SPRING PRACTICE (January - February 2017)
Unofficial Recaps by Roger Tower
February 13, 2017 - Blue 7, White 3:
The weather continued to be delightful Today was more like spring instead of summer. Was a great night for baseball.
Blue won tonight 7-3 behind a three run homer by Ford Proctor and a two run homer by Darryn Sheppard. Mac Mueller had a solo shot for Gray.
In the first two innings, it looked to be the pitcher's night. Kendal Jefferies started for Blue and walked one and allowed a one out single to Robbie Lammons in the second in his two shutout innings. He recorded one strikeout.
Addison Moss matched Jefferies with two shutout innings of his own. With two out in the first, he allowed back-to-back singles to Dom DiCaprio and Sheppard. A fly out ended the first. Moss retired the side in order in the second.
In the third inning, Jackson Parthasarathy (Blue) and Mueller each pitched a shutout inning. In his second inning, Parthasarathy was greeted with a single to left by Dane Myers. Tristan Gray walked. Dayne Wunderlich loaded the bases on a single to left. Lammons drove home Myers on a sac-fly to center. Pitch count ended the inning. Parthasarathy allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks.
In his second inning, Mueller walked DiCaprio and Sheppard to start the fourth. Proctor drove a ball over the right field fence near the foul-pole. A walk to Andrew Dunlap ended the inning. Mueller gave up three runs on one hit and three walks.
It was 3-1 Blue after four innings.
Garrett Gayle came in for Blue to pitch the last three innings. Gayle pitched shutout ball in the fifth and sixth. The only hits in those innings were a lead-off single to Mac Mueller in the fifth and a two out double to Gray in the sixth.
In the seventh, after a strikeout Mueller homered to right. Nick Tanner was HBP. Moss singled. Ryan Chandler walked to load the bases. Charlie Warren hit a deep sac-fly to center to score Tanner. Pitch count ended Gayle's inning.
Gayle allowed two earned runs on four hits, two hit batters and two walks. Gayle struck-out three.
Zach Wright pitched the final three innings for Gray.in the fifth Brad Gneiting walked to lead-off. Cody Staab reached on an infield single to the left-side. A wild pitch moved each runner up a base. A deep sac-fly by Chace Sarchet scored Gneiting. Pitch count ended the inning.
In the sixth, Wright walked the lead-off man. Sheppard blasted one over the left-field wall for two runs. Two outs were followed by singles to center by Gneiting and Staab. Once again pitch limit was reached.
In the seventh, Wright walked a man with one out. The runner advanced on a passed ball. After a strikeout, Sheppard had his third hit and third RBI of the day with a single to center. A fly-out ended the scrimmage and the preseason.
Wright allowed three runs, 2 earned, on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts.
Final Blue 7, Gray 3
Go Owls. Beat Texas this coming weekend.
February 12, 2017 - White 11, Los Buhos 3:
The weather continues to bless us this spring. The scrimmage got a late start because of the fan fest earlier today at Reckling Park.
The White squad dominated the game with solid pitching and robust hitting. In total there were 23 hits with 14 runs. The hits included 9 doubles and a homer.
Dane Myers opened for the home squad. Myers pitched three shutout innings. Myers allowed two hits, two walks and struck-out four.
Matt Canterino took over for Myers in the fourth and pitched four shutout innings. Canterino allowed one single, one walk, and struck-out six.
Ben Schragger pitched the final two innings for White. In his two innings, Schragger allowed three runs (2 ER), three hits, one walk and had three strikeouts.
For Los Buhos, Ricardo Salinas started and pitched 3 innings. Salinas gave up four runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Nick Orewiler relieved in the fourth. He pitched in innings 4-6. Orewiler gave up five runs on five hits, two hit batters, one walk with one strikeout.
Nick Silber pitched the final three innings for Los Buhos. He allowed two runs on six hits, no walks, and two strikeouts.
Offense for White:
Charlie Warren two doubles, one single with two RBI
Dane Myers one double and two singles with two RBI.
Dom DiCaprio had two singles.
