Orleans Clinches Playoffs With A Win And A Tie At Wareham!

Game 1: 2-2. Matt Packer threw 6 and 2/3 innings and only allowed 3 hits and 2 earned runs. Devin Lohman and Steve Selsky drove in both Firebird runs on RBI singles. After 9 innings (D-H games are supposed to be 7 innings), the game was called.

Game 2: 6-5. Orleans got itself into an early, 4-1 deficit but was determined to climb back. The "Firebird Comeback" was charged by a Devin Lohman 3-run triple and a Jeremy Gould 2-run double.

Firebirds Win 6 to 5 in 12 Innings!!!

Firebirds' ace, Rob Rasmussen took the hill for Orleans. He went 4 innings allowing 2 earned runs. Rasmussen left with the game tied 3-3. Steve Selsky's and Devin Lohman's home runs provided the first 3 runs of the game for Orleans.

The Firebirds got another run in the 5th on a very odd play. Mike Olt blooped one to center that Falmouth's center fielder, Todd Cunningham dropped. Running on 2 outs, Ross Heffley scored easily. Then, Danny Muno tried to score and was thrown out at home to end the inning with a mini-collision at the plate.

In the 9th, Orleans allowed 2 runs and Falmouth took a 5-4 lead over Orleans.

In the bottom of the 9th, Jaren Matthews reached on a walk. Gary Brown sacrifice bunted him over to 2nd. Devin Lohman moved him over on a ground out. Then, Matt Koch stepped to the plate and singled to left to drive Matthews in and tie the game.

On to the 12th now with Orleans batting. At this point, they could only tie or win because 12 is the maximum number of innings in the regular season that a game can go into. Kevin Muno, who went 4 for 5, walked. His younger brother, Danny tried to sacrifice bunt him over but drew a walk. Mike Olt was then intentionally walked. Jaren Matthews came up with 1 out and grounded to 2nd base. The 2nd basemen threw home and got Danny Muno out at home. The catcher tried to complete the double play by getting Matthews at 1st but threw it away; allowing Mike Olt to score the winning run for Orleans.

Magic Number down to 3 wins to make the playoffs! Remember, this number decreases every time that Orleans wins and (or) Brewster loses. Yarmouth-Dennis has clinched itself a playoff spot also. Orleans takes on Harwich at home on Friday. I may have coverage of that one on Twitter and may not. Also, they have a double-header at Wareham on Saturday. I will not have coverage of that on Twitter. The post for that game will probably just include the scores.

Also, Alex Hassan will sign a contract with the Red Sox Thursday at Fenway Park.

Red Barn Doesn't Do Much As Orleans Drops 3rd Straight to Y-D

Orleans came in to Monday's game looking to rebound from Sunday's losses. To do so, they threw one of their three aces, Casey Gaynor. Gaynor is a product of Toms River East HS (Boo!); so he knows all about big games. He went 5 innings of baseball and allowed 3 earned runs. However, the Firebirds could not provide Gaynor with enough run support and he got the loss. The Firebirds didn't have trouble getting the bat on the ball, but had trouble finding holes in the Y-D defense.

Orleans' defense was stellar in this one. They got some fine plays from Gary Brown, Danny Muno, and Devin Lohman.

No spectacular hitting performances in this one by Orleans but many contributions from everyone. Gary Brown, Alex Hassan, Ross Heffley, Hampton Tignor, Riccio Torrez, Danny Muno, and former Y-D Red Sox outfielder, Steve Selsky each had one hit. Ross Heffley drove in the only Orleans' run of the game.

On the other side, Chris Sale and Drew Hayes were pretty untouchable for Y-D. Austin Wates had another good game for the Red Sox going 2 for 4 with 2 thefts.

Y-D is going to be a tough opponent in the playoffs if both teams make it. Next time, it's going to take a little more pizza to feul the Firebirds.

Also, this was the first time that both team's starting catchers (Orleans' Hampton Tignor and Y-D's Ben McMahan) were from the same college, Florida.

The Birds look to rebound Tuesday night against Hyannis. Let's Go Firebirds!!!

Beat Down In Bourne! Firebirds Win 11-1!

Remember Kevin Muno's 4-hit performance three nights ago? That was the 1st, 4-hit game Orleans had had in almost 2 years. The way the Firebirds have been playing, someone was bound to do it again. This time it was Devin Lohman. Lohman went 4 for 5 in Orleans 11-1 win over Bourne.

Orleans quickly got on the board with a Jaren Matthews RBI single in the 1st. Bourne put up 1 in the 2nd but the lead fell back into the Firebirds' hands in the 3rd on a Danny Muno 2-run double to score Gary Brown. Then, a Jaren Matthews sacrifice fly scored Danny Muno to make it a 4-1 Firebird lead.

Orleans went down quietly in the 4th which means its time to "explode" in the fifth. They did just that. Actually, they did more than that. The big inning began with singles by Alex Hassan and Jaren Matthews. Alex Hassan scored on a wild pitch. Steve Selsky was walked and that brought up Jeremy Gould. Gould hit a 3-run homer to drive in Matthews and Selsky to give Orleans an 8-1 lead. Then, Matt Koch started them back up with a single and was driven home on Devin Lohman's first "big fly" of the summer. 10-1 Orleans after 5.

Orleans didn't strike again until the 9th when Devin Lohman drove in Koch while grounding out. If Lohman could have gotten another hit, he would have became the first Orleans player to go 5 for 5 since "who knows when."

Orleans has a double header on Sunday against the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.

Kevin Muno Comes Up Big But Darkness Ends Game With Orleans Down 5-3

If only the game could have continued... Oh well, let's get started.

The Cotuit Kettleers got out to an early lead on a Cory Vaughn RBI single. Orleans responded with a double by Kevin Muno, a Muno stolen base and a Devin Lohman RBI single to tie it at 1-1.

The Kettleers then scored 2 in the bottom 3rd to take a 3-1 lead. Firebirds turn. They responded with 4 runs on a Matt Koch RBI double, an Alex Hassan RBI ground out, and a Riccio Torrez 2-run double. 5-3 Firebirds.

Then, it was all Kettleers from there as Cotuit scored 2 in the 6th and 1 in the 7th on Tony Plagman's 2 RBI's before the game was called. 8-5 Kettleers over the Firebirds.

Gary Brown and Devin Lohman had 2 hits each for the Firebirds. The real stud, however, was Kevin Muno. Muno went 4 for 4, and stole 2 bases. The starting pitchers, Cole Cook and Seth Blair, each went 4 innings allowing 5 earned runs. Benjamin Rowen picked up the win and Tommy Kahnle got the loss. The 15-11 Firebirds travel to Harwich on Friday to take on the former Cape League champion Mariners.