Greensboro Grasshoppers Win 2011 SAL Championship

The final game of the five game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Greensboro Grasshoppers was played in front of 1,210 fans Saturday evening at Grayson Stadium. The hot hitting Grasshoppers pounded out 16 hits to beat Savannah by the score of 7-3 to win the 2011 SAL Championship.

Savannah took a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning. 2bJuan Gamboa walked and scored when lfAlonso Harris hit a double down the left field line. cfDarrell Ceciliani singled to score the speedy Harris.

Greensboro had a big inning in the 4th-the first two batters made outs and the "Hoppers" scored 5 runs on 3 singles, a double, and a triple to take a 5-2 lead.

In the 5th inning, the first two hitters for Greensboro made outs, and they scored 2 runs on 4 singles to lead, 7-2.

Savannah scored their final run in the 7th inning; Harris tripled to right field and scored on an error by the 3rd baseman fielding a ground ball.

Hitting stars for Greensboro:2bNoah Perio was 4-for-6. Getting two hits each, rfMarcel Ozuna, lfChristian Yelich, 1bMark Canha, and cfIsaac Galloway.

Leading hitter for Savannah was Harris who went 2-for-3 a double, triple, 2 runs scored and a RBI.

Loosing pitcher for Savannah was starter, Angel Cuan, pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowed 5 runs on 8 hits, 1BB, 2K. Adam Kolarek pitched 1 1/3 inning, gave up 2 runs on 4 hits, 1K. Yohan Almonte went 1 2/3 innings, gave up 2 hits, 1BB, 2K. Gonzales Germen pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowed 2 hits and struck out 1.

It was a great season for the Savannah Sand Gnats.

Grasshoppers win in the 11th to tie the series at 2-2

Game four of the SAL championship series was played between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Greensboro Grasshoppers in front of 1,787 fans Friday evening at Grayson Stadium. Fans saw an offensive show with Greensboro out hitting Savannah 17-14, and they outscored Savannah to win the game 12-10 in 11 innings. The championship game will be played Saturday starting at 6:05 pm at Grayson Stadium.

Grasshoppers scored a run in the first and added 4 runs in the 2nd, highlighted by a 3 run home run by rfMarcel Ozuna.

Savannah scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning, 3bAderline Rodriquez hit a solo home run to left.

In the 4th inning the first 7 Gnats batters reached base and scored with no outs recorded. Rodriquez drove in two runs with a single. A bases loaded triple by cfDarrell Cecilianibrought in three runs. Savannah scored their final run in the 11th inning.

For Savannah, ssWilfredo Tovar was 3-for-6 with 2 RBI's. Rodriquez was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI's

Savannah used 6 pitchers. Erik Goeddel went 4 innings, allowed 7 runs on 6 hits, 3BB, 3K.Michael Hebert pitched 1 inning, allowed 1 run on 2 hits. Ryan Fraser pitched 2 innings, gave up 4 hits and struck out 2. Brandon Sage pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowed 1 run on 2 hits 1BB, 2K. Ronny Morla took the loss(0-1) pitched 2 innings, gave up 3 runs on 3 hits, 3BB, 1K.Hamilton Bennett pitched 1/3 of an inning and struck out 1.

Sand Gnats win in the 11th on Bonfe hit.

With the SAL Championship series at one game apiece, the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Greensboro Grasshoppers played in front of 1,634 fans Thursday evening at Grayson Stadium. It was an exciting game and finish as Joe Bonfe hit a single near the right field line with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning to help Savannah win the game 4-3 and take a 2-1 lead in the series. Tomorrow the Sand Gnats have an opportunity to win the SAL Championship with game 4 starting at 7:05 at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah took a 1-0 lead scoring in the 2nd inning. Bonfe doubled to left field. With the bases loaded, Bonfe scored on a wild pitch.

In the 4th, Savannah took a 2-1 lead when dhAlbert Cordero doubled and went to third on a groundout. A single by lfAlonso Harris drove in Cordero.

With the Gnats trailing 3-2 going into the bottom of the 7th inning, Savannah tied the game with cfDarrell Ceciliani singled and scored on a double by rfRaferal Fernandez.

Sand Gnats out hit the Grasshoppers 11-8. Ceciliani was 3-for-4 and scored 2 runs. Bonfe went 3-for-6 with a run scored. Cordero was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Starting Savannah pitcher, Taylor Whitenton, pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, and struck out 8. Adam Kolarek pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowed 2hits and struck out 1. Hamilton Bennett pitched 1 inning, gave up 1 hit, walked 1. Winning pitcher, Chase Huchingson (1-1) pitched 1 inning and struck out 1.