Brad Gneiting had four singles.
Dayne Wunderlich had a double and a home run with 4 RBI.
Kendal Jefferies had a double.
Mac Mueller had a single and an RBI
Chad Tatum had a double.
Offense for Los Buhos:
Cody Staab had a double.
Robbie Lammons had a double and a single
Ford Proctor had a double
Tristan Gray had two singles and two RBI.
Hopefully the weather holds for one more day. Final preseason scrimmage is scheduled for tomorrow at 3:45/4:00 PM
February 11, 2017 - Gray 4, Blue 1:
More perfect weather. Rice women soccer beat St. Thomas 2-0. Rice WBB beat FAU 89-55. The Gray squad beat Blue behind the stellar pitching combo of Zach Esquivel and Roel Garcia.
Neither pitcher allowed an earned run in the four inning each pitched in.
Esquivel started for Gray and retired the side in order in the first and third innings. Blue scored their lone run in the third. With one out, Tristan Gray singled to center. After a strikeout, Chace Sarchet singled to right-center.
A strike-out and a walk ended the inning on pitch count leaving the bases loaded.
Esquivel gave up one unearned run on 3 hits with 2 SOs and 2 BBs.
Evan Kravetz opened for Blue. Kravetz faced three batters in the 1st, 2nd and 4th innings. In the second, Dane Myers singled to start the frame. He was caught stealing. With two outs in the third, Nick Tanner got the first of his three hits on the day. An infield ground-out ended the fourth.
Kravetz allowed no runs on two hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
Roel Garcia took over for Gray in the fifth. He was perfect. Four straight innings of 3 up and 3 down. No runs, no hits, no errors. No walks and 3 strikeouts. Nice to see.
Brent Schwarz pitched the fifth through eight innings for Blue. After a quick three outs in the fifth, Gray sent six men to the plate in the sixth. Mac Mueller singled to center. Tanner followed with his second hit of the day. Ryan Chandler's warning track shot pushed Mueller to third. Charlie Warren's single tied the game at 1-1. Tanner held at second. Dom DiCaprio moved the two runners up a base with a single to left. Myers collected his second hit of the day and drove home two runs. Inning called on pitch count.
In the seventh, Schwarz struck-out the side. With one out in the eighth, Tanner reached on a single to the left-side. His third and final hit of the day. A line out to right followed. Warren got his second hit of the game. Tanner to second. DiCaprio and Myers walked. Myers getting his third RBI. Bases left loaded as pitch count was reached.
All twelve hits today were singles.
Another scrimmage later in the day tomorrow to get in some work under the lights.
February 8, 2017 - Gray 8, Blue 3:
Another marvelous day for baseball. Gray scored early and often to build up an eight to zero lead. Blue rallied for three late runs to make the final 8-3 in eight innings.
Garrett Gayle opened for Blue. He picked the first three innings. In the first, Gayle retired the side in order and in the third he retired the final three batters after Ryan Chandler had a lead-off double.
In the second inning, Gray put the first four men on base. Tristan Gray rapped a single to right. Dayne Wunderlich was HBP. Brad Gneiting followed with a base-on-balls. Addison Moss plated the first two runs of the day with a single to right. Gneiting and Moss wound up third and second on the throw home. Kendal Jefferies hit a sac-fly to center to score Gneiting. A line drive to first ended the rally.
For his three innings of work, Gayle allowed 3 earned runs on 3 hits with a walk and a hit batter and 3 strikeouts.
Kendal Jefferies pitched three shut-out inning for Gray. Ford Proctor had a two out double in the first. Jefferies retired the side on three fly ball outs in the second. In the third, Chad Tatum reached on an infield error. Cody Staab walked. Tatum to second. After a strikeout, Proctor singled to right. Tatum out at the plate for the first outfield assist (Charlie Warren) of the day. Another strikeout ended Jefferies day.
In his three innings, Jefferies allowed no runs on 2 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.
After three, Gray had a 3-0 lead.
Zach Wright relieved for Blue. In the fourth inning, Wunderlich had a lead-off double. A fly out and a strike out followed. Nick Tanner reached on HBP. An infield ground-out ended the frame.
