SPRING PRACTICE (January - February 2011)
Unofficial Recaps by Roger Tower
February 16, 2011 - Blue 2, Gray 1:
The final spring scrimmage got started late at 4:52 PM but finished before 6:30 PM. Five pitchers took the hill for each team. Blue won 2-1 holding Gray to three singles and a single run.
Blue pitchers were Reckling, Boogie, Simmons, McDowell, and Duffey.
Gray pitchers were Kubitza, Wall, Fant, McNair, and Chargois.
Reckling opened for Blue retiring the side in order. He had 16 strikes in the inning.
Boogie pitched the second and third for Blue retiring the side in order in the second. In the third, a lead-off single by Cook was wiped-out on a 5-4-3 DP. A strikeout followed.
Kubitza pitched the first two innings for Gray, allowing a first inning run. Hoelscher reached when hit-by-pitch. After a strike-out, Fuda singled Shane to second. Rathjen drove Shane home with a single to center. That was Jeremy's twentieth RBI of the preseason.
Two pop-ups followed to end the first. In the second, Kubitza allowed only a one out walk.
Wall pitched the third for Gray. A pop-out was followed by a walk to Fuda. Lewis ran for Michael. Rathjen singled him to second. Perrott singled Lewis home. An outfield out followed. A walk loaded the bases. A swinging strikeout ended Wall's inning.
After three, the score was Blue 2-0.
Simmons pitched the fourth for Blue. Hamilton singled up-the-middle. He advanced to second on a passed ball and went to third on Chargois's fly to right. Rendon drove him home with a deep sac-fly. A ground-out to first ended the inning.
Fant pitched the fourth for Gray. He gave up a two-out double to Lewis. He was stranded on a fly to left.
After four, it was 2-1 Blue.
McDowell pitched a perfect fifth for Blue.
In the fifth, McNair gave up an infield single that was removed in a 6-4-3 DP.
Still 2-1 Blue.
Duffey and Chargois pitched scoreless innings once again to close out the game.
Final Blue 2 Gray 1.
Offense:
Hits: Cook (2), Perrott (2), Rathjen (2), Lewis, Fuda, Hamilton
Double: Lewis
RBI: Rathjen, Rendon, Perrott
Rathjen wound up with 22 hits in 44 AB along with his 20 RBI.
Reckling had 17 SOs. Chargois did not give up a run.
Bring on the Cardinal.
Go Owls!
February 14, 2011 - Gray 4, Blue 1:
It was the penultimate scrimmage today. Gray won again with a late rally. Final 4-1.
More good pitching. Fuda and Rendon are still DH'ing. Chargois and Duffey closed with shutout innings once again. Rathjen had another RBI. Manuel still hasn't struck-out in the preseason.
Ratterree was in the lead-off slot for Gray and played short. DGL played second for Gray.
Hoelscher batted third for Blue and played third.
Spurlin pitched five solid innings for the Blue, allowing only one earned run in the fourth inning. That run scored on DGL's one out bases loaded single to left. A SO and ground-out ended the rally.
Spurlin's line was 5 innings, one earned run, three hits, three walks, and five SOs.
Brad Kottman had his best outing of the preseason going five innings, no runs, one hit, two walks, and three strikeouts. After his second walk in the second inning, he retired the last eleven batters he faced.
After five, it was Gray 1, Blue 0.
Evers relieved Spurlin in the sixth. With two outs, DGL singled. Kubitza doubled down the right-field line for his first extra base hit of the preseason. Evers got a swinging strikeout to end the inning.
Mueller took over in the sixth for Gray. Blue rallied to tie it at a run apiece. Two quick outs were followed by a single to right by Hoelscher. Rendon dumped one into right off the end of the bat, sending Hoelscher home. A fly out followed for the third out.
Evers ran into trouble in the seventh. Simmons and Murphy hit singles. A walk to Ratterree loaded the bases. After a strikeout, Fuda singled to center scoring Simmons and Murphy. Lewis ran for Fuda. Ratterree moved to third. Rathjen's deep fly to right scored Ratt with the third run. Manuel singled to left with Lewis holding at second. An infield pop-out ended the frame.
Mueller retired Blue in order in the seventh.
Evers pitched two innings, allowed three earned runs, six hits, one walk, and two SOs.
Mueller also pitched two innings with one earned run, two hits, and one SO.
After seven, Gray lead 4-1.
Chargois came on to close for Blue. Kubitza had a single to lead-off the inning. Two strikeouts and a pop-up followed.
