Pettyjohn back to MLB

Former Long Beach Armada pitcher Adam Pettyjohn has been called up to the Cincinnati Reds. He is the first GBL alum to make an MLB roster since the league's inception in 2005.

Pettyjohn, who pitched for Long Beach in 2005 and the beginning of 2006, led the International League (AAA) with 15 wins for the Louisville Bats in 2008. Pettyjohn, 31, was one of seven Triple-A players to join the Reds since the Bats' season ended when the team was eliminated from the playoffs.

This is Pettyjohn's second stint in the big leagues. In 2001, he appeared in 16 games with the Detroit Tigers, going 1-6 in nine starts with a 5.82 ERA. The 6'3" lefty was drafted by the Tigers in the second round of the 1998 amateur draft.

In 2005, Pettyjohn went 10-2 with the Armada, posting a 3.92 ERA. That year, he struck out 73 batters while walking 23 in 110.1 innings pitched. He started the 2006 campaign with the Fleet, going 1-1 in two starts, before being picked up by Seattle.

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT SEASON

Unfortunately the Fleet went down in 5 games to the rival Flyers this past weekend. We've had some great moments this season that we will probably never see again. We (Wes Komathy and J.R. Reed) would like to take this moment and say thanks. Thanks to all of those that came out to Blair Field to watch the Armada. Thanks to those that supported the players with the passing of the hat and the donation for those All-Stars back in July. Thanks to the players for never giving an inch by winning 15 of their last 18 games to clinch the last playoff spot. And most of all, thanks to the fans. The fans that emailed during the broadcast. The fans that would greet us before every game. The fans that provided a pre-game meal for the press box. We would like to thank everyone that helped with the broadcasts. From IBN sports to those keeping score, announcing at Blair Field and operating the scoreboard. We thank each and everyone of you. We've seen four straight walk off wins and met some great people in the process. Thanks for a great season.


Wes & J.R.

SHIPWRECKED! OC 12, LB 2; Flyers win series 3-2

FULLERTON, Calif. -- The Orange County Flyers jumped out to an early lead en route to a 12-2 victory over the Long Beach Armada in the deciding fifth game of the GBL South Division series. The Armada is eliminated from playoff contention after closing the season on a 15-4 streak to make the postseason.

Flyers shortstop Jermy Acey's first inning three-run home run, his third of the playoffs, putting Orange County up 3-1. OC scored four runs on four hits in the first inning against Armada starter Seth Etherton. Etherton (0-1) took the loss in only two innings pitched (4 ER, 4 H, 2 SO, 1 BB).

Orange County pushed this series to the limit after falling into a 1-2 series deficit against Long Beach. Consecutive wins on Saturday and Sunday at Goodwin Field gave the Flyers a 3-2 series win and sent OC to the second GBL Championship Series in franchise history. The then-Fullerton Flyer lost the 2006 championship series to the Reno Silversox.

The Long Beach offense had its foot stuck in a bucket the entire night against Flyers starter Bob Cramer, who earned the win to end the Armada's season. Cramer (1-0) pitched seven innings and gave up only one earned run on four hits while striking out five and walking four. Flyers relievers Andre Simpson and Dane De La Rose each pitched one scoreless inning of relief.

Omar Bramasco scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 1st inning, and Octavio Martinez drove in Ryan Lehr with a single in the fourth to account for both Armada runs.

Nick Bierbrodt pitched four innings of relief for Long Beach, giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits to go along with four strikeouts and four walks. After a scoreless inning of relief pitching by Sean Buller, Nick Cavanagh took the mound for the first time in the playoffs. Cavanagh had missed the majority of the playoff series to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. OC added four insurance runs against Cavanagh to pad their lead before De La Rose struck out the side in the top of the ninth to end the game.

In a close series that featured two extra-inning walk off home runs, the Orange County Flyer rode the momentum of Game 4 into Sunday's series finale. Long Beach hit only .200 in the playoffs, down from a .276 regular season average. The Armada struck out 62 times against the Flyers in the five-game series compared to 20 walks drawn.

