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Surprise: Tegola, Krč split twin-bill

Lubomír Janda's one-hit gem earns the Titans a rare win

By Dave Faries
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
June 27th, 2007 issue

For nine innings it looked as if the lowly Tegola Titans, panting for breath in the cellar of the Czech Baseball Association’s Extraliga, was a sturdy, playoff-bound squad.
Riding on the arm of starting pitcher Lubomír Janda, and aided by a jittery first frame in which visiting Krč Altron botched two grounders and allowed four runs, Tegola cruised to a rare win, 5–0, in the opener of a June 24 doubleheader at Tempo field in Prague 12.
In the nightcap, roles were reversed. Altron pounded the home squad’s depleted pitching staff, scoring a dozen runs in relentless fashion before the contest was called after eight innings due to fading sunlight.
“It was all about pitching,” said Tegola infielder Pavel Míka.
Indeed, Titans’ hurlers fell apart in the second game, giving up 13 hits and walking 10. Krč chased Zdeněk Stieber (0–3, 10.80 prior to the weekend) in the fourth, then poured it on. Basilio Hernandez drove in four runs, Adam Pospíchal knocked in two more on a bases-loaded single in the seventh and Rudolf Pelzl drew three walks, scoring twice. Meanwhile Vladimír Kůs, who entered the game with a 4.58 ERA, slammed the door shut on Tegola hitters, allowing just three hits and a lone unearned run.
The first game, however, was a pitching masterpiece for the home boys. Janda gave up one hit, an excuse-me blooper by Matěj Hušek, and one base on balls. Relying primarily on low heat, he threw only 82 pitches in a complete game effort. Only six Krč batters managed to hit the ball out of the infield, the hardest a drive by Marek Řezníček in the seventh that centerfielder Eduard Mráz misplayed into a two-base error.
“I had very good control today,” said Janda, on loan to Tegola from Liberec of the Českomoravská liga, the country’s second division. “I didn’t need to use breaking stuff so much.”
Tegola jumped on top quickly. Krč starter Jan Homolka (3–3, 1.59 entering the game) walked the leadoff hitter and couldn’t chase down a perfectly placed drag bunt by Míka. Jiří Drha sacrificed, pushing runners into scoring position. Then František Kučera, a .162 hitter, smacked a two-run double into the left-field corner, scoring a moment later on a base hit by Jakub Sládek.
“Homolka didn’t have his usual stuff today,” said Krč manager Daniel Bagin. “But we couldn’t touch Janda.”
Hušek worked seven solid innings in relief for the visitors.
The opening game was critical for both teams. A win would have given Krč sole possession of third place and put some distance between it and Ostrava. As it is, it remains locked in a tie with Technika Brno. For Tegola, on the other hand, the unexpected victory pulls it ahead of Black Hill Blansko by half a game in that all important struggle to retain their Extraliga status next year.
“It was a great win,” Míka said. “We needed it.”
Krč hosts MZLU Brno for a twin-bill July 6. Tegola next travels to Ostrava, July 8, for two.

Dave Faries can be reached at dfaries@praguepost.com


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