One of the Greatest Games Ever Bombers Pokers

Did you see the story from the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel on this game? Read below -- this was just an incredible game -- never seen anything like it! What the Bombers hitters did in the bottom of the 7th was just incredible - scoring 11 runs (most with no outs in the inning). I have never seen a hitting display like the one the Bombers put on in that 7th inning. Unbelievable!

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-pokersbase28jun28,0,7097565.story?coll=sfla-sports-headlines

Bombers outlast Pokers

By Christy Cabrera Chirinos
Staff Writer
Posted June 28 2004

Boca Raton · In the long summer that encompasses the Connie Mack League season, the Coral Springs Pokers and Florida Bombers meet only a handful of times.

But when they do, the result is usually a hard-fought, intense baseball game, and Sunday was no different.

Former Westminster Academy standout Brian Van Kirk hit a pair of home runs, including a walk-off shot in the bottom of the ninth and a seventh-inning grand slam to push the Bombers to a 14-13 win over the Pokers in the championship game of the Poker Invitational at Florida Atlantic.

"This was more of a team effort than anything else," said Van Kirk, who is headed to Florida Atlantic.

"We knew we needed base hits, and we kept getting them. This is fun because it's still a rivalry for both teams."

It proved to be a hitters' day with the two teams combining to use 12 pitchers and smack 27 hits, including three home runs, five doubles and two triples.

Van Kirk's grand slam capped an 11-run comeback for the Bombers, who trailed 13-2 when the seventh inning began.

"This is as good as it gets," Bombers coach Emilio Fernandez said. "You only get one of these comebacks once every 10 years, and this is the kind of win that gets guys together. For us, it's a tremendous step."

The Pokers (27-14) extended their lead to 7-1 in the fifth inning with five hits, including a two-run homer from Dan Terpak.

The Pokers added another five in the sixth on the strength of three hits, including Nick Arata's double that scored Tyler Herron and Jimmy Sposa. The Pokers led by 11 by the bottom of the seventh.

But the Pokers pitching staff, which was so depleted that position players were forced to pitch, gave up seven hits and the lead.

After forcing extra innings, the Bombers (15-12) were able to secure the win when Van Kirk crushed a 3-1 fastball over the left-field fence.

"This is like college baseball, and there's never a safe lead in college baseball," Pokers coach Mike Roberts said. "We were missing some guys, but we have yet to peak and it's a long summer. Our guys need to hold their heads high because even though this game counts, when it really matters is in regionals."