BOYS FALL IN SERIES OPENER 

ALEXANDRIA, La. (August 28, 2009) -- Alexandria Aces first baseman Gabe Memmert and starting pitcher Kyle Zaleski put on a show for the home fans last night, leading the Aces past the Big Bend Cowboys 8-2 in the first game of the CBL championship series at Bringhurst Field.  Memmert went 4-for-4 with 2 home runs, a double, and 6 RBIs, while Zaleski gave up only 6 hits and 2 unearned runs in 8 strong innings.

Alexandria struck first with 3 runs 

in the first inning when Memmert hit his first home run off Cowboys starter Jeremy Macklin. The 'Boys came back with 2 in the top of the second as Lee Ellis and Rene Ruiz scored on a couple of singles and an Alexandria error.  But Memmert made it 5-2 when he hit his second home run in the fourth inning. The Cowboys never really threatened again.

The second game of the series is tonight at 6:55 p.m. in Alexandria.  An Aces win would give them a 2-0 sweep of the three-game series and their third league championship in four years.

The upstart Cowboys, who just began play this year, are hoping for a repeat of recent history.  Big Bend beat Bay Area 8-2 in the first game of the first playoff round, but then lost the next two to the Toros.

Big Bend will try to turn things around by starting lefthander Mike Castrignano (6-1, 3.97 on the season), who beat the Toros on Tuesday. Castrignano was the team's best starter against Alexandria this year. In three starts he gave up only six earned runs and struck out 16 but did not get a decision.

The Aces will counter with Andy Schon, who led the CBL with an 8-3 record while notching a 3.45 ERA. But Schon has struggled against the Cowboys this year, giving up 5 home runs and 12 earned runs in 16 innings. The Cowboys have batted .278 against him.

Tonight's game can be heard live in the Big Bend region on KVLF 1240. You can also hear the KVLF broadcast live around the world at bigbendradio.com.