Oilers fall victim to triple play

If you're reading this over breakfast, the Oilers probably are already playing their second game as you slurp your cereal.

Being the victim of a momentum-robbing triple play can do that to a club.

And that's the hand first-round losers get dealt in the 32-team, double-elimination tournament -- games at early hours and, to stay alive in Peninsula's case, games on at least five straight days before catching a day off.

After surrendering an early three-run lead Wednesday and falling 6-3 to the Wichita Elite Sluggers at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, the Oilers of the Alaska Baseball League this morning at 7:30 ADT face the Rock City (N.C.) Red Sox in an elimination game.

The Oilers, who finished third in the six-team ABL, are the only Alaska entry after the six-time NBC champion Fairbanks Goldpanners bailed on the tournament last weekend. Peninsula has won three NBC titles (1994, 1993, 1977) and were the last team to win consecutive titles.

Peninsula raced to a 3-0 lead after two an a half innings. Michael Miller's sacrifice fly scored Garrett Wittels in the second inning and Wittels added a two-run single in the third.

After Wittels' single, the Oilers enjoyed runners on first and second with no outs, but Pablo Bermudez's scorching line drive up the first-base line turned into trouble. Sluggers first baseman Ronnie Romo snagged the liner a split-second before he stepped on first base to double off Wittels, then Romo gunned the ball to shortstop Hunter Johnson at second base to get Ryan Hege out for a triple play and a Houdini of an escape.

The top five hitters in the Wichita's order went 12 for 19 with four runs scored and four RBIs. Romo went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, catcher Hector Acosta went 3 for 3 and scored two runs, and center fielder Brandon Hoefler went 3 for 5 with a run and an RBI.

The Sluggers also received an excellent performance from reliever Justin Long, who allowed three hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out six to earn the win.

Oilers starter Kellen Moen gave up seven hits in four innings, but struck out six and allowed one run. Peninsula struck out 10 times in all.

Peninsula's bullpen surrendered five runs on six hits.