BY LAURA ALBANESE
Laura here from Binghamton. Alas, I wasn't able to live-blog the game because I had no wifi, but I come bearing highlights.
Mike Mandarino was again steller, pitching a complete game and allowing four hits with two walks as the Chiefs defeated Hilton, 4-0. Things were a little rough the first time around the order but Mandarino's fastball was the best I've seen it and he was brandishing a wicked curve that tied up Hilton bats for the entire game. Pitching coach Chris Cafiero went up to Buffalo to check the team out during the playoffs and came back with a highly extensive scouting report. It certainly helped the hitters in the bottom of the lineup.
Matt Hardy worked out a walk in the second inning and advanced to second on a pickoff attempt gone awry. Greg Muller hit a high chopper to score him. Two batters later, Chris Theoharidies smacked a groundball past a diving shortstop to score Muller from second.
'Pequa scored two more in the fifth. Muller hit an RBI single to score Travis Locascio (he reached base on a single to left field). Tony Abruzzino hit a double to make it second and third, but Muller got caught up after a Theoharidies bunted through an attempted suicide squeeze. It looks like the move got to Coleman's head, though, since he balked to drive Abruzzino home.
Mandarino had a dicey inning in the fourth, with runners on second and third with two outs, before he struck out Patrick O'Sullivan to end the threat. After that, he was nearly untouchable - facing one over the minimum to end the game (a walk to Coleman in the fifth.)
Well, that's that. I'll be back for Game 2 (weather and computer permitting). I've got a bunch of good information talking to Tom Sheedy and the guys, so keep checking the space.