In the fifth, Gray scored two runs. Chandler started the inning with a triple to center. After a pop-up to short, Dane Myers drove home Chandler with an up-the-middle single. Myers was out at second on a fielder's choice grounder. Gray safe at first. Wunderlich walked. Gary to second. Gneiting drove home Gray with a single to center. Inning called on pitch count.
In the sixth, Gray scored three runs following a lead-off ground-out to second base. Jefferies tripled to center and scored as the throw from the outfield escaped the third baseman. Nick Tanner doubled to center. He scored on Rodrigo Duluc's home run to left. A walk ended the sixth on pitch count.
Wright pitched in three innings. He allowed 5 earned runs on 7 hits with 2 walks and a hit batter. He recorded one strikeout.
Addison Moss pitched innings 3-6 for Gray. In the fourth, Darryn Sheppard reached second base an infield error. After a strike-out, Andrew Dunlap singled to left. Sheppard was out at the plate on the second outfield assist (Wunderlich) of the day. A fly out ended the fourth.
Blue was retired in order in the fifth. In the sixth, Blue finally got on the scoreboard. Proctor walked to open the inning. Proctor reached second fielder's choice slow bouncer back to the pitcher. Sheppard doubled home Proctor. Sheppard to third on a wild pitch. A pop foul out was followed by two walks. Inning over on pitch count.
Through six innings, Gray was up 8-1.
Mac Mueller pitched the final two innings for Blue. He shut Gray out. He gave up a single to Moss in the eighth and struck-out one and walked two in his outing.
Jackson Parthasarathy pitched the seventh and eighth innings for Gray. With one out in the seventh, Cody Staab reached on an infield single to short. Robbie Lammons doubled him to third with a shot to center. Proctor followed with a double to score Staab and Lammons. A ground out to third tended the inning on pitches. Jackson retired Blue in order in the eighth.
Parthasarathy allowed 2 earned runs in his two innings of work, He struck out one. No walks.
For Gray, Moss had 2 hits and 2 RBI. Chandler had a double and a triple. Duluc had a HR and 2 RBI. Gneiting and Myers each had a single and an RBI. Gray one single.
For Blue, Proctor had two doubles, a single and 2 RBI. Sheppard had a double and an RBI. Lammons a double. Dunlap and Staab each had a single.
No scrimmage tomorrow. Schedule for the rest of week will be posted later.
February 7, 2017 - Blue 8, Gray 3:
Oh my what a lovely February day with 11 innings of Rice baseball and an absolutely beautiful sunset over Reckling Park to top it off this evening.
Blue topped Gray 8-3. Blue would jump on top on a three run homer by Robbie Lammons in the bottom of the fourth inning. It put them up 4-1. It was a lead they would never relinquish.
The scrimmage was schedules to go 11 innings to try and extend the number of innings the pitchers threw. The scrimmage managed to get through the 11 innings.
Blue pitchers were as follows:
Dane Myers pitched in five innings. He allowed three singles and one unearned run. He struck-out five and walked two.
Ricardo Salinas also pitched in five innings. Salinas allowed two earned runs on four hits. He struck-out one and walked three.
Ben Schragger pitched the final inning for Blue retired the side in order with one strikeout.
Gray pitchers were:
Matt Canterino pitched in four innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits. He had three strikeouts and one walk and two hit batters.
Nick Orewiler pitched in five innings. He gave up two earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and no walks.
Nick Silber pitched the final two innings for Gray. He was touched for two earned runs on two hits. Silber recorded two strikeouts and hit one batter with no walks.
For the offense, Gray managed seven singles.
Ford Proctor had two with two RBI in the eight. Cody Staab also had two singles. Kendall Jefferies, Mac Mueller and Brad Gneiting each had a single.
For the Blue team, the offense was as follows:
Tristan Gray had two singles and an RBI in the first and eleventh innings. Charlie Warren had a single and an RBI triple in the eleventh inning. Ryan Chandler had two singles.