Duffey pitched the bottom of the eighth for Gray and retired the side in order with two SOs.
Chargois one inning, no runs, one hit, two SOs.
Duffey one inning no tuns, no hits, two SOs.
Final was 4-1 Gray.
There were two balks called during the scrimmage. Not sure if those were the first of the preseason but the coaches did get with the home-plate umpire for some elaboration on what he saw and why it was a balk.
Offense:
Hits: Fuda (2), DGL (2), Kubitza (2), Hoelscher (2), Lewis, Manuel, Simmons, Murphy, Rendon
Double: Kubitza
RBI: Fuda (2), DGL, Rathjen, Rendon
Scrimmage Wednesday. Lots of pitchers 1-2 innings.
February 13, 2011 - Gray 4, Blue 3:
The weather and the Owls pitching continue to be bright spots for Rice fans. It was a gorgeous day to take in the Rice Women's tennis double header and the Rice baseball scrimmage.
The Tennis team swept the double-bill winning 7-0 versus Texas State and 6-0 versus UTPA.
Gray bested Blue 4-3 in eight quick innings. The big news of the day was Fuda batting during the scrimmage. He would get two singles. Coach had Mueller and Pearson run for him with each scoring a run.
There were several great outfield assists and plays cutting down runners trying to go home or to third. I believe eight runners in total were out trying to go home or reach third.
The pitchers for Blue were Benak (5 inn) and McNair (3 inn). The pitchers for Gray were Gonzales (5 inn) and Simmons (3 inn).
Benak and Gonzales each pitched a scoreless first inning. Benak kept Gray off the scoreboard in the second.
Gonzales walked the lead-off man in the second. McDowell singled to center with Ratterree going to third on the hit-and-run. DGL singled to second with Ratterree scoring and McDowell taking second. Chase was out at third on Mueller's attempted sac-bunt. Maxwell singled to left scoring DGL. Mueller cut down trying to go to third on the play at home when Perrott threw back to third for the tag-out. Maxwell was picked-off first for the final out leaving Murphy at the plate.
Gray rallied against Benak in the third. Pearson lead off with a walk. Fuda singled to center with McDowell throwing out Pearson at third. Mueller ran for Fuda. A pop-foul was the second out. Cook walked. Perrott singled Mueller home with the first run. Cook taking third. Rathjen dropped a single into center scoring Cook. Perrott moving to the corner. Lewis ripped one to right with Perrott scoring but Jeremy was out at home on a great throw from Maxwell.
Gonzales pitched scoreless ball after that.
Benak gave up another run in the fifth. Fuda singled with one out. Pearson ran for him. he advanced to second on a wild pitch strike. Hoelscher's single to center scored Pearson. Cook followed with another single moving Shane to third. Cook then stole second. Hoelscher broke to the plate after Cook was safe and was cut down at the plate. An infield ground-out ended the fifth.
Benak pitcher five innings allowing four earned runs, nine hits, two walks, and three SOs.
Gonzales pitched five innings with two earned runs, seven hits, and two walks.
After five innings, the score was 3-2 Gray.
McNair relieved for Blue in the sixth and pitched three scoreless innings. However, with one out in the eighth, Hoelscher lined a ball to right that looked as if he had the first triple of the preseason. A good throw from right and a great relay cut him down at third on a leaping catch and tag by DGL.
Simmons took over for Gray in the sixth pitching two scoreless innings.
In the bottom of the eighth, Blue mounted a rally. With one out, Maxwell singled to left. He stole second and went to third on Murphy's infield single. Will scored when Hamilton grounded out to first unassisted. Murphy going to second.
Chargois followed with a single through the right-side. Murphy rounded third but thought better of trying to score and held-up. Rendon grounded a fielder's choice to second to force J.T.
McNair worked three innings with no runs, three hits, one walk, and three SOs.
Simmons pitched three innings with one earned run, three hits, one hit batter, and two SOs.
The final was Gray 4 Blue 3.
Offense:
Hits: Hoelscher (3), Perrott (2), Chargois (2), Fuda (2), Rendon (2), Maxwell (2), Murphy (2), Cook, Rathjen, Lewis, Kubitza, Pearson, McDowell, DGL
Doubles: Hoelscher (2)
RBI: Hamilton, DGL, Maxwell, Hoelscher, Perrott, Rathjen, Lewis
SB: Maxwell, Cook
Scrimmage again tomorrow.
February 12, 2011 - Blue 3, Gray 2:
Houston weather doesn't get any better than this afternoon. Owl's pitching continues to be excellent. All six pitchers were very good.