For the third time in four seasons, Long Beach earned a post-season berth. In 2005 and 2007, the Fleet lost in the GBL Championship series.

The Orange County Flyers and Calgary Vipers begin their best-of-five GBL Championships Series on Tuesday at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

LB 3, OC 4; series tied 2-2

Another crazy, exhausting game.  Looks like it's back to Goodwin tomorrow to settle this thing.  Here's the recap from the Armada team site:

Okano's walk-off HR gives OC the win in 13

LB 120 000 000 000 0 - 3 8 1
OC 100 001 010 000 1 - 4 13 1

FULLERTON, Calif. -- With a 2-1 series lead and an opportunity to clinch a berth in the GBL Championship Series, the Long Beach Armada could not drive in runs when it mattered most, losing to the Orange County Flyers, 4-3, in 13 innings at Goodwin Field on Saturday. With the best-of-five series tied, 2-2, the teams will play Sunday in Fullerton for a one-game showdown for a trip to the GBL Championship Series.

Flyers outfielder Mark Okano drove a 2-1 pitch off Garrett Murdy just over the outstretched arm of center fielder Steve Moss for a walk-off solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the 13th inning. As Okano and the Flyers celebrated the series-tying win, the Armada walked off the field having missed their opportunities.

The Fleet stranded 11 runners in the game and had the bases loaded with one out in both the 11th and 12th innings. Each time, Long Beach could not get a run across the plate.

Murdy pitched a near-spotless 3.2 innings, retiring 11 of the 12 batters he faced before Okano's ender. He is now 0-2 this postseason after allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts on Saturday.

Long Beach jumped out to an early 3-1 lead thanks to Dan Trumble's two-run home run in the top of the 2nd inning. It was Trumble's first hit of the playoffs and the last time Long Beach would cross the plate. The Armada put up 11 scoreless innings as Orange County pieced together runs throughout the game.

Armada starter Dusty Gober did not earn a decision in a game consistent with all Long Beach starters this postseason. Gober struck out eight Flyers and issued no walks in six innings. He was tagged for two runs on seven hits.

Orange County did not wait to get on the scoreboard. After Long Beach took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning, Jermy Acey's solo home run in the bottom of the 1st tied the game, 1-1. The Flyers failed to score again until the 6th inning when Acey scored on a Gober wild pitch.

Flyers starter Mike Natale settled down after allowing three runs in the first two innings. He pitched seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits, striking out four and walking three. Andre Simpson pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning for OC, and Jason Norderum struck out three in the ninth.

After Flyers left fielder Jeff LaRue tied the game with a two-out RBI single of Wayne Foltin in the bottom of the 8th inning, Foltin and the strong-armed Julian Williams got the Armada out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the 9th. With one out and the bases loaded, Brian Rios (3-for-6) popped out to the right fielder Williams.

As Williams caught the ball, he stepped into a powerful throw to the plate. Travon Jackson tagged up on third base and bolted for home plate, but Williams' throw hit catcher Octavio Martinez perfectly, and Martinez blocked Jackson from ever touching the plate, sending the game into extra innings. It's the third time in a week that Williams has thrown out a potential game-tying or game-winning run against Orange County.

After Flyers closer Dane De La Rose struck out the side in the top of the 10th, Murdy came on to return the favor, retiring the Flyers 1-2-3. De La Rosa loaded the bases in the top of the 11th before the Flyers called on their Game 1 starter Jesse Smith. He recorded two quick outs to get OC out of a bases loaded jam. Smith (1-0) earned the win, giving up no runs and one hit with three strike outs and two walks (one intentional) in 2.2 innings pitched.

The Armada visit Goodwin Field for the final time in 2008 on Sunday. The South Division winner of the deciding Game 5 will travel to Calgary to face the Vipers on Tuesday in Game 1 of the GBL Championship Series. First pitch Sunday to determine the GBL South Division winner is 6:05pm.

LB 13, OC 4; LB leads series 2-1

Claypool grounds Flyers offense while Williams drives in 6

LB 130 006 300 - 13 10 0
OC 000 000 220 - 4 7 2

FULLERTON, Calif. – Julian Williams drove in six runs, three of them on his first home run of the season, as the Armada cruised to a 13-4 win at Goodwin Field on Friday night, taking a 2-1 series lead over the Flyers in the best-of-five division championship series.

