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Take 2-1 series lead

FOR the past couple of Budweiser Baseball League playoff games, Mother Nature has played a huge factor on whether games will go on as scheduled.

On Sunday night, near-perfect weather conditions allowed the Atkins Kroll Islanders and Moylan’s-O.D.C. Braves to proceed with game three in their best-of-seven championship series. Both teams entered the game with the series knotted at one game apiece and each was looking to take the slight edge. At the end of the night, it was the Islanders who took care of business and defeated the defending champions 8-3 to take a one-game lead in the series.

It wasn’t until the second inning when the first run of the game was put on the board. With the bases loaded, AK’s Dominic Cruz battled during his turn at-bat and drove in a run on bases on balls to give his team a 1-0 lead. The defending champions returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning as Dale Alvarez was credited with an RBI-walk to equalize the game at 1-1.

Later in the fourth, the Braves took their first lead of the game as they added two runs to their tally. Moylan’s-O.D.C. scored their first run of the inning after an error by the Islanders allowed Jared Palomo to touch home plate. Before the inning ended, Alvarez hit an RBI-single to give the Braves a 3-1 lead.

Atkins Kroll remained calm and composed and began to chip away at their deficit in the fifth. After a leadoff double by Cruz, teammate Peter “Pikachu” Guerrero wasted no time bringing Cruz home on an RBI-single to trim their deficit in half. The Islanders returned back to work in the top half of the sixth and scored three runs to take a 5-3 lead.

After retiring the Braves in order in the bottom of the sixth, Atkins Kroll found themselves back on the offensive in the seventh. Recognizing the abilities of the Braves, AK added three insurance runs to increase their lead to 8-3. Jim “The Principal” Reyes and Keith Hattig led the inning driving in one run apiece.

The final two innings of the game went by with the Braves having difficulty sparking up their offense. When the final out was recorded, it was the Islanders who raised their hand victorious while claiming a one-game lead.

Earning the win from the mound for the Islanders was relief pitcher Eric Cepeda who rung up four Braves batters. The Braves’ Alex Cruz was dealt the loss from the mound. Offensively, Reyes led the Islanders going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and teammate John San Nicolas went 2-for-3 with three runs scored. In the losing effort, Alvarez led the defending champs going 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while teammate Glen Fernandez went 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Both teams will return to action tonight at the Paseo Stadium at 7 p.m. with game four of their best-of-seven series.