Reckling and Wall pitched the first five innings for their respective teams.
Reckling had ten strikeouts in his outing. He allowed two hits (a double by Chargois and an infield single by Ratterree). He walked two and hit one.The only run he gave up was unearned (a dropped pop-up to the outfield eventually scored).
Wall pitched very well also. He had three 1-2-3 innings.
Blue scored two runs in the fourth. With one out, Perrott walked. Rathjen singled to right. Perrott going to third. Perrott was cut down trying to steal home as Rathjen was caught in a pickle attempting to steal second. Jeremy was called safe at first but Geoff was out at the plate.
Lewis singled to right confirming one of baseball's unwritten rules that a hit always follows when a runner is caught stealing. Rathjen moved to third. Spurlin doubled to left scoring Rathjen and Lewis. The inning ended on a fly to left.
After five, the score was Blue 2 Gray 1.
Fant relieved Reckling in the sixth and pitched the next three innings.
In the sixth, an infield throwing error lead to another unearned run. The run scored on Kubitza's single to center.
Fant pitched scoreless ball in the seventh and eighth allowing a single to Simmons that was eliminated on a nice first to short to the pitcher double play. Chargois doubled in the eighth but was stranded.
Fant pitched three innings allowing one unearned run, three hits while getting three SOs.
Boogie took over for Wall in the sixth. He pitched the next three innings.
In the sixth, Cook singled to center. He advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Lewis was HBP. Cook was thrown out trying to steal third. Spurlin was left-at-bat with a full count.
Of course, he lead-off with a double in the seventh (see Lewis comment above). McDowell followed with a walk. DGL laid down a sac-bunt to move the runners up. Murphy drove home a run with a fielder's choice resulting in an out at third with Spurlin scoring. A strikeout ended the inning.
A perfect eighth followed.
Boogie's line was three innings, one earned run, two hits, two SOs, and one walk.
After eight, the score was Blue 3 Gray 2.
Duffey pitched a perfect ninth for Blue and was told he could go another inning.
Chargois came in to close it out for Gray. He was greeted by Rathjen's third hit of the day, a single to center. Lewis doubled down the first baseline. Rathjen moving to third. Chargois then pitched out of trouble with a foul out to first and two SOs.
Duffey pitched the added tenth inning. A fly out, an infield error, another fly out, a single to right by Hamilton and a strikeout to end the scrimmage.
The final was Blue 3, Gray 2.
It was nice to see the pitchers pitch well for the second straight day.
Rathjen continues to hit extremely well.
Offense:
Hits: Rathjen (3), Chargois (2), Lewis (2), Spurlin (2), Cook, Hamilton, Ratterree, Kubitza, Simmons
Doubles: Chargois (2), Spurlin (2), Lewis, Rathjen
RBI: Spurlin (2), Murphy, Maxwell, Kubitza
SB: Ratterree
February 11, 2011 - Blue 5, Gray 4:
Another gorgeous afternoon followed by a chilly evening. With Lance Berkman holding forth and telling stories in the Owls dugout, the Blue team scored a late run to overtake the Gray and win 5-4.
Each squad had two pitchers each going on an 85 pitch limit.
Kubitza and Cingrani each pitched five innings for the Blue.
McDowell pitched the first five innings for Gray with Simms pitching the final four innings.
Kubitza opened the game retiring the side in order in the first.
McDowell had problems in the bottom of the first. After s strikeout, Chargois doubled to left-center. Rendon and Manuel followed with walks. Ratterree singled off the shortstop's glove scoring Chargois. Rendon scored on DGL's infield ground-out. Another infield out ended the inning.
Kubitza and McDowell each held their opponents scoreless in the next three innings. In the top of the fifth, Kubitza retired the lead-off man. A walk, a strikeout, another walk and an infield error loaded the bases for Jeremy Rathjen. Jeremy stroked a 2-2 pitch through the left-side for a two run single and a tie score. An outfield fly out ended the fifth.
McDowell continued to pitch well getting two fly ball outs. He then gave up Rendon's single to left. Another fly out ended the inning.
After five, it was 2-2.
Kubitza gave up 2 runs, no earned runs, three hits, four walks, and four SOs in five innings.
McDowell allowed two earned runs, four hits, three walks, and four SOs in his five innings.
Cingrani pitched the top of the sixth for Blue. With one out, Pearson reached when a fly to center was dropped. Pearson wound up on second. Mueller singled Pearson to third. When Mueller stole second, the throw from the catcher skipped past the second baseman allowing Pearson to come home. Consecutive SOs ended the top of the sixth.
