Miracle win opener of doubleheader; second game postponed

By Special to the Naples Daily News

A complete game by Fort Myers' Errol Simonitsch in game one of a scheduled doubleheader Sunday afternoon led the Miracle to a 3-1 win over the Clearwater Threshers. Game two was postponed due to inclement weather in the area, and will be made up with another twinbill Monday evening beginning at 5:05 p.m.

Simonitsch went the seven-inning distance giving up an unearned run on three hits, with seven strikeouts in the win. Both teams had chances early on before both the Threshers and Miracle were finally able to cash in during the fourth.

Brad Harman led off the visitor fourth with a single to left and later scored on Jeremy Slayden’s sacrifice-fly to left. In the home half of the inning, Dustin Martin was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to third thanks to head’s up base running and an infield single by Juan Portes. Danny Valencia then lifted a sacrifice fly to center knotting the contest at one apiece.

The final two tallies for the Miracle came across an inning later as Johnny Woodard led off with a solo smash to right. After a one-out by Brian Dinkelman, Steve Tolleson would connect on an RBI triple down the right-field line for the opener’s final run.