November 6, 1999

Undertakers Bury Lightning

LITCHFIELD, CT - This Ozzie League Division Series has been a source of great
drama throughout the first three games.  Today, the drama ended in the fifth
inning as the hometown Lightning fans were forced to watch in stunned silence
as the Los Altos Undertakers rode over them to the tune of 14-4.  Albert Belle
and pinch-hitter Shawon Dunston both finished the day with four RBI's, Los
Altos starting pitcher Ramon Martinez had three RBI's on the day (including
one home run) and the Los Altos offense totalled 16 hits and three home runs.

Litchfield starter Pete Harnisch didn't bring his "A" game today, as he 
surrendered seven runs (four earned) on nine hits and six walks through six
innings.  But it was Jeff Juden who caused most of the damage today.  Juden,
who was brought into a 7-1 game in the seventh inning, allowed seven runs (all
earned) on seven hits and three walks through only three innings.

The Lightning actually held the lead in this game in the fourth when Edgar
Martinez followed Litchfield manager Phil Geisel's observation that Martinez
was pitching a no-hitter by whacking his second homer of the series to the
upper deck in left.  

But in the fifth, everything fell apart for Litchfield.  Eighth hitter Tony 
Eusebio led off the inning with a base hit - only the fourth of the game 
against Harnisch at that point.  Martinez followed with a bunt single - his
first of two hits on the day.  A walk to Darryl Hamilton loaded the bases with
none out.  Bill Mueller then lined to second for out number one and for a 
moment it looked as though Litchfield would luck out once again in this 
series.  But Harnisch then walked Larry Walker to plate the tying run, then
yielded a base hit to Albert Belle which plated two more runs.  A Mo Vaughn
sac fly brought home yet another and just like that Litchfield was in a 4-1
hole.

Los Altos added three more in the sixth on a sac fly by Walker and a two-run
blast by Belle.  In the seventh, Juden came on in relief and after allowing
the first two batters he faced to reach base on a walk and a single, he served
up a three-run blast to Martinez.  Game over.