Robbie Lammons had the three-run home run in the fourth inning. Nick Tanner had a two run single in the seventh inning. Addison Moss singled in the seventh. Danye Wunderlich got his first hit of the the preseason with a single in the seventh.
The teams will scrimmage again tomorrow.
February 6, 2017 - Gray 1, Blue 0:
Solid pitching, good defense and a friendly wind blowing in front right-field produced a 1-0 pitcher's duel today.
Zach Esquivel (Blue) and Evan Kravetz (Gray)were the starting pitchers. Each pitched shutout ball.
Esquivel went 4 innings striking out 2 and walking none. He allowed a one out single to Dom DiCaprio in the second. His infielders turned a nice 6-4-3 double play to erase the runner. In the third, Cody Staab tripled to right with two outs. Zach struck out the next batter to end the threat. The side was retired in order in the fourth.
Meanwhile, Kravetz's outing started with a dropped fly ball. A fly out followed. Kravetz walked Dane Myers. Kravetz was also the beneficiary of the pitcher's best. In his case, the double play was 4-6-3. Evan retired the side in order in the third. Tristan Gray got a two out single in the fourth. Kravetz was rewarded with an extra inning. He allowed a one out single to Robbie Lammons. After a line drive to third, Nick Tanner singled to center. Ryan Chandler walked to load the bases. Kravetz retired the side on a line drive to left. He pitched five innings with no runs, 3 hits, 1 SO and 2 BB.
Brent relieved for Blue and pitched the last four innings.
In the fifth, Gray scored the only run of the game. With one out, DiCaprio singled to center. Brad Gneiting blooped a single to center. DiCaprio to second. Mac Mueller walked to fill the bases. Andrew Dunlap singled to left. DiCaprio scored. Gneiting was out at the plate on a great throw from the just returned Dayne Wunderlich. Inning over on pitch count. Schwarz shut out Gray in the next three innings. He gave up singles to Staab in the sixth and eight. Also a single in the seventh to Gneiting. Schwarz went four innings. He allowed 1 ER on 6 hits with 2 BB and 3 SOs.
Roel Garcia took over for the Gray team in the sixth inning. He opened with a walk to Myers. A fly to left, a strikeout and a fielder's choice grounder ended the sixth.
In the seventh, Chad Tatum walked after the lead-off man struck out. A fly to center and an unassisted putout to first ended the frame. Garcia retired the side in order in the eighth.
Garcia pitched 3 innings with no runs, and no hits with 2 BB and 2 SOs.
Hits for Gray:
Staab 1 triple and 2 singles
DiCaprio 2 singles
Gneiting 2 singles
Dunlap 1 single and 1 RBI
Hits for Blue:
one single each for Gray, Lammons and Tanner.
We do it again tomorrow.
February 3, 2017 - Blue 3, Gray 1:
The sun made an early appearance today to moderate the chill The pitchers cooled the hitters off as each squad managed only five hits. Today, Blue won 3-1 in 7 1/2 innings.
Kendal Jefferies started for Blue and held Gray to a two out single by Darryn Sheppard in the first. He retired the side in order in the second. Jefferies went 2.0 innings with no runs, one H, and 3 SO.
Mac Mueller pitched the first two frames for Gray. Mueller retired the side in order in the first. In the second, Chace Sarchet had a lead-off walk. Andrew Dunlap and Brad Gneiting followed with walks.
Cody Staab hit a hard shot to first that Sheppard made a nice splay on to retire Staab. Sarchet scored. Staab gets the RBI. Inning over on pitch count. Mueller pitched 1.1 inn, one R, one ER, 2 SO, and 3 BB.
After 2 innings, it was Blue up 1-0.
Zach Wright relieved in the third for Blue. After a lead-off strikeout, Chad Tatum singled to center. Ryan Chandler singled to right with Tatum racing to third. Charlie Warren drove home Tatum with a fielder's choice ground out to second that forced Chandler. A fly out ended the third.
In the next two innings, Wright allowed no runs and no hits. There was one batter and one batter walked. On the day, Wright pitched 2.1 innings with one R, one ER, 2 H, 1 SO, one HBP, and one BB.
