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Team NewsDate: Aug 08, 2009 Handley Heroics: Mitch Masters Lunkers in Farewell Performance
It was certainly a summer to remember for Mitch Handley (North Alabama). The right-hander made one last bid for League Pitcher of the Year with another brilliant performance, this time a complete game shutout in Brainerd. With two out in the seventh, Tim Roberson (FGCU) broke up Gedman's no-hit bid with a double to right field. Gedman would work out of the jam and also get through the eight without another hit given up. Handley meanwhile continued to hit his spots, working around three Beetle errors to keep the Lunkers off the scoreboard. After just over an hour and a half, the ballgame entered the ninth inning in a scoreless tie. Lead-off hitter Mike O'Neill (USC) picked up the second Beetles' hit on the night with a leadoff sinlge to right field. After a Castillo strikeout, Mikel Alvarez (FGCU) singled to center field. Roberson then drilled his second double of the night, plating a pair of runs and knocking Gedman from the ballgame. Brainerd Field Manager Ryan Levondoski and shortstop Stephen Wickens (FGCU) were ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the ninth inning. A throwing error would bring in two more Beetle runs, sending Handley to the mound in the home half of the ninth with a 5-0 lead. Handley then racked up his fifth strikeout as part of a perfect ninth inning, en route to his third complete game win of the season. Handley finishes his Beetles career with a franchise record 85.2 innings pitched, which also leads the league. Handley also falls one-hundreth of a run shy of breaking the Beetle's single-season ERA record. The win moves the Beetles into a second-place tie with St. Cloud, now with an overall record of 37-28. Alexandria wraps up their 2009 home schedule with a 3:05 PM start from Knute Nelson Park on Sunday against the River Bats. Nick Brown (Iowa) is set to go for the Beetles. Click here to go back to news articles |
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