Superior League Playoffs: Utah vs Baltimore

Game 1: Storm Morris takes a 2-1 lead into the 6th inning, but is pulled after walking Frank Lewis and Ryan Ballard. Utah proceeds to beat up on the Baltimore bullpen and finishes with an 8-4 win. It was a balanced Ute attack as every batter contributed, but nobody had more than 2 runs, hits, or RBI.

Game 2: Utah scores 6 early runs off Suzuke Mazdahonda, knocking him out in the third inning. Jason Blaylock homers and knocks in 4. Keith Langford pitches 7 innings for the win, allowing 2 runs, a walk, and 8 strikeouts.

Game 3: Baltimore breaks a scoreless tie in the 5th with 4 runs off Duane Garcia. They proceed to bash the Utah bullpen for an 11-4 victory. Prince Coleman homers and knocks in 3, Andres Gomez drives in 5 with a pair of doubles.

Game 4: Jason Baret had not pitched in 30 days to to shoulder soreness, but came back strong with 5 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, walking 1 and striking out 6. Utah knocked out Jose Barrera with a 4 run third inning, and four Ute relievers combine to preserve the shutout. Utah wins 6-0. It's a costly one though, as shortstop Chad Richardson was hit by a pitch, breaking his hamate bone. He will miss the rest of the playoffs.

Game 5: This will be the only close game of the series. Storm Morris and Jaret Benser have a pitcher's duel going for the first 4 innings until Morris runs out of gas. In the 5th he allows the first 3 batters to reach base before Kermit Crawford's 3 run homer makes in 4-0. Doug Dodson goes back to back, and Morris is done. As we head to the 8th inning, it's 6-2 Utah with Scott Klippenstein on the mound. He allows 2 runners to reach with 2 out when Battle Trap goes to the bullpen for Chris Grimes, the saving Ute. Grimes throws a gopher ball to Sergio Perez, and it's a one run game.

Grimes allows a single to Steve Freeman before Jesse Myers reaches on an error, bringing up the dangerous Prince Coleman. Grimes is able to get the groundout. Utah adds insurance in the 9th as Frank Lewis drives in Kermit Crawford. Grimes goes back out for the 9th and records 2 quick outs. Oswipe Cabrera hits a ground ball to shortstop Alberto Mitre which is bobbled for an error, the 5th by Utah in the game. Pinch hitter Larry Mo Pena hits another grounder to short, and Mitre's throw is too late, infield hit and tying run on. That brings up Brett Thompson, who hits one back to the mound. Grimes handles this one cleanly, and Utah will face New York in the Championship series.