Simms relieved McDowell in the bottom of the sixth. A walk, two SOs, a passed ball, a throwing error by the catcher on the play at the plate, Simmons's first hit of the preseason followed a single from Hamilton resulted in two runs . A third SO ended the inning with just the two runs being scored.
After six, it was 4-3 Blue.
Each pitcher threw scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth.
In the top of the ninth, Murphy got his first hit of the preseason on a single, McDowell walked behind him. Hoelscher laid down a beautiful sac-bunt moving the runners to third and second. Cook grounded to the right-side scoring Murphy. Perrott flew out to center. It was 4-4 going to the bottom of the ninth.
In the bottom of the inning, Hamilton singled to left. Chargois followed with a single to left. Hamilton to second. Rendon hit a soft liner over Hoelscher for a hit to left-center. Hamilton got a late jump assuring the ball cleared short. He was cut down at the plate on the throw from center. This left Cook at second and Rendon at first with one out. Manuel hit another single to left scoring Cook with Rendon holding at second. A fly to center and a ground-out to short concluded the frame.
Blue had taken the lead 5-4.
Cingrani pitched the tenth as his pitch count was well below the 85 pitch limit. He pitched a 1-2-3 tenth getting his seventh SO.
Cingrani pitched five innings allowing two runs, one earned, three hits, one walk, and seven SOs.
Simms pitched four innings with three runs, two earned runs, six hits, three walks, and three SOs.
There was a total of 18 SOs and 11 walks.
Offense:
Hits: Hamilton (2), Chargois (2), Rendon (2), Rathjen (2), Mueller (2), Lewis, Murphy, Manuel, Ratterree, Aquino and Simmons
Double: Chargois
RBI: Rathjen (2), Cook, Manuel, Ratterree, DGL, Simmons
SB: Ratterree, Mueller
February 7, 2011 - Gray 12, Blue 1:
A game that started at 3:36 PM on a pleasant February afternoon ended after 6:00 PM on a very chilly evening. The original plan was for 10 innings but JT Chargois and Tyler Duffey each pitched an extra inning so the game ended after 11 innings.
The teams played out of the third base dugout as the home dugout was being painted this afternoon. I believe it is the first time I have watched a game at the Reck from the third base side. Felt different.
Andrew Benak started for Blue and shutout the Gray team in his four innings. His line was no runs, one hit, two walks, and one SO.
Tyler Spurlin pitched the first four innings for the Gray team. He pitched a shutout until the fourth, Back-to-back doubles by McDowell and Ratterree scored McDowell. A fly out to center and two SOs ended the inning. Spurlin's outing was one earned run, four hits, one walk, and five SOs.
After four, Blue was up 1-0.
Kyle Mueller relieved Benak in the fifth and pitched two scoreless innings. In the seventh, the Gray team started with six straight singles before Lewis was thrown out rounding first after the sixth hit. Two more hits, two walks and an infield error followed. Abe Gonzales came in to pitch at that point. He gave up another single that plated the tenth run of the inning. The last two batters were retired on a SO and ground-out.
Two more runs scored in the eight off Gonzales. He pitched a scoreless ninth.
Mueller pitched 2 1/3 innings. Mueller gave up 10 runs, 8 ERs, 9 hits, 2 walks, and 1 SO.
Gonzales pitched 2 2/3 innings. Gonzales allowed 2 earned runs, 7 hits, and struck-out one.
Matt Evers came into to pitch for the Gray team in the fifth. He pitched three scoreless innings. No runs, two hits, one walk.
Gray was on top 10-1 after seven and 12-1 after eight.
Brad Kottman and Tyler Duffey each pitched two scoreless innings for the Blue. Each had one SO.
JT Chargois pitched the final two scoreless innings for Gray.
Chargois allowed one walk.
Offense Stats:
Hits:
Rathjen, Manuel and Kubitza each had 3. Lewis, Pearson, Aquino and Rendon each had 2. Hoelscher, Cook, McDowell, Ratterree, Maxwell and Perrott had one each.
Double: One each by Rendon, McDowell, Ratterree, Pearson and Manuel.
RBI: Kubitza (4), Cook (2), Rathjen (2), and Hoelscher, Pearson, Manuel and Ratterree
SB: Maxwell
Next scrimmage tentatively scheduled for Friday.
February 6, 2011 - Blue 5, Gray 4:
I saw the Rice Women basketball team beat SMU in a great game. Owls won 69-60. Managed to catch the last inning of the scrimmage.
