Semifinal start times moved back Games will now be held at 4:30, 7:30

BANGOR – Here’s a reminder that the starting times for Friday’s two semifinals of the Senior League World Series have been pushed back to later in the day, according to tournament director Mike Brooker.

Originally scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., the games will now be held at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Mansfield Stadium.

The 4:30 p.m. game will pit Pearl City, Hawaii, the champion of Pool A, against Bloomfield, N.J., the runnerup from Pool B. The 7:30 p.m. game will have Pool B winner Falcon, Venezuela, facing Pool A runnerup Yorktown, Va.

Friday’s two winners will play in the 2006 Senior League World Series championship game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, following the Pool A vs. Pool B all-star game scheduled for an 11:30 a.m. start.

Since the SLWS was moved to Bangor in 2002, the annual recognition banquet has been held on the Friday evening of tournament week at the Bangor Civic Center. But because the Civic Center was unavailable on Friday night this year, the banquet was moved to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, leaving Friday evening open on the tourney schedule.

Projected forecasts call for good weather Friday evening, and Brooker said the later game times would provide more fans the opportunity to attend the semifinals after completing their work days.

Seams bother pitcher

U.S. South manager Tommy Bayse didn’t pull starting pitcher Matthew Dent from Thursday morning’s game against Canada because the manager had a problem with what Dent was throwing.

Dent had developed a blister on his middle finger because the seams of the baseballs used in the Senior League World Series are different than what the Virginia team is used to.

“These balls that we’re using have big seams, and he throws some breaking pitches,” Bayse said. “We had to take him out because he was hurting really bad.”

Dent tossed four innings, striking out five and walking one with five hits and three runs allowed.

“They were getting on his curveball because he wasn’t locating as well as he usually does,” Bayse said.

Dent went to right field and Cody Brown came on in relief, earning the 4-3 win.

Injured player makes appearance

Canada representative Regina, Saskatchewan, came to Bangor with just 11 players on its roster but only 10 healthy players.

The injured player, third baseman Cody Lutz, was finally given clearance to play Thursday and got a hit in his only at-bat.

Canada manager Barry Richardson said Lutz had been suffering a rotator cuff injury to his right shoulder, a devastating injury for a third baseman. He hurt himself at the Canadian regional tournament.

Lutz was allowed to play Thursday, although not in the field. He pinch hit in the sixth inning and hit a leadoff single to right. He advanced on a sacrifice bunt but was stranded at second.

Richardson was pleased his team got through the tournament with a 1-3 record despite the limited substitutions.

“I couldn’t afford to have anybody leave the field,” he said. “I was proud of these kids. They battled hard for a hockey nation.”