Roswell Invaders Power Past Canadian Sidearm Nation 10-2 at World Baseball Challenge

Aug 15 2016 12:00AM - Roswell Invaders Power Past Canadian Sidearm Nation 10-2 at World Baseball Challenge

The Roswell Invaders continued their strong run through the 2016 World Baseball Challenge with a convincing 10-2 victory over Canadian Sidearm Nation on August 15, 2016 at Citizen Field.

Roswell collected 13 hits, drew 10 walks and scored in five different innings while limiting Sidearm Nation to only five hits.

The teams traded runs in the first inning.

Canadian Sidearm Nation scored first when Dan Chappel and JP Wilner opened the game with singles. Roswell starter Mike Scimanico nearly escaped the inning, but Kevin Czarnecki drew a bases-loaded walk that forced Chappel home and gave Sidearm Nation a 1-0 lead.

Roswell immediately answered in the bottom half.

Morgan Blatnik opened the inning with a double and Cody Coffman singled him home, tying the game at 1-1.

The Invaders moved in front for good in the third inning.

Joey Miller drew a one-out walk before Bobby Webb launched a two-run home run, scoring Miller and himself and giving Roswell a 3-1 advantage.

Webb's home run was the first of two Roswell homers in the game.

Roswell added another run in the fourth. Brett Balkan doubled and Morgan Blatnik followed with a single that brought Balkan home, extending the advantage to 4-1.

Canadian Sidearm Nation briefly cut the deficit in half in the fifth when JP Wilner homered, making it 4-2.

That would be the final run Roswell allowed.

The Invaders broke the game open over the next two innings.

Kaohu Gaspar led off the sixth inning with a solo home run, restoring Roswell's three-run advantage. Gaspar's blast gave the Invaders their second home run of the afternoon.

Roswell continued the rally and scored three runs in the sixth inning, then added three more in the seventh to turn a competitive game into a commanding 10-2 lead.

The seventh-inning rally started when Bobby Webb walked and Kaohu Gaspar doubled. Gavin Lavallee followed with a single that scored Webb and kept the inning moving.

Roswell's lineup produced offense throughout the order.

Morgan Blatnik went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a walk. Cody Bishop added a hit and a walk, while Cody Coffman collected a hit and walked once.

Bobby Webb provided one of the game's biggest swings with his two-run home run. Webb scored twice and reached base four times, finishing with a hit and three walks.

Kaohu Gaspar also had a big afternoon, going 2- for-3 with a double, home run, two runs scored and a walk.

Gavin Lavallee went 2-for-4 and scored twice, while Brett Balkan went 2-for-3 with a double, run scored and walk.

Joey Miller added a double, scored once and drew two walks as Roswell continually put runners on base against the Sidearm pitching staff.

Mike Scimanico gave Roswell six strong innings on the mound.

Scimanico allowed only four hits and two runs, just one of them earned, while walking four and striking out three. He earned the victory and finished his outing with Roswell firmly in control.

The Roswell bullpen was nearly perfect behind him.

Ty Geary worked a scoreless seventh inning without allowing a hit. Eric Karre pitched a scoreless eighth, allowing one hit while striking out one. Roswell manager Bryan Kloppe then took the mound himself for the ninth inning and finished the game with a scoreless frame.

Scimanico was credited with the win while Justin Johnston took the loss for Canadian Sidearm Nation.

Johnston allowed six runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings. Taylor Wyllie followed and struggled with his command, allowing four runs while recording two outs. Jordan Pineau worked the final two innings without allowing a run.

Sidearm Nation finished with just five hits. JP Wilner had two of them, including his fifth-inning home run, while Dan Chappel, Billy Clapperton and Kevin Czarnecki accounted for the other three.

Roswell's offense ultimately overwhelmed the Canadian club.

The Invaders finished with 13 hits, including five doubles and two home runs, and drew 10 walks. Only one Roswell hitter struck out in the entire game.

The victory continued Roswell's impressive international run after the Invaders had already completed their Pecos League regular season and postseason before traveling to British Columbia for the World Baseball Challenge.

Final Score:
Canadian Sidearm Nation 2
Roswell Invaders 10

Line Score:
Canadian Sidearm Nation - 2 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors
Roswell Invaders - 10 runs, 13 hits, 1 error

Winning Pitcher: Mike Scimanico
Losing Pitcher: Justin Johnston

Roswell Offensive Highlights:
Morgan Blatnik - 2 hits, 2 runs, double
Bobby Webb - home run, 2 RBI, 2 runs, 3 walks
Kaohu Gaspar - 2 hits, double, home run, 2 runs
Gavin Lavallee - 2 hits, 2 runs, double
Brett Balkan - 2 hits, double, run
Joey Miller - double, run, 2 walks

Roswell Pitching:
Mike Scimanico - 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO, Win
Ty Geary - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 SO
Eric Karre - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 SO
Bryan Kloppe - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO

Game Information:
August 15, 2016
Citizen Field
Start Time: 4:00 PM
Game Time: 2 hours, 41 minutes
Mike Scimanico gave the Invaders a great start on the mound going 6 innings allowing 2 runs while only walking 3. Ty Geary, Evan Karre and Bryan Kloppe all pitched a scoreless inning for the Invaders who now hold a record of 2-1.

Bobby Webb and Gavin Lavalee homered for Invaders. Brett Balkan went 2-3 for the Invaders. Morgan Blatnik went 2-4 for the Invaders. The Invaders as a team had 13 hits.

The Invaders move to 2-1 in the tournament and still have a chance to play in Championship Game despite loss to Japan. The Invaders will face Thurston County tommorow at 4PM.