Monarchs Gold advance to semi-final game Sunday 7:30 @ Ned Skeldon Field

After playing over two days due to a rain delay and in extra innings, the Monarchs Gold advance to the semi finals of the NABF CWS after a game winning hit by Brian Bilius in the bottom of the 10th with bases loaded, two outs, and the Braves playing for that third out.

The game started Saturday at 9 AM with heavy rain forecasted. Gold went scoreless in the first as the Braves did also. In the second inning Corey Hornyak hits a hard shot in the gap for a stand up double. Hornyak advances to third when the Braves commit an error on fielding Bret Howard’s grounder. Val Helldobler then hits a single to score Hornyak to put Gold on the scoreboard.

The Braves are held scoreless by Gold defense and excellent pitching by Colin Meinzer for four innings. Gold then scores in the third after Casey Winckowski draws a walk, steals second, and scores after Hornyak smashes another standup double.

Braves score two runs in the top of the 5th on a single, hit batter, and a double.

Gold comes back in the bottom of the 5th inning after Brian Bilius starts the offense with a single, then advances to second on a passed ball. Jake Cappelletty then hits a hard shot single to right center and advances to second on an error by the Braves right fielder, Bilius scored. Cappelletty then scores on a sharp hit single by Brandon McFarland for the second run to make it a 4-2 game.

The Braves then rally in the top of the 6th for three runs and the 5-4 lead after two more hit batters, a single, and a Gold fielding error. Gold scores again in the 7th with a leadoff single by Bilius followed by back to back hard shot singles by Cappelletty and Hornyak.

Then the rains hit the Ned. After a couple attempts to get the field playable rains hit again and the tournament directors had to delay the play until Sunday at 11 AM.

Starting Sunday with the hot sun and 85o temperatures the game resumed at the top of the 8th inning. Bret Kuebler started on the mound and held the Braves scoreless during the 8th, 9th, & 10th innings. With some help from some awesome infield playing and an incredible catch by Gold third baseman, Bret Howard, Braves could not score.

Gold threatened a score in the bottom of the 8th with a leadoff walk by Ryan Mouch, sacrifice bunt by Adam Yunker, and a hit batter against Winckowski, but the Braves were able to survive on a hard hit grounder to third for the force at third and the throw to first for double play.

In the bottom of the 10th the game got really exciting when Bret Howard went to first on an error by the Braves second basemen. Helldobler then hit a single and moved Howard to second. Ryan Mouch then laid down an excellent sacrifice bunt to move Howard and Helldobler to second and third.

Gold’s leadoff batter Adam Yunker was then intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. After a questionable strike out call, Brian Bilius comes to the plate faced with base loaded, two outs, and a tied score. In Dramatic fashion Bilius kept his cool and hit a soft single up the middle for the game winning hit scoring Howard and advancing Gold to the NABF Championship World Series semi finals Sunday at 7:30 PM at Ned Skeldon Stadium.