OTTAWA – Four unearned runs in the fourth inning ended up costing the Ottawa Champions, as the
Salina Stockade beat them 8-6 on Friday evening at RCGT Park. Ottawa rallied with five runs of their
own in the fifth, but could not catch up to the showcase team in their first game of the season.
"We hit the ball well tonight, we just couldnt catch the ball," said manager Hal Lanier following
the defeat.
RHP Edilson Alvarez was a workhorse for the Stockade, going seven innings and throwing 114 pitches
in a winning effort.
Salina got off to a good start to their season, as they found themselves up 7-1 on Ottawa after only
four innings. RHP Noah Gapp was charged with three runs over three frames and RHP Andrew Cooper came
in to replace him.
Champions fielders committed three errors in the fourth inning and the Stockade made them pay by
plating four runners.
The Champions bullpen has looked good in recent days. Cooper gave up a run in the sixth inning,
which served as the first conceded by the pen in four games.
A bright spot offensively for Ottawa was 2B Steve Nyisztor, who went 3-for-5 and started a rally in
the ninth inning that was halted by Salina closer RHP Dillion Sunnafrank. LF Coco Johnson hit a home
run in the first at-bat of the game and went 2-for-5 on the day.
For the Stockade it was shortstop Robert Garza who lead the way going 3-4 and making several key
defensive plays for Salina.
Carson Lee and Jackson Pritchard went 2-5 for the Stockade. Lance Fairchild and Dillon Sunnafrank
each pitched scoreless innings for the Stockade.
Ottawa will get an opportunity for revenge tomorrow, with the first pitch in their second game with
Salina being at 7:05 p.m. The final game of the series will take place on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.,
before the Champions hit the road to face Quebec and Sussex County.
Salina Stockade 8
Ottawa Champions 7
This game was played on 6/8/2018
at Ottawa.