Owls Fluster Fleas; Advance to NLCS

Merrimack – In a night that everything seemed to go their way, The Merrimack Owls eliminated the Westport Fleas in the first round of the National League playoffs of the Holiday Baseball League Wednesday night. Quality pitching, big defensive plays and consistent offense was the simple formula that the Owls used after dropping game one, sweeping the final three games of the series and locking in a matchup with the first-place McCall Mudhens in the NLCS.

After dropping game one by the score of 12-16, Owls pitching settled in and allowed 7 runs in game two, 7 in game three, and 9 runs in game four, all helped by numerous defensive plays. Each Merrimack starting pitcher won a game MVP award after working deep into games 2-3-4.

With 9 hits, 2 walks, 3 home runs, and 7 RBI in the series, Owls lifetimer Dale Murphy led a consistent offensive output that scored 12, 11, 14, and 15 runs in the series. “I love it when I have a series like this one, you guys (reporters) stop asking me about my strikeouts!,” Murphy said with a smile. “We had a good time hitting tonight, but watching the pitchers and defense work was why we won. Glavine and the boys did a great job out there … I think I would strike out EVERY TIME if I had to face them tonight… Glav was FILTHY.”

“That Fleas lineup beat the crap out of us just a few weeks ago,” Galvine said. “I just tried to stay away from them as much as possible tonight and try to get them swinging early in the count. Ed (Bailey) told me before the game that he wanted me to conserve and go as deep into this one as I could… I knew the defense had my back and I just made the pitches.”

Owls pitching will be put to the test again in two weeks as they face the offensive juggernaut McCall Mudhens who led the National League in BA, hits, 2B, HR, runs, TB, RBI and wins.

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