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LOS ANGELES, CA -
Orlin Ariago stepped to the plate and in a moment’s notice, made history.
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On an 0-2 pitch from Philadelphia left hander Jesús Taborga in the bottom of the 14<SUP>th</SUP> inning, Ariago sent a shot down the left field line and into the bleachers to send the California Kodiaks to their first ever playoff appearance.
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“I was just trying to move François (Dupuis) over to third base so our big bats could get a chance to knock him in… never did I expect I’d knock him in with a walk off home run.”
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In a game that lasted four hours and five minutes, featured eleven pitchers and was undeniably pressure packed the biggest shot came from the most unlikely bat.
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Ariago, a career .194 hitter in 288 at bats is a defensive specialist who was called into action due to the injury of September call up Clarence “Dusty” Rice at 2B. Immediately the Freedom tested Ariago’s glove with a lined shot that Ariago had to climb the ladder to bring down and preserve the tied game. After a scoreless bottom of the 12<SUP>th</SUP> as well as the 13<SUP>th</SUP> the Kodiaks lead off the bottom of the 14<SUP>th</SUP> with a leadoff double from CF Dupuis. Then history came a calling.
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“I fell behind 0-2, but both pitches I fouled off so I felt like I had a good gauge of Taborga’s stuff; I just needed to put the ball in play. When I hit it I thought I got enough for at least a deep fly ball that would move the runner over; thankfully the ball kept traveling and found its way into the seats!” said an excited Ariago.
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With the win, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> secured the 1986 Porter Division Championship and will head east to take on the Washington Bats in the first round of the BLB Playoffs.
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Plenty of good seats still remain for the Kodiak’s first ever home playoff games held Oct. 11-13.
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Also, I just want to say a huge thank you to Z. He was very gracious after the loss and as I told him, I thought that was a really nice thing of him to do.
Guys like Z are why this league works so well. They're competitive but at the same time they really make this place feel like a community.
So here's to Z, hell of a guy.
Orlin Ariago stepped to the plate and in a moment’s notice, made history.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
On an 0-2 pitch from Philadelphia left hander Jesús Taborga in the bottom of the 14<SUP>th</SUP> inning, Ariago sent a shot down the left field line and into the bleachers to send the California Kodiaks to their first ever playoff appearance.
<o:p></o:p>
“I was just trying to move François (Dupuis) over to third base so our big bats could get a chance to knock him in… never did I expect I’d knock him in with a walk off home run.”
<o:p></o:p>
In a game that lasted four hours and five minutes, featured eleven pitchers and was undeniably pressure packed the biggest shot came from the most unlikely bat.
<o:p></o:p>
Ariago, a career .194 hitter in 288 at bats is a defensive specialist who was called into action due to the injury of September call up Clarence “Dusty” Rice at 2B. Immediately the Freedom tested Ariago’s glove with a lined shot that Ariago had to climb the ladder to bring down and preserve the tied game. After a scoreless bottom of the 12<SUP>th</SUP> as well as the 13<SUP>th</SUP> the Kodiaks lead off the bottom of the 14<SUP>th</SUP> with a leadoff double from CF Dupuis. Then history came a calling.
<o:p></o:p>
“I fell behind 0-2, but both pitches I fouled off so I felt like I had a good gauge of Taborga’s stuff; I just needed to put the ball in play. When I hit it I thought I got enough for at least a deep fly ball that would move the runner over; thankfully the ball kept traveling and found its way into the seats!” said an excited Ariago.
<o:p></o:p>
With the win, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> secured the 1986 Porter Division Championship and will head east to take on the Washington Bats in the first round of the BLB Playoffs.
<o:p></o:p>
Plenty of good seats still remain for the Kodiak’s first ever home playoff games held Oct. 11-13.
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Also, I just want to say a huge thank you to Z. He was very gracious after the loss and as I told him, I thought that was a really nice thing of him to do.
Guys like Z are why this league works so well. They're competitive but at the same time they really make this place feel like a community.
So here's to Z, hell of a guy.
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