Omar Bramasco’s solo home run in the top of the 1st inning kicked off an offensive display not seen by the Armada since mid-July. Williams crushed a three-run homerun off the scoreboard in left field to put Long Beach up 4-0 in the 2nd inning, giving starter Ryan Claypool plenty of slack to work with.

Claypool, however, would have been fine without it. Through the first six inning, the Armada starter shut out the Flyers, giving up only two hits and at one point retiring 10 straight batters. Claypool (1-0) finished the night giving up two runs on five hits, striking out four and walking one in seven innings pitched.

Despite Claypool getting the win, his OC counterpart Matt Durkin looked equally as sharp in a losing effort. Durkin (0-1) struck out eight batters through the first five innings before things began to rapidly unravel in the sixth.

Long Beach sent 10 batters to the plate in a six-run 6th inning that put the game out of reach. After Steve Moss led off the inning with a walk, Ryan Lehr reached on a fielder’s choice. Three straight singles by Norm Hutchins, Ryan Brown and Octavio Martinez put Long Beach on top 6-0. Cleatus Davidson followed a Dan Trumble walk with a two-RBI single to right field. Williams and Bramasco finished the inning with two more RBI hits to put the Armada ahead 10-0.

Williams added two more RBI in the 7th inning and reliever Garrett Murdy and Sean Buller each pitched an inning of relief.

The 13-run total was the highest for Long Beach since a 15-11 win over the Flyers at Goodwin Field on July 19.

The Armada and Flyers will play Game 4 of this best-of-five series at Goodwin Field Saturday night at 7:05pm. The winner of the South Division series will open the GBL Championship Series on the road in Calgary on Tuesday after the Vipers completed a sweep of the Edmonton Cracker Cats on Friday.

LB 5, OC 4; series tied 1-1

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Armada needed extra innings to get the job done Wednesday night. Norm Hutchins' walk off two-run inside-the-park homerun gave Long Beach the win, 5-4, over the Orange County Flyers in 11 innings at Blair Field. The South Division Championship Series will shift to Orange County this weekend tied, 1-1.

Only one night after Orange County struck late to steal a victory in Game 1, Long Beach returned the favor to even the series.

With the Armada trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the 11th inning, Hutchins drove the first pitch he saw into deep center field, scoring Steve Moss from third base. While playing the fly ball, Flyers centerfielder and MVP candidate Pat Breen ran head-first into the brick outfield wall, and the ball fell by his side. By the time right fielder Mark Okano could run to Breen and throw the ball to the cut-off man, Hutchins was well on his way toward home plate for his Armada record-extending 16th home run of 2008.

After a brief celebration at home plate, the emotion at Blair Field turned from jubilation to gloom with Breen still laying on the center field warning track. Trainers and paramedics helped him to his feet after a 15 minute period of silence and doubt. Breen left the field via ambulance and was taken to an area hospital. He did not lose consciousness but did have a cut over his left eye.

The sight of players from rival teams waiting together as paramedics tended to Breen seemed almost unreal when only an hour earlier the dugouts and bullpens cleared for a near-brawl in the 8th inning.

Orange County jumped out to a 3-0 lead, a small margin considering the 17 Flyers left on base in the game. OC held the Fleet scoreless until the bottom of the 6th. Armada third baseman Ryan Lehr smashed a 2-RBI triple to score Moss and Omar Bramasco, putting the Armada on the board, 2-3. Flyers starter Bob Cramer balked, scoring Lehr from third, tying the game, 3-3.

In the top of the 8th, sailor-turned-Flyer Jeff LaRue flew out to right field with Flyers shortstop Jermy Acey on third base. Armada right fielder Julian Williams made the catch and launched the ball toward catcher David Ramirez at home plate, who blocked the plate from Acey on a clean play that turned ugly. Benches and bullpens cleared after Ramirez tried to tap Acey with the ball after the collision at the plate. No punches were thrown and no players were ejected.

