A rainout, an extra-innings nail-biter and a blowout were all part of the drama generated during the 4-game series scheduled between the Bisbee Copper Kings and the Visiting Tucson Nationals last weekend at Warren Ballpark.
Friday's doubleheader was rained out when the field was deemed too sloppy to safely play. The two games will be played later in the season according to Copper Kings team president Tom Mosier.
Saturday's opener was a thriller that lasted twelve innings before the Copper Kings succumbed to the Nationals by a score of 8-7.
Bisbee jumped to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first and added a third run in the second inning to go ahead 3-0.
Tucson scored two runs in the top of the third inning off a blast over the left field wall by right fielder Tom Longoni, putting the score at 3-2, Bisbee.
The Copper Kings struck again in the fourth inning when second baseman Mike Mecucci tripled to drive in a pair of runs, widening the Copper Kings' lead to 5-2.
The Nationals took advantage of three Bisbee errors in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs to tie the game at five runs each.
Bisbee took a two run lead in the bottom of the eighth when shortstop Destry Rice's single drove in designated hitter Sterling Shuller and left fielder Anthony Matias.
But in the top of the ninth inning Nationals right fielder Tom Langoni smacked his second home run of the day with one man on, to even the score at 7-7.
The game remained tied through the 10 and 11th innings with neither team able to put a run across the plate. Tucson ended the deadlock in the top of the 12th when Nationals second baseman Tom Morrison singled, advanced on a wild pitch and then scored on a passed ball to put the visitors ahead, 8-7.
Tucson pitchers Mike Kimsley and Sito Cardenas gave up eight hits. Mike Mecucci led all Copper Kings hitters, with two hits - including a triple and three runs batted in - during his five trips to the plate.
Bisbee pitchers Kyle Cormier (five innings) Dominique Davis (three innings) and Cody Bair (four innings) gave up a total of 14 hits. Bair was tagged for the loss.
A stellar pitching performance by Brandon Orr resulted in a totally different outcome in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, as the Copper Kings blanked the Nationals 10-0.
Orr held Tucson to four hits in the seven innings he worked on the mound. Carlos Lopez closed out the game for Bisbee, throwing for one inning in relief.
The Copper Kings offense was as potent as their pitching. Bisbee rocked Nationals pitcher Abel Mendez for three runs in the second inning, one in the third, two in the fifth and three in the sixth. He was replaced in the seventh inning by Eric Nunez, who gave up the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth, leading the plate umpire to invoke the ten-run "mercy rule."
Brandon Orr was credited with the win.
The Copper Kings belted out 11 hits over the eight innings played. Center fielder Armando Moran was the leading hitter for the home team, producing three hits in three times at bat.
Second baseman Mike Mecucci singled and doubled for Bisbee. Designated hitter Miguel Trujillo went two for three and batted in a pair of runs.
Sunday's game against the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Flying Mustangs went a full nine innings as the Copper Kings defeated the visiting airmen 8-3.
D-M brought only ten players but the Flying Mustangs were still able to put a scare into the home team by taking a 3-1 lead after two innings of play.
The Copper Kings came roaring back in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of walks, errors and three hits to bat around the order, score five runs and take a 6-3 lead.
Bisbee added a seventh run in the fifth inning and the final run in the eighth.
The Copper Kings used six pitchers, holding the airmen of D-M to five hits while giving up seven walks. Tyler Johnson was the winning pitcher for the home team.
Bisbee produced seven hits. Second baseman Mike Mecucci tripled and singled in his four trips to the plate. Right fielder Carlos Martinez tripled and shortstop Jacob Amos doubled for the Copper Kings.
Copper Kings field manager Greg Pennington was pleased with the performance of his star pitcher during the 10-0 shutout of Tucson in Saturday night's second game but was less pleased with the quality of the play displayed at times during the opener.
"That was an outstanding pitching performance by Brandon. He's a very intense competitor, and it really showed Saturday."
"The first game was exciting, but we should have won it," Pennington added. "I think we gave it away. We didn't execute the way we should have and it cost us. We didn't play small ball the way we should have. Our base running could have been better. Other than that, we played well."
The Copper Kings' hopes for a solid pitching rotation suffered a blow earlier this week when Pennington learned that Billy Vopenik, star hurler for Biola University, was signed to a pro contract.
"He was signed by the (Colorado) Rockies. His gain is our loss. But we still have some outstanding pitchers. (Kyle) Cormier, (Calen) Pennington and (Brandon) Orr can give us 5 or six innings of good, consistent work. Carlos Lopez is also pitching much better, spotting his fastball and throwing good breaking stuff."
Pennington is also counting on the services of pitcher Eric Schaler, who was relaeased by the minor league Tucson Toros earlier this season. Schaler made a brief appearance for the Copper Kings in their initial series with the Mesa Garden of Gears.
Bisbee will need to have the right stuff when they host the Cotton Kings of Casa Grande this coming weekend, says Pennington.
"To beat Casa Grande our starting pitchers will have to do well and our relievers will have to step up. The Cotton Kings beat the Nationals all four games last week. But our team is starting to play better. We've improved now that we have everyone here. I'd like to split with the Cotton Kings. I think we will."
Bisbee will host Casa Grande for a pair of double headers Friday and Saturday. Play gets underway at 4 p.m. both days.
Sunday's exhibition games at Warren Ballpark will begin at noon, when two Sierra Vista seniors teams will tangle. The Copper Kings will take the field at 2 p.m. to take on the Sierra Vista All-Stars.
For more information about the Copper Kings or the upcoming schedule of games call 732-7325 or visit www.bisbeecopperkings
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