The 2005 Texas Collegiate League Championship Series begins Friday night, August 5, when the McKinney Marshals host the Denton Outlaws at McKinney�s Gabe Nesbitt Field beginning at 7:35 p.m.
The Marshals advanced to the finals with a two-game sweep of Coppell in the Tris Speaker Division Series. The Outlaws represent the Rogers Hornsby Division after defeating Weatherford two straight in the first round of the playoffs.
McKinney (28-20) has home field advantage in the Championship Series by virtue of a better regular season record than Denton (26-22) and will host Game One on Friday and Game Three if necessary on Sunday. Denton will host Game Two on Saturday night at The Ballpark on Bonnie Brae. All three games in the �Highway 380 Series� are scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
Righthander Jake Arietta of TCU will be McKinney�s starter on Friday night. Arietta, 4-3, 1.73 in nine starts this summer, clinched a playoff spot for the Marshals with a 7-1 win over Highland Park in the regular season finale on Sunday. The sophomore righthander allowed just one hit and one unearned run in eight innings and was named the TCL Pitcher of the Week for his efforts.
Denton will counter with lefthander Blake Kronkosky of Oklahoma State. The junior was 2-3, 3.91 in ten appearances with the Outlaws in 2005. His last appearance was one shutout inning in relief in the final regular season game on Sunday at Mineral Wells.
McKinney won five of the six meetings between the two teams during the regular season, taking all three games at Gabe Nesbitt Field. Of the Marshals� five victories, four came by a single run.
The schedule and probable pitchers for the 2005 Texas Collegiate League Championship Series:
Friday, August 5�Denton (Blake Kronkosky) at McKinney (Jake Arietta) 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, August 6�McKinney (Hunter Moody) at Denton (Eddie Degerman) 7:35 p.m.
Sunday, August 7�Denton (Cory Kluber) at McKinney (TBA) 7:35 p.m.*
*If necessary
Ticket information for the championship series is as follows:
Denton Outlaws: $4.00 for advance purchase at the Denton Chamber of Commerce or Denton Boys Baseball Office. $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for children and senior citizens at the gate. All seats General Admission. Ticket information: 940-465-0845.
Denton Outlaws players will be signing autographs at Golden Triangle Mall in Denton on Saturday, August 6 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m….Tickets for Saturday�s game will also be on sale at that time.
McKinney Marshals: All reserved tickets priced at $1.00. Ticket information: 972-747-9374.
ALL GAMES OF CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES TO BE WEBCAST
The entire TCL Championship Series will be broadcast live on the internet:
Friday: www.ccir.us
Saturday: www.tsrnsports.com
Sunday (if necessary): www.ccir.us