answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning and the score remained tied until the 8th.
"I knew we had a chance to comeback and go ahead of these guys," said Elk County manager Rowley Cogan. "Derek pitched a heck of a game and kept us in the game the whole way. We don't usually go that deep with him, but he was getting the ground outs and the pop ups so we stayed with him. He pitched extremely well."
Both starting pitchers (Brooklyn's Lous Mastrandrea and Elk County's Derek Meyer) went deep in the game, throwing approximately 120 pitches each.
In the 8th, Ryan Uhl and Chippesper both singled to score runs as the Rookies built a 6-4 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Angel Pimentel led off with a single and advanced to second on a pass ball. Anderson Mateo walked, prompting a pitching change. New pitcher Derek Danver struckout Melvin Rios, but Stan Simmons singled up the middle to score Pimentel and Mateo. After another strike out, Joamy Dominguez singled off the screen to score Simmons and put Brooklyn on top for good.
Elk County's defense of their lead and comeback effort in the top of the ninth was hindered by a strong, steady rain that started just before the Rams took the lead. The rains lasted through the ninth inning, where Brooklyn induced three ground-out to end the game and survive another day.
As mentioned, the win comes on Brooklyn's 200th national tournament game.
"We've very aware of the history and the tradition [of the Brooklyn franchise] and we're really proud to carry it on," said manager Jerry Katzke.
The Brooklyn franchise is a charter member of the AAABA and competed in all but one year while qualifying for 55 of the 67 tournaments. Only four franchises have played in more tournament games: Baltimore (340), Washington (321), New Orleans (318), and Johnstown (252). Brooklyn is 96-104 overall in 54 tournaments. They have won the championship four times, most recently in 1994. Brooklyn is 2-0 against Elk County.
For the much younger Elk County franchise, the loss drops their overall record to 6-16 in 8 tournaments and eliminates them from this year's bracket. While the Rookies' stay was short in Johnstown, first-year AAABA coach Rowley Cogan and his team enjoyed their experience.
"Our kids had a great time," said Cogan. "I don't think they expected it to be this big of an opportunity for them, to come down and have all the interest in them and in baseball. I think they were a little taken back by that. They're not used to playing on a big stage."