It's Not About Who Wins and Loses...

Coming off a 4-1 win over the Toyonaka South-East team on Sunday afternoon, the San Mateo Baseball Exchange team dropped game five to Toyonaka West, 7-4. The loss drops San Mateo to 1-3-1 and concludes the five game series here in Toyonaka Japan.

San Mateo got on the board early in the first with a solo run. Aldo Severson led off the game with a triple over the right fielders head. He came in to score one batter later when Michael Valdes sent a fly ball to left field for a sacrifice fly.

San Mateo did not manage to hold the lead for long. Toyonaka plated solo runs in the first and second, four more in the fourth and another solo run in the seventh.

San Mateo tried to mount a comeback in the sixth. Sulim Bartok led off the inning with an inside-the-park homerun to right field. Nick Toomey followed with a base hit and came around to score later in the inning on a double by Eric Fallon cut the Toyonaka lead, 6-3.

Down 7-3 in the seventh, Ian Barrie tripled to lead off the inning. Barrie scored two batters later on a fielder’s choice by Severson for the final run for San Mateo.

Michael Camel took the hill for San Mateo to start the game. He gave way to Michael Sweeney in the top of the third. Barrie pitched the final two innings to close out the game.

Tomorrow, San Mateo tours the city of Nara and concludes their trip on Wednesday with a farewell dinner.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Toyonaka West 0 1 1 4 0 0 1 7 11 1
San Mateo 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 10 2
San Mateo Pitchers: Camel, Sweeney (3), Barrie (6)
LP: Camel (0-1)
San Mateo Hits:
Singles: Helbig, Toomey, Stathas, Ching, Sweeney, Ota
Doubles: Fallon,
Triple: Severson, Barrie
Home Run: Bartok

After the game, San Mateo and Toyonaka joined together as friends for a BBQ lunch where the boys were introduced to a Bon Dance. the boys were given Hapi Coats to wear for the dance and swam in a pool with their new friends.