Pope Gets Game One Nod

Yankees Third Round Pick to Start Game 1 of the Playoffs

By: Robert Pimpsner

September 6, 2007 – The Staten Island Yankees are not taking the playoffs lightly as they are saving their best for the first round with the Brooklyn Cyclones.

                Ryan Pope was the scheduled starter for the second game of the final regular season series on Thursday night.  Pope did indeed make the start but was lifted after the first inning; the reason is that he will be the Game 1 starter for the Staten Island Yankees this Sunday.  The young right-hander was selected in the third round of the 2007 First Year Player Draft and also named the 2007 Staten Island Yankees Pitcher of the Year prior to the game.  The Yankee starter was 3-0 in the regular season with a 2.49 ERA in 43.1 innings with 46 strikeouts.

                Game 1 of the Playoffs is this Sunday most likely at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark.  Tickets are still available via SIYanks.com.