Capitales Walk Off Hit Stops Boulders, 9-8

QUEBEC, Canada – After storming back to tie the game, the Boulders fell to the Quebec Capitales after Josh Colafemina singled with two runners on in the bottom of the ninth for the 9-8 walk-off victory Friday night in Can-Am League baseball action.

The Boulders tied the game in the top of the final frame when Ryde Rodriguez walked with the bases loaded.  When Friday’s matchup seemed destined for extras, Robert Wagner drew a two-out walk from Jon Shepard, giving Colafemina the chance to win the game.

Quebec (4-1, 39-12) scored first in Friday evening’s contest.  The first runs crossed home plate in the bottom of the fourth.  The Capitales rallied with two outs to drive in the first two runs of the contest.

Quebec plated another in the home half of the fifth. Colafemina scored from first on a Goefrey Tomlinson double to increase the Capitales’ advantage to 3-0.

The Boulders got on the board for the first time in the top of the sixth.  After Jeremy Slayden singled with two outs, an error by center fielder Tomlinson allowed Cristobal Santana to reach base and Slayden to score all the way from first.  Norm Hutchins then singled to bring Santana around to score and tighten things up, 3-2.

The Capitales quickly erased those runs and more as they put up five runs on four hits and three walks in the bottom of the sixth.

Rockland battled back in the seventh by scoring four runs before recording an out.  With one out, second baseman Josh Colafemina made an error to allow Ryan Mollica to score from third for the fifth Boulder run of the inning, which made the score 8-7.

With two outs, the Boulders loaded the bases for Rodriguez.  He took ball four on a 3-1 count to plate Slayden and tie the game. 

The Capitales rallied again in the bottom of the ninth to walk off and give TJ Stanton the victory after blowing the save

The Boulders (1-4, 20-31) will take on the Capitales in the second of the three game series Saturday evening.  First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.

Rockland’s top pitcher, Bobby Blevins (5-3), will head to the hill in Quebec tonight. He will go head-to-head with Quebec’s John Mariotti (5-0).