Hutchins (1-for-5, 2 RBI) and Lehr (2-for-5, 2 RBI) provided the offense while the Armada pitching staff held the prolific Flyers offense in check. Starter Rik Currier did not receive a decision after pitching five innings. He allowed 3 runs on 10 hits while striking out 5 and walking 4. After a scoreless inning of relief from Dusty Gober (2 SO, 1 BB), Nick Bierbrodt took the mound for the Fleet.

Bierbrodt, a former major leaguer, pitched the final five innings of the game to earn the win (1-0). He gave up one earned run on four hits and totaled 6 strikeouts and 2 walks. Flyers closer Dane De La Rosa (0-1) took the loss, pitching the bottom of the 11th for OC.

The Flyers host the Armada at Goodwin Field on Friday night in Game 3 of the best-of-five series to determine who will represent the South Division in the GBL Championship Series next week. Expected starters for the 7:05pm game are Orange County's Matt Durkin and Long Beach's Ryan Claypool.

Armada 5 Flyers 4

We saw an exciting game from start to finish that had the benches cleared, two plays at the plate and a win in extra innings! That win going in favor to the Long Beach Armada as they evened up this series with the OC Flyers at 1-1.

The Flyers struck first with 2B David Bacani scoring on a single from CF Patrick Breen in the first inning. Orange County would add one in the fourth and fifth thanks to Bacani and C Josh Arhart driving in a run each. The game would be tied at 3-3 after Long Beach scored three in the sixth and the Flyers would strike back in extra innings thanks to Arhart's sac fly RBI to right to score LF Jeff LaRue. The Flyers would finish with 15 hits, but left seventeen runners on base.

Flyers starter Bob Cramer pitched a no decision going 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits, walking 2 and striking out 8. Andre Simpson and Jason Norderum would combine to go 4 innings giving up no runs on 2 hits, walking 1 and striking out 5. Dane De La Rosa got the loss going 1/3 inning giving up 2 runs on 2 hits and striking out 1.

The Armada bats would tie the game at 3-3 in the sixth when 3B Ryan Lehr struck with a two RBI triple to score 2B/SS Omar Bramasco and CF Steve Moss. Lehr would then score on a balk by Flyers starter Bob Cramer with DH Norm Hutchins (pictured left) to bat. Armada starter Rik Currier pitched 5 innings of a no decision giving up 3 runs on 10 hits, walking 4 and striking out 5. Dusty Gober went 1 inning of relief giving up 1 hit, 1 walk and striking out 2. Nick Bierbrodt got the win pitching 5 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 6. Great performance by the pitching staff to keep them in the game.

Benches would clear when in the eighth inning, two on for Orange County LaRue hits a fly ball to right with one out. The ball is caught by RF Julian Williams (who gunned down Arhart at the plate to get Long Beach into the playoffs) who then follows through with a perfect throw to home where C David Ramirez catches it and blocks SS Jermy Acey from touching home with a collision. Both players are all right, but Ramirez jumps up and begins promptly show the ball to Acey. Acey doesn't take to kindly to that and the benches empty. No punches thrown, but tempers definitely high. It's the eighth game in a row counting the regular season these teams have played.

Bottom of the eleventh, the Flyers are up 4-3. De La Rosa comes on to close out the game. Moss starts the inning with a base hit to center. Moss would then steal second, but Arhart's throw sails into center giving Moss third base with no outs and Lehr batting. Lehr went down for the first out, but the DH Norm Hutchins stepped in and drove a ball to deep center that would easily score Moss and him as it went off the brick wall and back into center field giving Hutchins an inside the park two run HR to win Game 2 and even up the series at 1-1 going to Orange Coutny.

Unfortunately as the ball was hit to center, CF Patrick Breen in his attempt to catch the ball had also made contact with the brick wall. He was down on the warning track for about 10-15 minutes as trainers and players from both teams were out in center hoping and praying for Breen. He was helped up and standing before being put on a stretcher. He was taken to a local hospital for a concussion and a possible broken nose. We'll keep you up to date on his condition.