Addison Moss pitched the third and fourth innings for Gray. In the third, Jefferies bunted for a hit with two outs. Moss struck out the next batter. In the fourth, Dane Myers reached on an infield error. Sarchet singled to right. Myers to third. Dunlap hit a deep fly ball to center. The sac-fly scored Myers.
Sarchet was out in a steal attempt. Brad Gneiting then doubled to right. Moss once again closed the inning with a strikeout. Moss pitched 2.0 innings with one R, no ER, 3 H, and 2 SO.
After four, it was 2-1 Blue.
Jackson Parthasarathy pitched the sixth and seventh for Blue. After two quick outs in the sixth, Sheppard tripled to left-center. Two walks followed and the inning was called on pitch count.
Parthasarathy retired the side in order in the seventh. His line was 1.2 innings with no runs and one hit and one BB.
Garrett Gayle relieved for Gray in the fifth. He retired the side on fly balls to left, right and center. In the sixth, Ford Proctor started the inning with a single to center. Myers singled to left. Proctor to second. Each runner moved up on a wild pitch. With the infield in, Sarchet hit a hard ground-ball to Tatum. Tatum held the runner at third and followed Myers from second toward third. He tagged him out. Sarchet reached first. Sarchet stole second. Dunlap the got his second RBI sac-fly of the day with a ball to deep right. Sarchet advanced to third. Gayle retired the final out with a 2-3 strikeout.
After 6, it was 3-1 Blue.
Gayle recorded three ground ball outs in the seventh for Gray. He then pitched the eighth for Blue. Chandler singled to center after a ground ball out. Chandler took second on a passed ball. A fly out and another ground-out ended the scrimmage.
Gayle pitched 4.0 innings with one R, one ER, 3 H and one BB.
Final Blue 3-1.
Rice women basketball host North Texas tomorrow at 2:00 PM. Go Owls.
February 2, 2017 - Gray 5, Blue 5:
Happy Groundhogs Day! It was a lovely spring day early on but chilled late in the game.
Blue rallied with a single run in each of the last two innings to salvage a tie with Gray today (5-5).
Dane Myers started for Blue versus Gray. Kendal Jefferies hit the first of the scrimmage over the fence in left for a quick 1-0 lead for Gray. With two out, Chace Sarchet and Andrew Dunlap walked. Inning was called on pitch count.
Ricardo Salinas started for Gray. Ryan Chandler lead-off with a double to center. With one out, Dane Myers lined a single to center to score Chandler. Salinas ended the inning on a strike-out as he reached pitch limit.
Gray scored two more in the second when Cody Staab walked with one out. Robbie Lammons ripped a double to center. Staab scored. A line drive out to left followed. Jefferies got his second RBI and hit of the day when he singled to right plating Lammons. Pitch count ended the frame.
In the second, Salinas gave up a one out single to Mac Mueller. Mueller was thrown out attempting to stretch the hit into a double, Addison Moss walked. He was stranded on a fly to center.
In the third, Myers walked Ford Proctor walked leading off. Myers got a fly out to right and a strikeout before Dunlap crushed his third homer of the preseason to left. Proctor scored. A ground-out to short ended the inning. Myers had reached his pitch count total for the day.
Myers pitched 2.1 innings with 5 R, 5 ER, 4 H 3 SO and 3 BB.
Salinas retired Blue in order in the third.
After three innings, it was 5-1 Gray.
Matt Canterino relieved for Blue in the fourth. Staab walked but was out stealing. Lammons walked and Nick Tanner was HBP. After a conference on the mound, Canterino struck-out the next two batters to end the fourth.
Salinas pitched the fourth for Gray. With one out, Tristan Gray singled to left. Dom DiCaprio singled to right and Mueller followed with a double to center. Gray scored. DiCaprio to third. The infield was drawn in to cut off the run at the plate. The infield grounder was booted to allow DiCaprio to score. Mueller to third. Salinas ended his outing with a strikeout.
