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After a fourteen day layoff, the Rosalind Athletics were finally back in action to kick off the 2019 PBL Playoffs.  The A's ended the regular season in 2nd place, after a tough loss in Holden to close out the season, setting up a semi final match up against the Armena Royals.  This will be the 3rd time that the A's and Royals have faced each other in the PBL playoffs, both of the other contests coming in the Championship Finals of 2016 and 2017.  The two clubs have been evenly matched since the Athletics joined the PBL in 2015, and the current rivalry shows no signs of letting up, as the A's try to dethrone the reigning champs.

Griff Lorenz got the game one start for the Athletics, his fifth of his rookie season.  The lefty has been the ace of the pitching staff this season, going 4-0 in his previous starts with a sparkling 1.75 ERA.  Lorenz was dealing from the first pitch, and worked quickly through the first three innings, keeping the Royals off the scoreboard.

Rosalind put the first runs on the board, in the bottom of the 3rd inning, when fellow rookie Kobe Charchun launched a homerun to rightfield, his second bomb of the season.  Chase Leslie and Steve Enright followed with single before Sheldon Pederson tallied a two out RBI single down the left field line to give the A's a 2-0 lead after 3 innings.

The Royals took the momentum back though in the top of the fourth, when three straight batters got hits, or capitalized on miss plays by the A's in the outfield.  With the bases loaded, a flyball hit into the outfield got lost in the cloudless sky, in and out of the Athletics fielders glove, as two Armena runs came across to tie the game.  Rosalind was able to escape the jam though, as a slow roller two Adam Enright at short got the runner at first, before the infielders were able to get the runner at home after an Armena miscommuncation on the basepaths.

Both teams would be held off the scoreboard, as both pitchers were locked in.  Rosalind had two baserunners in the top of the 5th, but perfect throws got Leslie and Enright trying to get into scoring position.  The Royals put a runner in scoring position after a lead off error, and a sac bunt, however, Lorez and the infield stranded the runner at 2nd. 

Enter the heroics of extra innings, as rookie Chase Leslie led off of a no-doubter to right field, to walk it for the a 3-2 A's victory in game one.  The homerun was the first of the season for Leslie, and he was mobbed at home plate by his teammates. 

With the beatiful weather, plenty of fans were treated to an exciting game and what looks to be a interesting series.  Game two goes on Thursday night in Armena at Anniverysary Park at 7pm.  Come out and check out some good summer baseball.