Thermal, CA (March 8, 2008) – After day one of the Tri Tech Tournament, to benefit the United Pegasus Foundation, it was indeed somewhat fitting that Chris Maloney and Jesse Bray’s Tri Tech/La Quinta foursome took the early lead in the contest with a 13 – 7 win over David Ragland and Bill Freeman’s Pink Deco/Corleone.
Maloney and crew led throughout with a 6 – 3 edge at the half and were threatened only at the end of the fifth as the Ragland bunch, led by Ragland himself with a pair, scored four goals in that period to trail by just one at 8 – 7. As if to prove a point however, Maloney scored twice himself in the sixth and with three others from teamates the two points were in the bank along with a respectable six net goals.
Adding to Maloney’s pair, Jesse Bray (1 foul) and Gaston von Wernich had four each, and Kimo Huddleston provided three.
The first game of the day put Sean Keys and Steve Armour’s Hidden Creek/Shanghai up against Craig Steinke and Kelly Maloney’s Stormcat/Ohana. With an award of two at the start and a strong first chukker, Steinke and Maloney were in good shape with a lead of three at 4 – 1 but couldn’t hold on and led by just one at half-time, 5 – 4. The score was tied after the next three with a final tally of 8 – 8, giving each a point in the standings.
Dan Juarez scored three times for Stormcat/Ohana with Santiago von Wernich notching two, and Kelly Maloney coverting a penalty two.
Keys (1 foul) and Rob Yackley had three apiece and Graham Bray scored twice for Hidden Creek/Shanghai.
Play in the Tri Tech Tournament, to benefit the United Pegasus Foundation, continues Sunday with the $24,000 skins format final next Sunday, March 16, 2008.
tony gregg