SPRING HILL, Pa - On a perfect night for baseball at Spring Hill Park on the North Side of Pittsburgh, Jason Ashcroft led the Oilers to a victory over the Bulldogs. Th opening game of the Pittsburgh NABA playoffs became an instant classic, as Ashcroft no-hit the Bulldogs in a pitcher's duel, 1-0.

The Bulldogs managed only two baserunners all evening, as Ashcroft sent the first 17 Bulldogs down in order before a runner reached base on an error. Jason recorded the final out with the tying runner at third on a check-swing strikeout. Jason finished having retired 21 of 23 batters faced, strikeing out six batters along the way. Only a lead-off walk in the top of the seventh prevented the perfect game.

In the bottom of the ssixth inning, Harry Yeakel reached based for the third time in the game. An error to start the inning gave the Oilers a runner on with nobody out. Zach Ciccone drove a ball to the right center field fence just past a diving Mike Martin to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Dobson got the next batter to pop out, but the run scored on a Matt Ciccone RBI groundout. That gave the Oilers the only run they would need behind the strong pitching of Ashcroft.

The Bulldogs threatend in the top of the seventh as Ashcroft walked the first batter, Doug Della-penna. A sacrifice bunt by Joe Graff had the tying run at second base with one out, but Ashcroft induced a ground-out and a strikeout to end the threat, and the game, as it sent the Oilers on to the Allegheny Championship Series.

"Can't say enough about this game," exclaimed Oilers manager Matt Ciccone after emerging from the dogpile ensued their dramatic win.. "It was a great game to be a part of all the way around. Both teams played well, both pitchers pitched well. It was an instant classic. I'm very proud of this team."

The Bulldogs played solid defense behind the pitching of Geoff Dobson, who went six innings allowing 1 unearned run on 4 hits.. Doug Della-Penna also perfomed well as the only Bulldog runner to reach base (the walk in the seventh), and throwing out a runner at the plate on a single to left to end the first inning.

"Both teams played well, but you've really got to tip your cap to the Oilers," Bulldogs manager Scott Kramer noted after the game. "Ashcroft pitched well, and they made the most of the opportunities they had. Anytime a game has only 4 hits total, it was a great game. We unfortunately were on the short end."

The Oilers will face the Warriors Wednesday at Spring Hill Park in Game 1 of the Allegheny Championship Serires.

Note: As always, all quotes have not been verified at the time of printing.