The squad played a ten inning scrimmage with Blue capturing the win with a ninth inning run to break a four - four tie.
Blue pitchers were Wall, Reckling and Simmons.
Gray pitchers were Boogie, Fant and McNair.
Wall pitched the first four innings for Blue. Two earned runs, three hits, one walk, five SOs.
The big hit against Wall was Rathjen's two run HR to left.
Boogie got the first four innings for the Gray team. Two earned runs, six hits, one walk, one SO.
Blue scored when Manuel homered down the line in the second. In the third, Mueller doubled and later scored.
After four, the score was 2-2.
Reckling pitched the fifth through the eighth (4 innings). Two Earned runs, three hits, two walks, four SOs.
Gray scored two off Reckling in the eighth when Pearson and Kubitza walked. Spurlin singled to fill the bases. Maxwell singled to score one run. Hoelscher grounded into 6-4-3 DP with Kubitza scoring. A fly out ended the inning.
Fant pitched the next four innings for Gray.
Blue tallied a single run in the sixth and another in the seventh off Fant.
With one out in the sixth, Cook got one of his four singles on the day. Rendon doubled down the third baseline pushing Cook to third. JT Chargois hit a sac-fly to score Cook. An infield out followed.
In the seventh, Manuel walked. I wasn't there but the scorecard shows Manuel stole second. Honest. He scored on Aquino's single.
So after eight, the score was still tied. It was 4-4.
Simmons pitched the last two innings for Blue. No runs, one hit, two walks, one SO.
In the ninth, Simmons walked Fuda. Michael stole second but turned an ankle in the process. Maxwell ran for him. Rathjen singled. Maxwell was cut down trying to score. Rathjen was caught stealing for the second out. Simmons struck out McDowell to end the inning.
In the tenth, Pearson walked to lead-off the inning. Perrott flew out to center. Kubitza grounded into a 4-6-3 DP.
McNair pitched the ninth and tenth for the Gray (2 innings).
Holt was touched up for a run in the ninth. Ratterree walked. He was forced at second on an infield grounder by Manuel. DGL doubled him to third. Aquino's sac-fly scored the run.
In the tenth, Mueller struck-out. Hamilton dropped a single into left. Cook followed with his fourth single of the day. Rendon hit a deep fly to left but it hooked foul. He then grounded into a 6-4-3 DP to end the scrimmage.
On the day. the defense turned five DPs.
Offense:
Hits: Cook (4), DGL (2). Rathjen (2), Hoelscher, Fuda, Kubitza, Spurlin, Maxwell, Hamilton, Rendon, Ratterree, Manuel, Aquino, Mueller
Doubles: Fuda, Rendon, DGL, Mueller
HR: Manuel, Rathjen
RBI: Rathjen (2), Perrott, Maxwell, Manuel, Chargois, Aquino
SB: Fuda, Ratterree, Manuel, Kubitza
Cumulative stats to follow later.
February 5, 2011 - Gray 7, Blue 7:
I went to the Men's basketball game vs. UTEP. I couldn't pull out a victory as Owls fell 59-53 to UTEP.
My section was good enough to keep score for me for the first 6 1/2 innings.
Blue had a shot at winning for the first time this preseason but left the bases loaded in the ninth when Rathjen flew out to center. Duffey gets a double hold by pitching a scoreless inning to close for each side.
The final was a tie at 7 each.
Blue pitchers:
Chase McDowell. Four innings pitched. Two earned runs, five hits, two walks.
Tony Cingrani. Four innings. Five runs, two earned runs, four hits, five walks, one SO.
Tyler Duffey. One inning. No runs, no hits, one SO.
Gray pitchers:
John Simms. Four innings. Three earned runs, five hits, one walk, three SOs.
Austin Kubitza. Three innings. Four runs, three earned runs, tow hits, four walks, five SOs.
J T Chargois. One inning. No runs or hits, one SO.
Tyler Duffey. One inning. No runs, one hit, two walks, one SO.
Chase pitched three shut-out innings out of his 4 innings. In his third, he gave up three straight hits to open the inning. One run scored on Aquino's double. Perrott drove him home with a single. A fly out and DP ended the threat.
John Simms gave up a single run in first when Manuel doubled with Hoelscher and Rathjen on base and two outs. Two more runs scored on Simms in the fourth Rathjen singled, stole second. Manuel walked, They were moved up on a sac-bunt by Pearson. Rathjen scored on a single by McDowell. Manuel came home on a sac-fly by Spurlin.
After four innings, the score was Blue 3 Gray 2.
