Freehold vs. Tbilisi suspended by rain

BANGOR – It was clear from the outset that Sunday night’s Senior League World Series game between the U.S. East and Europe-Middle East-Africa wasn’t going to be completed as scheduled.

That didn’t stop the team from Freehold Township, N.J., the defending world champion, from patiently making the most of its 37 minutes spent in the pouring rain at Mansfield Stadium.

U.S. East waited out the rain and EMEA starter Luke Gakhokidze while building an 8-1 lead before the Pool B game was suspended by tournament officials because of the rain.

The contest is scheduled to be completed starting Wednesday at 9 a.m. as part of what will become a five-game day. The remainder of Wednesday’s slate will be announced today.

In today’s Pool B action, U.S. East meets U.S. Central (Urbandale, Iowa) at 1 p.m. EMEA, of Tbilisi, Georgia, the former Soviet Republic, faces U.S. Southwest representative Marksville, La., at 5 p.m.

Freehold spotted the squad from Tbilisi, Georgia, the former Soviet Republic, a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning but walked its way to a big cushion.

Gakhokidze struggled to find the strike zone while being pelted by rain. He walked five batters, all consecutively – all with two out.

A.J. Rusbarsky, who singled and scored his first time up, laced an RBI single to plate the eighth run of the inning.

Officials suspended the game after Ryan Cuneo grounded out to second base for the final out of the inning.

John Whitley got the start for Freehold and surrendered one run via a walk, a single, and two wild pitches. He registered three strikeouts in the inning.