Long Beach and Orange County now head to Fullerton for Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary). Ryan Claypool will pitch in Game 3 for Long Beach and Matt Durkin for Orange County. Game time is at 7:05pm.

Photo by: Mark Mauno

PLAYOFF SERIES GAME 2 VS. ORANGE COUNTY

FLYERS

1. 1 2B DAVID BACANI
2. 26 DH NICK GUERRA
3. 7 SS JERMY ACEY
4. 10 CF PATRICK BREEN
5. 16 LF JEFF LARUE
6. 3 1B FERNANDO PACHECO
7. 5 3B BRIAN RIOS
8. 33 C JOSH ARHART
9. 21 RF MARK OKANO
2 P BOB CRAMER


ARMADA

1. 11 RF JULIAN WILLIAMS
2. 4 2B OMAR BRAMASCO
3. 6 CF STEVE MOSS
4. 14 3B RYAN LEHR
5. 19 DH NORM HUTCHINS
6. 25 1B BRETT FLOWERS
7. 34 LF DAN TRUMBLE
8. 21 C DAVID RAMIREZ
9. 2 SS CLEATUS DAVIDSON
12 P RIK CURRIER

ORANGE COUNTY LEADS 1-0

Armada 2 Flyers 4

It started out in the Armada's favor, but ended in favor of the Flyers. Orange County had no runs and only 3 hits through seven innings of work. Long Beach had a two run lead going into the eighth when the Flyers bats woke up taking the lead and holding Long Beach for a 4-2 win in Game 1 of this best of five Southern Division Championship Series.

Armada starter Seth Etherton pitched a gem. It's only his third start since Tommy John Surgery. He pitched 7 innings giving up no runs on 3 hits, walking 2 and striking out 12. A fantastic performance that was a no decision. Garrett Murdy (0-1) came in the eighth giving up 3 runs, 2 earned on 1 hit walking 1. Wayne Foltin pitched for Murdy to finish the eighth and ninth giving up 1 run on 3 hits, walking 3 and striking out 1.

The offense for the Armada came in the second when C Octavio Martinez (pictured left) drove in DH Norm Hutchins from second. In the same inning Martinez scored from third when 1B Brett Flowers was caught in a pickoff at second base. The lead would hold until the eighth when Orange County was awaken. Martinez went 1 for 4 as did Hutchins, CF Steve Moss and 3B Ryan Lehr. The last eleven Armada batters struck out to end the game.

The Flyers struck in the eighth to tie the game thanks to CF Patrick Breen's two RBI double. 3B Brian Rios would add another run with his base hit to right giving the Flyers a 3-2 lead. RF Mark Okano scored in the ninth after DH Nick Guerra grounded into a double play. Flyers starter Jesse Smith went 6 innings giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 8. Andre Simpson (1-0) got the win pitching the eighth and Dane De La Rosa got the save pitching the ninth. Simpson, Jason Norderum and De La Rosa each pitched one inning and each struck out the side.

Probable starters tomorrow for Orange County Bob Cramer and for Long Beach Rik Currier. Game time is 7:05pm.

Photo by: Mark Mauno

PLAYOFF SERIES GAME 1 VS. ORANGE COUNTY

FLYERS 51-35

1. 1 2B DAVID BACANI
2. 26 DH NICK GUERRA
3. 7 SS JERMY ACEY
4. 10 CF PATRICK BREEN
5. 16 LF JEFF LARUE
6. 3 1B FERNANDO PACHECO
7. 5 3B BRIAN RIOS
8. 33 C JOSH ARHART
9. 21 RF MARK OKANO
36 P JESSE SMITH


ARMADA 48-40

1. 11 RF JULIAN WILLIAMS
2. 4 2B OMAR BRAMASCO
3. 6 CF STEVE MOSS
4. 14 3B RYAN LEHR
5. 19 DH NORM HUTCHINS
6. 15 C OCTAVIO MARTINEZ
7. 25 1B BRETT FLOWERS
8. 34 LF DAN TRUMBLE
9. 2 SS CLEATUS DAVIDSON
18 P SETH ETHERTON