Published: July 30, 2009 11:27 pm      

Culver, Eagles to meet for Hot Stove crown

POTOMAC PARK — The finals for the Hot Stove League playoffs were set Thursday evening after strong individual pitching performances paved the way for Culver Design Build to meet with the Cresaptown Eagles in a best-of-three series that begins Monday at Hamilton Field at the Hammersmith Complex in Potomac Park.

Ryan Keifer threw a seven-inning shutout allowing just three singles in leading the Eagles to a 8-0 win over Salisbury Legion, and Josh Crawford pitched eight innings and allowed one run in a 3-1 win for Culver over Madigan’s Auto.

When the teams meet at 5:30 on Monday, Culver (23-1) will carry a 16-game winning streak while the Eagles (22-2) enter as winners of 21 straight.



Culver Design 3

Madigan’s Auto 1

Culver Design broke a 1-1 tie by scoring twice in the top of the eighth and Crawford got through the heart of Madigan’s lineup in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.

Dane Heavner drew a walk to lead off the top of the eighth, and moved to third on a Bucky Timbrook single. Trevor Moore came through with a sacrifice fly to bring home the first run, and Timbrook scored on a fielder’s choice for the second run.

Crawford had only two strikeouts, but scattered seven singles and walked only two while giving up a first-inning run.

Crawford had two singles at the plate, and had the RBI on the fielder’s choice in the eighth. Matt Mears had the game’s only extra-base hit with a double, and scored a run.

For Madigan’s, Brian Wildman singled twice, and Josh Wotring hit an RBI single.

The Culver defense turned two double plays, getting a 4-6-3, and 5-4 were the third baseman got the force at third before throwing to second.



Cresaptown Eagles 8

Salisbury Legion 0

Defense and pitching powered the Eagles past Salisbury Legion as Cresaptown had an error-free day, and Keifer allowed just one batter to reach third in a shut out win.

Travis Milburn came through with a run scoring double, and Hayden Bosley added a pair of singles.

Keifer gave up three singles and allowed two other to reach base on a hit by pitch, but walked none.

Mike Miller, Nathan Hutzell and Alex Beiler combined for nine strikeouts in the loss.

Cresaptown got on the board first with a three-spot during the second inning. The Eagles made it 4-0 in the third, and scored twice more in the fifth. The final two runs were scored in the top of the seventh.