The Calgary Vipers scored four times in the first inning and it proved to be enough in their 6-3 victory to sweep the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. Four consecutive hits in the bottom of the first inning led to three runs and put the Vipers in the lead for good. The bullpen combination of Ryan Olson and Evan Greusel was outstanding as they combined for three and a third innings and gave up only one hit while striking out four.
The Vipers picked up the scoring right away in the bottom of the first with a leadoff single from Darryl Brinkley and a RBI double off the bat of Drew Miller. Carlos Duncan followed by crushing his 13th homerun of the year over the left field wall. Jason Colson made it four straight hits with a double and Jorge Tang closed out the inning with a RBI triple as the team hit for the cycle in taking a 4-0 lead.
Fargo-Moorhead made it a one run ballgame in the fourth inning with three runs. Tydus Meadows leadoff the inning smacking his 16th homerun of the year for the team's first run. Richard Austin singled, Ruben Salazar walked and after they stole third and second base, Adam Shorsher knocked in a run with a groundout and Kory Wayment brought in another with a bunt single to make the score 4-3.
In the top of the sixth inning Salazar and Billy Munoz led off with singles to start a threat to tie the game. Shorsher followed by botching a bunt and popping out and Wayment moved the runners to second and third with a groundout. Olson came into the game and got Dan Maycock to groundout to end the inning with the go ahead run in scoring position.
Nelson Castro leadoff the bottom of the inning with his league high 33rd double of the season. Castro moved up to third on a balk and scored on a Shaun Ashman RBI single. The Vipers loaded the bases after walks to Manabu Kuramochi and Miller but Doug Young came into the game and got Duncan to groundout to end the inning.
A run was added in the seventh by the Snakes after a leadoff double by Colson just fair down the left field line. Kyle Nichols followed with a come backer to the mound that had Colson tied up between third and second base but Young made a bad throw to second and Colson advanced to third on the error. Castro followed with his 34th double to score the run and make the lead three at 6-3. Tang was intentionally walked to load the bases and Adam Rowe came in with no outs and struck out Ashman and got Kuramochi to hit into an inning ending 5-2-3 double play.
Olson did a fabulous job in keeping the RedHawks at bay as he threw two innings and gave up only one hit while also striking out one.
Greusel came in and was lights out getting the final out of the eighth inning and then striking out the side in the ninth for his second save of the season.
With the great shutdown job turned in by the bullpen, Kazu Minami became the Vipers first ever ten game winner. Minami went five and two thirds and gave up three runs.
Calgary now heads to Winnipeg for a five game series against the Goldeyes starting Friday August 24th and Saturday August 25th at 6:00 PM (MDT). Sunday August 26th the two teams play at 12:30 PM (MDT) and the series wraps up Monday August 27th and Tuesday August 28th at 6:00 PM (MDT). Fans can watch Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday's games on Calgary's SHAW-TV Channel 10. All games can also be heard live online at
am770chqr.com. The Vipers return home Wednesday August 29th, Thursday August 30th, and Friday August 31st all at 7:05 PM (MDT) against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. The five game series will continue on Saturday September 1st at 5:05 PM (MDT) and Sunday September 2nd at 1:35 PM (MDT) to close out the 2007 regular season. Tickets can be ordered by calling 277-BALL (2255).
The Vipers are already selling playoff tickets. The Northern League North Division Final opens in Calgary on Tuesday, September 4 and Wednesday, September 5. And the Vipers are also offering free parking for the Labour Day Classic between the Stampeders and Eskimos for any football fan who buys a Vipers playoff ticket.