Cingrani pitched a scoreless fifth and seventh. In the sixth, he got two quick outs but then walked Rendon. Chargois reached on an infield error. Ratterree walked. A passed ball scored Rendon and moved the other runners up. A wild pitched scored Chargois and advanced Ratterree to third. He scored on DGL's single. In the eighthg, Cingrani walked Ratterree with one out. DGL singled, moving Ratt to second. Aquino singled him home and DGL went to third. An infield out by Perrott scored DGL.
Kubitza came on to pitch the fifth. He started with a strike-out but walked Hoelscher and Lewis. After another SO, Rathjen hit a three run shot to left. His third SO of the inning ended the frame. A scoreless sixth was followed by a single run inning in the seventh. Lewis was hit by the pitch. A wild pitch and passed ball moved Ryan to third. Fuda drove him home with a ground-out to short. A walk to Rathjen followed. He was stranded on a ground-out to the right-side.
Chargois relieved in the eight for Gray and pitched a perfect inning.
After eight, it was tied at 7.
Duffey closed it out for each side. He pitched a perfect ninth for Blue. Pitching for the Gray, he retired the first two batters before Hoelscher doubled to the gap in left-center. He then walked Lewis and Fuda bringing the RBI leader (with 11) for the preseason to the plate in Jeremy Rathjen. Jeremy hit the first pitch to center to end the scrimmage.
I guess the big news is that the Gray uni's did not win today.
Hits: Rathjen (3), Hoelscher (2), DGL (2), Aquino (2), Perrott (2), Manuel, McDowell, Maxwell, Cook, Ratterree, Kubitza
Double: Manuel, Hoelscher, Aquino
HR: Rathjen
RBI: Rathjen (3), Aquino (2), Perrott (2), DGL, Fuda, Manuel, McDowell, Spurlin
SB: One each by Rathjen, Hoelscher, Maxwell, DGL
January 31, 2011 - Gray 7, Blue 3:
On what is likely to be the best day of the week, the Gray team ran its record to 3-0 by beating the Blue team, 7-3.
Boogie gave up a single in the first and a double in the second facing four batters in each.
McNair was even better. He retired the first six batters he faced. This earned each a chance to go another inning.
Boogie started the third. Perrott ripped a double to the left-field corner. McDowell singled to right. The throw to the plate was up the line and Perrott was safe at home. Boogie finished the inning with his fourth strike-out followed by an inning ending ground ball double play.
That double play was the first of seven on the day for both teams. In addition to the double plays, two runners were caught stealing and one was thrown out at the plate.
McNair started the third and retired the first two batters. It took six pitches to retire each and when Holt walked Maxwell on seven pitches, his day was over.
Mueller came in to relieve him. He walked Hamilton before getting Murphy on a fly to right.
Boogie pitched 3 innings. One earned run, four hits, one walk, and four SOs.
McNair pitched 2.2 innings. No runs, no hits, one walk, two SOs.
Gray 1, Blue 0 after three.
Matt Evers relieved Boogie in the fourth. Lewis singled to right. Fuda grounded into a double play. Rathjen flew out deep to right. In the fifth, Evers allowed an infield hit to Gonzales with two outs. He was stranded on a fly to center.
Mueller continued in the fourth. Cook singled to right but was caught stealing. Rendon flew out to left. Three consecutive walks followed. Pearson grounded out for the third out. In the fifth, Kubitza singled followed by a fly to right. Murphy forced him at second for the second out. Hamilton singled. Lewis hit his third consecutive single to right scoring Murphy. The ball was misplayed and Hamilton scored with Cook going to third. A wild pitch later scored Cook. Rendon flew out.
Mueller pitched 2.1 innings. Three runs, one earned, four hits, four walks.
In the sixth, McDowell singled off Evers. Really, the ball hit Evers and bounced toward short for an infield hit. Spurlin lined the next pitch over the left field fence for a two run HR. Hoelscher and Lewis each singled and advanced a base on a wild pitch. After a strike out, Rathjen drove them home with a single through the drawn-in infield. That gives Jeremy eight RBI for the three games. Evers retired the next two batters to end the inning.
Evers pitched 3 innings. Four earned runs, seven hits, one SO.
Simmons relieved Mueller in the sixth. Doug pitched the last three innings with one strike out in each and each ending on a double play.
Simmons pitched three innings. No runs, two hits, two walks, three SOs.
The score after six was Gray 5 Blue 3.
Kottman pitched the seventh, eighth and ninth for Blue. A double play in the seventh kept him out of trouble.
