Doubledays close season with thrilling victory

AUBURN, NY - Playoffs might not have been in the cards for the 2014 Auburn Doubledays, but you certainly can't count them out.

Dale Carey went 2-for-4 and made a game-saving diving catch in centerfield, and relievers Connor Bach and Tyler Mapes picked up starter James Bourque as the Doubledays topped the Batavia Muckdogs 4-3 in the season finale at Falcon Park.

It was Batavia who struck first against Bourque (3-5). With Aaron Blanton on second and two out, Kevin Grove lined a RBI single to left to put the Muckdogs ahead 1-0. Auburn tied it in the bottom half of the inning, as Osvaldo Abreu came in from third on a groundout by Jose Marmolejos. Abreu had stolen second and advanced to third on a Bryan Langlois groundout.

The Muckdogs took home the next two runs. Batavia put runners on second and third with two outs in the second, and Bourque tossed a wild pitch to the screen that brought home Eric Fisher to get the Muckdogs the lead. Batavia expanded its edge in the third within the first two batters. Javier Lopez singled to left, and Brad Haynal ripped a double to center to bring his shortstop home and make it 3-1. The Muckdogs very nearly scored again, but Carey made a spectacular diving catch in center to rob John Norwood of an RBI double.

In the bottom of the third, the Doubledays came alive. Abreu singled with one out, and Langlois followed with a single to center. Lopez, the cutoff man at short, threw the ball wide and sent Abreu home. Langlois went all the way to third. Marmolejos stepped up and ripped a double to dead center, allowing Langlois to trot home with the tying run. Carey finished the effort with a scorching double down the left field line that plated Marmolejos and put the Doubledays ahead 4-3. 

Bach entered for Bourque in the sixth and immediately shut down the Muckdog lineup, cruising through three frames (including a 1-2-3 eighth) to set up Mapes. The Doubledays closer allowed a baserunner to reach third with one out, but Mapes forced two ground balls to third, and Cody Gunter put both away to seal the win.

The Doubledays conclude the 2014 season with a 34-41 record, good for third place in the Pinckney division.