Challengers 5, Hawks 4

A balk by Chour enabled Thomas Landis to score the winning run from third base in the top of the seventh to give the Challengers another come-from-behind victory against the Rohr Hawks.

Armin Blickenstorfer">Armin Blickenstorfer>

Armin Blickenstorfer's two-run shot in the top of the seventh tied the score at 4 apiece before Landis scored the winning run.

The Hawks had leads of 2-0 and 4-2 but they gave it away in the last inning.

Going into the seventh down 4-2, the Challengers put together another big rally as Bryan Shemley doubled and Armin Blickenstorfer followed with his second homerun of the season to tie the score 4-4. Landis then singled and stole second and third base.

Manager Marvin Moore made a gutsy decision and ordered Landis to steal home. Pitcher Chour realized what the Challengers were up to and failed to come to a proper stop after getting into his set position. Landis would have been out at home by a couple of steps, but the umpires called a balk on Chour and the run counted.

Moore said after the game that he sent Landis beacuse I knew the pitcher would rush his motion and commit a balk. It proved right and the Challengers came away with a tough win against an inferior team.

Patrick Bosshard started the game but was yanked after 2.1 innings, giving up just one earned run on three hits and three bases-on-balls. Landis (2-2) relieved him and promptly struck out the first four batters he faced. He went 4.2 innings for the win, giving up two earned runs on five hits and two bases-on-balls and striking out a season-high 11 batters. His average for strikeouts per nine innings is now an incredible 14.1.