ABCO remains in winner’s bracket

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Philadelphia pitcher Jeff White throws against Washington on Wednesday at Point Stadium. Philadelphia advances in the winner’s bracket and will face Altoona this afternoon as the final two unbeaten teams in this year’s AAABA Tournament. John Rucosky

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August 14, 2008

By ERIC KNOPSNYDER The Tribune-Democrat Thu Aug 14, 2008, 12:30 AM EDT

Philadelphia nearly earned a spot in AAABA Tournament history by going from turning a triple play one day to being the victim of one the next day.

Instead, the ABCO Phillies will have to settle for a spot in the winner’s bracket opposite Altoona.

Just two pitches after the Phillies nearly ran themselves out of a golden opportunity in the 11th on Wednesday, Jordan Fisher drove in the winning run in a 4-3 victory over Washington at Point Stadium.

“It was unbelievable,” Fisher said after he found the gap in right-center field. “You dream your whole life of playing games like this and being in a situation, bottom of the ninth, two outs. That’s every baseball player’s dream.”

Philadelphia nearly had a nightmare moments before Fisher’s at-bat. Brian Henry and David Angebrandt singled to put the winning run in scoring position. Manager Brian Kraus called on Chris Dolan to pinch hit against Michael Manfro.

After Dolan bunted foul twice, he swung at a ball in the dirt and took a few steps toward first. Angebrandt started toward second, only to realize that Mike Villari, who was pinch-running for Henry, was still on that bag. While Angebrandt was caught in a rundown, Villari broke for third. Angebrandt was quickly tagged out and Washington had a chance to get Villari at third, but the throw appeared to bounce off of him.

“That would have been about perfect,” said Kraus, whose team turned a 5-4-3 triple play in a victory over Brooklyn on Tuesday. “We turned a triple play (Tuesday) and they turn one on us (Wednesday). That would have been about right.”

Fisher’s third hit of the day made up for the base-running miscue.

“It’s teamwork,” he said. “When somebody makes a mistake, you pick them up. That’s how you win games.”

Strong pitching certainly helps, too, and Philadelphia has gotten plenty of that.

Starter Jeff White went nine innings on Wednesday, with his only blemish coming in the seventh inning, when Washington’s Daniel Lopez laced a bases-loaded triple to center field with two outs. White struck out five and walked one.

Matt Moceri pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the victory.

Philadelphia has allowed just four runs in 30 innings.

“I give most of the credit to our catcher,” Kraus said of Angebrandt, who also had two hits Wednesday. “He’s calling the right pitches in the right situations. We haven’t disagreed once. Maybe on a pitchout here or there, but that’s about it.”

Philadelphia, which got a run on Carlos Petrillo’s RBI double in the fifth, caught a break in the seventh.

Washington starter Jake Pruner got the first two outs before loading the bases for reliever Branden Bartlett, who walked Garrett Rugg to force in a run.

“We had a quick two outs and then our pitcher started having some back spasms and we ended up walking in a run,” Washington manager Eric Smith said.

Philadelphia tied it in the eighth, scoring an unearned run on Henry’s sacrifice fly.

Frank Mercurio had three hits for the Phillies.

Zach Maggard had three for Washington and Brandon Padula had two.

The McLean Raiders will face Maryland State today.

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ABCO remains in winner’s bracket

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