Photo courtesy of Ed DeVita, Editor of the Savannah Sports Monthly.

Savannah Beats Augusta to Win Southern Division Championship

The final game of the three game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Augusta GreenJackets was played in front of 910 fans at Grayson Stadium Saturday evening. Savannah won the Southern Division by beating Augusta 3-1 and advance next week to play the Northern Division winner, Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Savannah used strong pitching to win the game. Sand Gnats scored in the first inning when cf Darrell Ceciliani hit a triple and scored on a sac fly by ss Wilfredo Tovar. In the 2nd inning, 3bAderline Rodriquez hit a double, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a ground out. Savannah scored in the 4th inning, 1bJoe Bonfe singled and would score on a fielding error by the first baseman.

Sand Gnats out hit the GreenJackets 6-5. Ceciliani was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Winning Savannah pitcher, Erik Goeddel, pitched 5 shutout innings, allowed 3 hits, 3BB, 4K. Ryan Fraser pitched 2 shutout innings and struck out 1. Brandon Sage pitched 2/3 inning, allowed 1 run on 1 hit, 1K. Earning the save, Ronny Morla, pitched 1 1/3 inning, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.

Savannah will play Monday and Tuesday in Greensboro against the Northern Champions, Greensboro Grasshoppers in the best of 5 game for the SAL championship. Sand Gnats will return to Grayson Stadium in Savannah to finish the series on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday if needed.

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Savannah Beats Augusta 3-2 to level series at 1-1

The second game of the playoff series was played between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Augusta GreenJackets Friday evening at Grayson Stadium in front of 3,413 fans. Three errors by Augusta and clutch hitting by Savannah helped the Sand Gnats win 3-2.

Augusta scored in the second inning off, Johan Santana, who was rehabbing from the N. Y. Mets-pitched the first three innings for Savannah.

Sand Gnats scored their first run in the 4th inning. 1bJoe Bonfe walked and advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher. Bonfe scored on a sac fly by 2bLuis Nieves.

In the 5th inning, Savannah scored when cfDarrell Ceciliani singled and scored from first when ssWilfredo Tovar laid down a bunt which was fielded by the pitcher who threw the ball over the head of the first baseman.

With the score tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the 8th, cAlbert Cordero singled. Blake Forsythe hit a double to left field to score Cordero from first with the winning run(Forsythe pinch hit for Juan Gamboa).

Savannah out hit Augusta 8-6. Ceciliani was 4-for-4 with a run scored. Cordero was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Starting Savannah pitcher, Johan Santana, pitched 3 innings, allowed 1 run(unearned) on 2 hits, 1BB and 1K. Taylor Whitenton pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowed 1 run on 3 hits, 2BB, 6K. Winning pitcher, Adan Kolarek (1-0) allowed 1 hit in 1 2/3 innings. Closer Hamilton Bennett earned the save pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

The series concludes Saturday at 6:05 at Grayson Stadium with the winner advancing next week to play the northern team winner for the SAL championship .

Augusta 4 Savannah 1

I had the opportunity to attend the first playoff game in Augusta, Georgia with the Savannah Sand Gnats playing the Augusta GreenJackets Wednesday evening. Augusta out hit Savannah 9-6 and won the game, 4-1.

Savannah scored first in the 5th inning when 1bJoe Bonfe tripled and scored on a ground out by 3bAderline Rodriquez.

The GreenJackets scored their 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning, highlighted by a 3 run home to centerfield by dhAdam Duvall.

For Savannah, rfRaferal Fernandez was 2-for-4. 2bLuis Nieves was 2-for-3.

Starting Sand Gnat pitcher, Angel Cuan, pitched 6 shutout innings, allowed 6 hits and struck out 5. Chase Huchingson (0-1) took the loss pitching 1 inning, allowed 4 runs on 2 hits, walked 2, struck out 1. Ryan Fraser pitched 1 inning, allowed 1 hit, struck out 1, walked 2.

The announced attendance was 1,136.

The second game of this playoff series will be played in Savannah at Grayson Stadium Friday evening starting at 7:05pm.

Sunday Batting Practice

This past Sunday, the Savannah Sand Gnats season ticket holder fans were invited to participate in batting practice before the Gnats game with the Charleston RiverDogs.

After one hour of batting practice, Sand Gnat players, staff, and fans got together at the picnic area of the stadium for hamburgers and hot dogs.

Photo courtesy of Ed DeVita, Editor of The Savannah Sports Monthly.