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Subscribe to our NewsletterFORCE LOSE AGAIN, ELIMINATED FROM WS
Ryan Hart
Wichita, KS
The Force needed to win on Monday to have a realistic chance to advance, but fell short against the Everett Merchants 7-2. On a blistering hot day where on-field temperatures were over 100 degrees, the bats couldn't get going against Everett. The only damage was an RBI double and a solo home by CF Ryan Williams. The rest of the day was made up of scattered hits and stranded base runners, including the 9th inning when the first two batters got on, only to be left out there by the 3, 4, and 5 hitters.
SP Frank Lopez gutted out 5+ innings, but didn't get the run support necessary to win. The bullpen coughed up a few more runs late that put the game out of reach. Falling to 0-2 for the tournament, the Force needed the Junior College National Team (NJCAA) to win their matchup against the San Antonio Angels to keep hope alive, but later that evening the baseball gods decided it was not the Force's year. NJCAA lost 6-3 and the Force were eliminated from the National Baseball Congress World Series.