Salinas pitched 3.1 innings with 3 R, 2 ER, 6 H, 4 SO, and one BB.
After 4 innings, Gray was up 5-3.
Canterino continued striking out batters. He retired the side in order on strikeouts in the fifth. In the sixth, he ran the string to 6 straight before Staab drew his third walk of the day. Lammons put the first ball in play against Canterino when he grounded out to second.
Canterino then got his seventh strikeout of the day to end his three innings of work.
Canterino pitched 3.0 innings with no runs or hits, 7 SO, one HBP, and 3 BB.
Nick Orewiler pitched the fifth and sixth innings for Blue.
In the fifth, Chad Tatum singled to open the frame. Chandler walked behind him. An infield 4-6-3 double play erased Chandler and pushed Tatum to third. Myers then tripled to deep right center to score Tatum. Orewiler walked Gray. Inning called on pitch count.
In the sixth, Blue rallied again to tie the game at five. With one out, Mueller singled for his third hit of the day. Moss walked. Mueller to second. Brandt Frazier singled Mueller home. Moss to second. Tatum hit a fly to right that advanced Moss to third.
Orewiler got the last out on a come-backer that he tossed to first to retire the side.
Orewiler pitched 1.2 innings with 2 R, 2 ER, 4 H, one SO, and 3 BB.
Final was 5-5.
February 1, 2017 - Gray 12, Blue 7:
Another gorgeous day for baseball. The crew working on the new scoreboard has all the old scoreboard down now and is working on the support structure.
The batters were sending hits all over the place. There were 32 total hits.
For Gray, Ryan Chandler had 1 hit and 2 RBI, Charlie Warren had 4 hits(1 double) and an RBI, Dom DiCaprio had one hit, Darryn Sheppard had 3 hits and an RBI, Tristan Gray had 5 hits(1 double) and 4 RBI, Addison Moss had one hit and an RBI, Andrew Dunlap had 3 hits and 2 RBI, and Nick Tanner had 2 hits. That's 20 hits.
For Blue, Kendal Jefferies had 2 hits and an RBI, Ford Proctor had 2 hits and an RBI, Robbie Lammons had 2 hits, Chace Sarchet had one hit. Dane Myers had one hit and an RBI, Brad Gneiting had one double, Mac Mueller had 2 hits, and Cody Staab had one hit. That's another 12 hits.
It should be noted that this was the first preseason game that the Owls did not hit a home run.
Unfortunately, the fielders were throwing the ball all over the place. There were at least a half dozen errors on the day. Also for the first time a batter was HBP. There were three today.
Gray posted 12 runs to beat Blue 12-7.
Gray was retired in order in the first by Evan Kravetz. After that, Gray scored one run in the second and three more in the fourth off Kravetz. Kravetz 4 inns, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER and 1 BB.
Zach Esquivel pitched the first four innings for Gray . Blue scored two unearned runs in the first. Esquivel held Blue scoreless in the next three innings. 3.1 inns, 6 H, 2 R, 0 ER, and 1 SO and 1 BB.
After four innings, it was Gray 4, Blue 2. Nick Silber picked the next four innings for Blue. Gray scored two in the fifth and Silber retired Gray in order in the sixth. Gray scored an unearned run in the eighth. Silber 3.1 inns, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 SO, and 1 BB.
Brent Schwarz pitched three innings for Gray. He gave up an unearned run in the sixth. Schwarz 2.2 inns, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 HBP, and 3 BB.
Roel Garcia pitched the final two innings for Blue giving up 2 runs in the ninth and 3 in the tenth. Garcia 2.0 inns, 6 h, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 SO.
Ben Schragger closed for Gray. Schragger gave up 2 runs in each of his innings (2 outs recorded in 1 inning and 1 out recorded in the other). Schragger 1.0 inn, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 SO, 1 HBP, and 3 BB.
Final Gray12, Blue 7.
Weather permitting, we do it again tomorrow.
January 29, 2017 - Gray 3, Blue 3:
It was an absolutely beautiful day for baseball today. There was great baseball played too.
The game featured some power by the offense and some excellent defense too.