With two out in the eighth, he walked Fuda. Rathjen singled to center with Fuda stopping at second. Manuel doubled to right scoring the runners. Aquino walked. Gonzales singled to center. Manuel tried to score but was thrown out at the plate on a good throw home by DGL.
In the ninth, Perrott walked. McDowell popped up. Spurlin grounded into the final double play of the day.
Final Gray 7 Blue 3.
Offense:
Hits: McDowell (3), Lewis (3), Cook (3), Rathjen (2), Manuel (2), Gonzales (2), Hoelscher, Perrott, Spurlin, Hamilton, Ratterree, Kubitza
Doubles: Manuel (2), Perrott
HR: Spurlin
Runs: Hoelscher, Lewis, Fuda, Rathjen, Perrott, McDowell, Spurlin, Hamilton, Cook, Murphy
RBI: Rathjen (2), Manuel (2), Spurlin (2), McDowell, Cook
No stolen bases today.
January 29, 2011 - Gray 4, Blue 2:
What a difference a day makes. Today, the Gray pitchers out-battled the Blue pitchers and lead the Gray to a 4-2 win.
Abe Gonzales started for Blue and pitched three innings. He pitched a scoreless first and second but Gray tallied for two in the third on Maxwell's lead-off single. After Hoelscher flew out to right, Chargois singled to left with Maxwell taking second. Rendon dumped a single into left scoring Maxwell with Chargois holding at second. Ratterree walked to load the bases. McDowell grounded to short forcing Ratterree. He beat the throw to first allowing JT to score. An outfield putout ended the inning. The line for Gonzales was three innings, two ER, three hits, one SO, and two walks.
Spurlin started for the Gray. Blue tallied a run in the first. Hamilton singled. He was eliminated on a fielder's choice grounder by Lewis. Lewis moved to second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch. Fuda walked. Rathjen got his sixth RBI of the spring with a single to left. Lewis scored from third. Fuda was thrown out trying to reach third. An infield ground out ended the inning. Spurlin was in trouble in the second and the third but worked his way out by leaving the bases loaded in each inning. Spurlin pitched three innings, one ER, four hits, five walks, with one SO.
After three, it was Gray 2, Blue 1.
Benak relieved Gonzales in the fourth. He retired the side in order in the fourth. A lead-off walk cost him in the fifth. Hoelscher worked him for a full count walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Chargois singled up the middle to score Shane. No further damage was done. In the sixth, DGL singled to center but was eliminated on a DP grounder ending the inning. Benak pitched three innings allowing one ER, two hits, three walks with two SOs.
Fant took over for Spurlin. He retired the side in order in the fourth and again in the sixth. In the fifth, he walked Lewis with one out. Lewis stole second and scored on Fuda's third double of the preseason. Fant pitched three innings, gave up one ER, one hit, one walk with one SO.
After six, it was Gray 3, Blue 2.
Duffey pitched the last three innings for Blue. He looked very strong in the seventh with two strikeouts and a pop foul to first. In the eighth, Duffey struck out two more after giving up a one out double to McDowell. In the ninth, he walked the lead-off man (DGL). A pop out and a fly to right brought Shane Hoelscher to the plate. Shane singled to right. The ball was bobbled after DGL had slowed down at second. With the bobble, he took off for third and was safe on the throw to third. Hoelscher moved to second. Rendon hit a hard grounder up the middle. Hamilton made a nice diving stop on to prevent Shane from scoring. Ratterre struck out to end the inning. Duffey pitched three innings, allowed one unearned run, three hits, one walk with five SOs.
JT Chargois pitched the seventh and eighth for Gray. He got two quick outs in the seventh before he walked Hamilton and gave up a single to Lewis. He struck out Fuda to end the inning. A 1-2-3 eighth ended his outing. In two innings, Chargois allowed no runs, one hit, one walk with one SO.
Final after eight and one half innings was Gray 4, Blue 2.
Offensive Stats:
Hits:
Two each: Lewis, Rathjen, Chargois, Rendon
One each: Hamilton, Fuda, Hoelscher, McDowell, DGL, Maxwell
One double each: McDowell, Fuda
RBI:
Two: Rendon
One each: Chargois, McDowell, Fuda, Rathjen
Runs:
Two: Lewis
One each: Hoelscher, Chargois, DGL, Maxwell
SB: Lewis
Unofficial cumulative stats to be posted tomorrow.
WBB at Tudor tomorrow at 2:00 PM.
Go Owls!
January 28, 2011 - Gray 14, Blue 12:
No it was not a football scrimmage although the score may more resemble that than an Owl's baseball score.
