Minors: Best Smiles Angels 5-Solinsky Eye Care Pirates 3

  The playoffs began with a barn burner between the Angels and the Pirates. The Pirates pitching staff was especially tough with Emmett Coco pitching a scoreless three innings followed by the excellent relief pitching of Carter O'Keefe and Andrew Lemanski. Other Pirate defensive highlights included Andrew Lemanski's fine throw to the plate that nabbed a stealing Angel and a crisp 6-4 inning ending out secured by Seamus O'Connell and Ryan Sharp. On the offensive side the Pirates Emmett Coco and Zach Sobel-Pressman impressed with a pair of hits apiece while Jackie Gaumer and Carter O'Keefe (rbi) contributed timely hits. For the Angles starting pitcher Luis Vargas with his calm bringing the heat keeping the Angels in the game. Relievers Dilon Bent and Jack Kinney impressed with solid performances with Kinney closing out the sixth for the Angels victory. On offense Jack Cote ignited the Angels with a "Pedroia-like" 10 pitch at bat eventually drawing a key walk. Thomas Cass kept the Angels rally rolling with a solid smash up the right field line and later scored the go-ahead run. The game had its ups and downs for both squads with the Pirates opening a 3 to 1 lead that lasted until the Angels clawed back in the 5th and 6th innings for the eventual 5 to 3 victory. Pirate Coach Brian Coco commented that his team "played their best game of the season" and that he was proud of his players who "played the game with enthusiasm and good sportsmanship".  The Angels coaching staff wholehartedly agreed and warm congratulations were delivered all around. In baseball one team has to win and one team has to loose, but what stood out about this contest was the honorable way that the Pirates and Angels PLAYED THE GAME.