Blue rallied with a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to earn a tie with Gray.
Kendal Jefferies started for Blue. In the first, Ryan Chandler lead-off with a single to right. He was caught stealing. Charlie Warren doubled to the right-field corner. He took third on an errant pick-off throw from the catcher.
A strikeout and ground-out to first ended the inning. Jefferies retired the side in order in the second. Mac Mueller walked and went to third on Nick Tanner's single. Brad Gneiting ran for Tanner. When Gneiting broke for second, Mueller took a couple steps off third. Dom DiCaprio fired a bullet to Addison Moss at third to nail Mueller. Gneiting was safe at second on the throw. A ground-out and strike were the second and third outs in the third.
Mueller started for Gray. Jefferies was thrown out when Tristan Gray made a diving stop of the hard hit by Jefferies. Gray got to his feet and fired to first get Kendal. A line drive to first followed. A strikeout ended the first.
Darryn Sheppard singled to lead-off the second. Sheppard stole second. Chace Sarchet lined-out to first. Sheppard stole third. Andrew Dunlap hit a sharp ground-ball to Robbie Lammons left. Lammons stopped the ball and held the runner and nailed the runner at first.
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A fly to center ended the rally. That was Mueller's last inning of work.
Zach Wright relieved in the third for Gray. Wright pitched three shut-out innings. In the third, Chad Tatum doubled to left. Jefferies walked. Proctor pushed the runners up a base on a ground-out to the right-side. When DiCaprio walked, the inning was called on pitch count.
Wright retired the side in order in the fourth and faced three batters in the fifth with a walk to Cody Staab. Staab took second on a wild pitch. A ground out to third and a strikeout followed. Once again the inning ended on pitch count.
Garrett Gayle pitched the fourth through sixth innings for Blue. In the fourth, Gayle walked Dane Myers on four pitches. Tristan Gray followed with a deep home run over the center-field fence for a 2-0 lead for Gray. Walks to Lammons and Gneiting preceded a sac-bunt by Brandt Frazier. Mueller walked to reach the pitch limit for Gayle in the fourth.
Gayle retired the side on a grounder to short and two strike-outs in the fifth. In the sixth, Gray once again drove home Myers when he doubled to center-field. That gave Gray three RBI on the day. After Lammons advanced Gray to third on a grounder to first, Gneiting walked. An infield double play retired the side.
Gray was up 3-0 after 5 1/2 innings over Blue.
Ben Schragger relieved for Gray. In the bottom of the sixth, Ford Proctor walked with one out. Dom DiCaprio tripled to center. Proctor scored. Two pop-outs ended the stanza.
Some good news as Jackson Parthasarathy relieved and pitched a perfect seventh for Blue.
Gray was in front 3-1 going to the bottom of the seventh.
On a two strike pitch, Andrew Dunlap hit his second home run of the preseason to make the score 3-2. Cody Staab walked. Staab took second on Addison Moss's grounder to first. A pop-up to short followed. Jefferies singled to left. Staab scored. Jefferies was out when he was caught rounding first. That made the final 3-3.
No scrimmage on Monday or Tuesday.
January 28, 2017 - Gray 4, Blue 3:
The weather was much better today as was the play on field. The plate may have been smaller however. That may be a biased opinion.
Gray rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 win in 6 innings.
Dane Myers started for Blue and pitched three shutout innings. Ryan Chandler opened with a Texas League single to center. Chandler was picked off first. Charlie Warren followed with a singlet o right off the glove of a diving Tristan Gray.
A center-field fly out and a strikeout ended the inning. In the second, Kendal Jefferies walked with two outs. He stole second. An outfield fly out ended the frame.
Myers retired the side in order in the third.
Matt Canterino pitched the first three innings for Gray. Blue scored one in the first when Addison Moss opened with a walk. Chace Sarchet followed with another base-on-balls. Myers got his fourth RBI of the preseason with a single to left that scored Moss. Ford Proctor lined out to first. The inning ended on pitch count when Gray walked to load the bases.