However it was a fabulous January afternoon for the first preseason scrimmage. The batters made the pitchers pay for missing the corners and belted out 27 hits, taking 11 walks, one HBP and driving home 25 runs.
Each pitcher had one inning where he retired the side in order. John Simms was the only pitcher to keep the batters from scoring multiple runs against him in an inning.
Reckling had a rough start when he walked four, gave up three singles, and 4 runs in a nine batter first. Cingrani cruised through the first in order.
Reckling gave up another run in the second when Lewis singled and Fuda doubled him home with two outs. It was the first of three hits by Fuda and was the only time in five plate appearances that he would not score.
The second did not go as smoothly as the first for Cingrani. Ratterree lead-off with a walk. Cook had an infield single. DGL's double scored Ratt. Cingrani stepped up and retired Pearson on a pop to second and then struck out the next two batters.
Reckling retired the side in order in the third. Three innings. Five ERs, five hits, four walks, and two SOs.
Things went very poorly for Cingrani in the third. A lead-off walk to Murphy started the slide. Hamilton singled. Chargois doubled to right, Rendon drove home a run on a grounder to short followed by a throwing error. Ratterree drove home two more on a double to left.
A ground-out to first got the first out of the inning. After DGL walked, Cook ripped a three run HR to left center. Kubitza singled to right.
Cingrani was done for the afternoon. Two and a third innings. nine runs, eight ERs, seven hits, two SOs, and three walks.
McDowell took over. Maxwell singled to left. Murphy forced him at second for the second out of the frame with Kubitza taking third. Hamilton reached on an error at third with Kubitza scoring. Murphy advanced to third on an errant throw to second.
Chargois singled Murphy home. Hamilton was safe at third with Chargois taking second on the throw to third. Rendon hit a high pop-up that no one on the infield touched. It dropped in for a two run single. Ratterree hit a ball deep to left-center that looked as if it might go out. Aquino made a great catch high on the wall to end the inning.
The score after three: Blue 12 Gray 5.
Wall relieved Reckling in the fourth. His first inning was very much like Reckling's first. Two walks, a HBP, three hits, and four runs with nine batters coming to the plate. The big hit was Rathjen's three run double clearing the bases.
McDowell settled in and retired six of the next seven batters he faced. He struck out three and walked one and allowed no runs. He pitched two and two thirds innings. Three runs, no ERs, three hits, three SOs, and one walk.
Wall retired the side in order in the fifth. In the sixth, Fuda doubled with one out and scored on Rathjen's single . Wall pitched three innings. He gave up five ERs, five hits, two walks, a HBP, and had four SOs.
Simms relieved in the bottom of the sixth for Gray. Following a ground-out to first, Murphy reached on an infield error. He was erased on a 1-6-3 DP.
After six, the score was Blue 12 Gray 10.
Kubitza relieved in the top of the seventh and was promptly touched for three straight hits. Gonzales singled to center. Perrott singled to right-center. Aquino doubled to the gap in right-center and scored the runners. Aquino advanced to third on a ground-out to the right-side and scored on Spurlin's ground-out to second.
Simms gave up a lead-off single to DGL but Daniel was cut down attempting to steal second. Two outs followed.
Kubitza gave up another run in the eight on Fuda's third hit of the day. He stole second. Took third on a WP and later scored when Manuel grounded out to first.
Simms retired the side in order in the eight. Simms pitched three innings. No runs. One hit. One SO.
Gonzales and Aquino singled in the ninth off Kubitza. A force out and a DP ended the inning and the game.
Kubitza pitched three innings. Four ERs. Six hits, a walk and a SO.
Final Gray 14 Blue 12.
Offensive numbers.
Gray:
Hoelscher one hit, two runs, one RBI
Lewis one hit, two runs
Fuda three hits, two doubles, four runs, one SB
Rathjen two hits, one double, two runs, five RBI, one SB
Manuel one hit, two RBI
Perrott two hits, one run, one RBI
Gonzales two hits, one run, one RBI
Aquino three hits, one double, one run, three RBI
Spurlin one hit, one double, one run, one RBI
Blue:
Hamilton one hit, two runs, Chargois two hits, one double, two runs, two RBI
Rendon one hit, one run, three RBI
Ratterree one hit, one double, two runs, two RBI
Cook one hit
DGL two hits, one double, one run, one RBI
Pearson one hit, the HR, one run, three RBI
Kubitza one hit, one run
Maxwell one hit
Murphy two runs
2/14
