So, Lancaster was eliminated last night in the winner-take-all Game 5 of the CAL league semi-finals vs. Inland Empire.
I happened to wake up around 3 am (Eastern), couldn't fall back asleep, and ended up listening to the last couple innings. The Jethawks had loaded the bases with no outs in the 13th and couldn't score (K, 3-2-3 DP). In the bottom of the 14th, DeShields led off with a single, next guy reached, then DDS stole 3rd. Fontana was then intentionally walked to set up the force at home. Cleanup hitter MP Cokinos hits a pop fly into shallow LF where it's caught by the 3rd baseman; DeShields for some reason tags and bolts for home and is easily thrown out for out #2. Next hitter, Aplin, K's to end the inning; once again, 3 on, no out, no runs. Inland Empire promptly scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 15th.
Lancaster PBP guy kept saying how bizarre it was that DDS tried to score on such a shallow ball... and Linares, LAN's manager, must've been pretty pissed, because in the bottom of the 15th DDS's spot came up, with 2 outs and the tying run on 2nd... and he pinch-hit for him with Dan Gulbransen, who flew out to end the series. So, more not-great news in regards to DeShields' maturity and/or feel for the game, and a tough way for Lancaster's season to end.
Meanwhile, the good news is, as mentioned in it's own thread, Tri-City won the NYPL Championship tonight. Also, QC went up 2 games to none in the best-of-5 MW League Championship series. Rio Ruiz had 2 doubles, Borchering hit a HR, and Joe Bircher pitched 5 shutout innings as QC won 5-0.