Rangers Advance to Round 2

 The Dayton Rangers squeaked out a 4-1 win over the Dayton Panthers on Sunday, September 6 in the first game of the 2008 playoffs. The Panthers were unable to field enough players for the second game and were forced to forfeit Game 2.

Jacob Robinson improved his record to 11-2 on the season, beating the Panthers for the third time this season. Jake is now 5-0 lifetime against the Panthers. Damon Barr pitched for the Panthers and was the hard luck loser as three of the four runs that the Rangers scored might have been outs with three outfielders. Damon scattered 8 hits and struck out three and did not walk a batter.

The Rangers were fortunate that the Panthers only had 8 players, because this game could have realistically been 1-1 at the end of regulation. The Panthers jumped out early in the first inning to 1-0 lead as three Panthers had hits. But a Rangers throwing error plated the only run of the game for the Panthers. Jacob settled down and only gave up five more hits the rest of the way.

The Rangers scored a run in the bottom of the second as Shane Fallen singled in James Robinson, who led off the inning with a double to straight-away centerfield. Jonmarc Lippincott’s grounder in the third scored Jelani Arnold with the go-ahead run and three batters later, Joe Staten roped a triple to the centerfield fence to score Brad Clark from first. With a 3-1 lead, the Rangers tacked on an insurance run in the fourth on an RBI single by Jake.

Offensive highlights: Jacob Robinson 2-for-3 RBI, SB, 2B; Joe Staten 2-for-3 RBI, 3B; James Robinson 2B; Jelani Arnold 1-for-2 run, sac bunt.