The National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series continued on this week as the Valley Center (KS) Diamond Dawgs took on the visiting Houston (TX) Apollos in the 5 o’clock game at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
Both teams got on the board early in this one, posting up a single run each in the 1st inning. The Apollos struck first with a single by Dane Yelowvich which drove in lead-off hitter Andrew Dunn. The Diamond Dawgs quickly answered after Kenny Kysar scored off a Jake Marasco single down right field line.
After a scoreless 2nd inning, the Apollos regained the lead in the top of the 3rd thanks to a familiar combination. Player/coach Dunn once again scored via a Yelowvich triple to right field, making the score 2-1 in favor of the visiting team.
Apollo’s starting pitcher Ben Blackburn then went to work, making quick work of the Diamond Dawgs in the bottom of the 3rd for a 1-2-3 inning. In all, Blackburn pitched five innings allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits while managing to strike out four batters.
Neither team scored again until the bottom of the 8th inning when Valley Center took its first lead of the game. Designated hitter Jeff Hutton doubled to left-center field which brought home pinch runners Darren Boss and Lioney Henriquez making the new score 3-2.
Diamond Dawgs’ relief pitcher Heath Wyatt went on to strike out Kyle Eaves looking and prompted Travis L’Hommedieu to fly out to left field for the first two outs in the top of the 9th. Derek Dibbens managed to keep hope alive for the Apollos with a line-drive single to right field, only to get caught stealing 2nd base for the final out of the game.
The Apollos will now travel to the losers bracket to face the Clarinda (IA) A’s in an elimination game, while the Diamond Dawgs advance to the third round of the winners bracket in a match up with the Chillicothe (MO) Mudcats.