Blue scored two more runs in the second when Cody Staab singled to center with one out. Staab was caught stealing for the second out of the second inning. Andrew Dunlap walked. Brandt Frazier the launched a monster shot over the fence in left for a two run homer. A pop-out ended the stanza.
Canterino pitched a perfect third.
After three, it was Blue 3, Gray 0.
Pitching changes occurred for each team in the third. Ricardo Salinas relieved Myers for Blue and Nick Orewiler relieved Canterino for Gray.
Gray scored three runs in the fourth to tie the game. Dom DiCaprio doubled to deep center. A strikeout followed. Brad Gneiting doubled to left. DiCaprio scored. Mac Mueller then homered to center-field. Jefferies flew out to center to end the fourth.
Gray would add one more run in the fifth. Chad Tatum doubled to left to lead-off. Nick Tanner walked. Salinas got the next to batters to strikeout on breaking balls. DiCaprio singled to left. Tatum scored. The third strikeout of the inning followed.
Salinas faced three batters in the sixth.
Nick Orewiler retired the side in order in the fourth. In the fifth, Dunlap singled to left. Moss walked. Dunlap to second. Orewiler got out of trouble when he snagged a line-drive up the middle and threw to first to double up Moss.
Blue put two runners on after one out in the sixth. Proctor walked. Gray singled to right. A fly out to left and a ground out third to first ended the scrimmage.
Gray 4, Blue 3 in 6 innings.
Another scrimmage tomorrow.
January 27, 2017 - Gray 8, Blue 5:
All those beautiful spring days of 70 degrees disappeared for the preseason opener. It was a very chilly afternoon and evening. There was a beautiful sunset over the first base stands however.
Gray scored 8 runs to best Blue 8-5 in eight innings.
Zach Esquivel pitched one hit ball in his three innings. The one hit he gave up was a three run homer to Andrew Dunlap in the second inning.
Evan Kravetz pitched the first three innings for Gray. Blue scored one run in the third without hitting a ball out of the infield. Chad Tatum walked. Ryan Chandler reached on an infield hit to short. Charlie Warren reached on an infield hit to the pitcher.
Dane Myers drove home Tatum with a fielder's choice to short. The inning ended on a 6-4-3 double play.
After 3, it was Gray 3, Blue 1.
Brent Schwarz relieved for Blue in the fourth. After two fly outs to right-field Chace Sarchet blooped a single to right. Sarchet stole second. Dom Dicaprio walked. Brad Gneiting singled to left. Sarchet scored before DiCaprio was cut down trying to go to third.
Raoel Garcia came on for Gray. Brandt Frazier walked with two outs and was stranded on a fly out to center.
Schwarz retired the side in order in the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth, Chandler walked and stole second. Warren flew out to left on the eleventh pitch of the at bat. Myers got his second RBI of the day on a single to center. Inning called on pitch count.
Gray rallied for three runs in the sixth. The inning started with Schwarz striking out the lead-off man. Kendal Jefferies walked. Jefferies stole second. Ford Proctor singled to center. Jefferies scored. Darryn Sheppard doubled to right-center. Proctor to third. Sarchet doubled to left-center.
Proctor and Sarchet scored. DiCaprio walked before Schwarz got the third out on a strike-out.
Blue put the lead-off man on when Tristan Gray walked. Three outs followed.
After 6 innings, it was Gray up 7-2.
Nick Silber pitched the final two innings for Blue. He gave up one run in the eighth. Sheppard reached on an infield error. He stole second. With two outs, Brad Gneiting singled Sheppard home. Gneiting stole second and went to third on the wild pitch. A strike ended Silber's outing.
Addison Moss pitched the final two innings for Gray. After striking out the lead-off man, Chandler walked. Warren blooped a single toward center into no-man's land. The ball fell in play and then was mishandled allowing Chandler to take third. Myers got his third RBI of the day on a fielder's choice after another mishandled ball
Gray followed with a triple to centerfield. Warren and Myers scored. Once again, the inning was called on pitch count. Addison retired the side in order.
Another scrimmage tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully with an earlier start it'll be some what warmer.