The Storm jumped out of the gates with a first inning score hoping to advance to the South Division finals to face the High Desert Mavericks, but they were stopped by the Lancaster JetHawks with a 3-2 victory bringing a close to the 2012 season for the Storm.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Cherished Memories)
The game began with a shallow fly ball that landed just inside the left field line and B.J. Guinn ended up with a stand up double. Justin Miller advanced Guinn with a sacrifice bunt and he scored from third with a sacrifice fly by Robert Kral for a 1-0 early lead.
It took one swing from Rafael Valenzuela hit a lead-off home run that just inched over the right field scoreboard to tie the game for the JetHawks.
In the fifth, sixth and seventh the Storm put runners in scoring position highlighted by a pair of doubles. Miller led off with a double in the sixth and Cory Spangenberg hit his to lead off the seventh but the Storm were unable to capitalize.
The bottom of the fifth went in favor of Lancaster that began with a pair of singles and a walk with two outs that loaded the bases for the JetHawks. With the bases loaded Smith hit Domingo Santana scoring Delino DeSheilds Jr. for the 2-1 lead.
In the seventh, Andrew Aplin came to the plate with two outs tripled over the head of Rico Noel in center field. All it took was a single by Santana to give Lancaster a 3-1 lead.
In the eighth, the Storm chipped away at the lead beginning with a lead-off walk by Miller and a single by Tommy Medica to put runners on the corners with one out. With a quick pitching change bringing in Pat Urkfitz, Donovan Tate smacked a double to right field as Miller scored and brought the Storm within one.
The Storm pitching staff of Burch Smith, Ryan Quigley and Jerry Sullivan combined to hold the JetHawks to only three runs on seven hits and combined to throw 12 strikeouts in the game.
In the top of the ninth, the Storm loaded the bases with a chance, but a pop up into foul territory ended the season for the Storm.
On behalf of the Storm baseball family we thank you for following the Lake Elsinore Storm.
Visit stormbaseball.com for all of our exciting off-season events at The Diamond.
*Contributed by the Lake Elsinore Storm
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