FALL BALL (October 30 - November 24, 2020)
Unofficial Recaps by Roger Tower
October 31, 2020
Team One 6, Team Two 2 (5+ innings)
It was a perfect weather day for fall ball for 2020.
The two squads played a little over 5 innings with Team 1 winning 6-2.
For Team 1, Garret Zaskoda pitched the first three innings. He struck out 2, gave up 3 hits and 1 run.
Ryan Rickett pitched the last two innings. He allowed one run and four hits.
For Team 2, Mitchell Holcomb pitched the first three innings. He struck out three, allowed three hits and one run.
Micah Davis and Mathew Linskey split work in the fourth.
Davis allowed one hit and three runs. Linskey allowed one hit with a strikeout and no runs.
Cristian Cienfuegos closed the game for Team 2. He allowed two runs and six hits with a strikeout.
Offensive highlights are as follows:
For Team 1:
Will Karp had a single.
Hal Hughes had a single and sac-fly.
The biggest offensive show was provided by Connor Walsh with two doubles, a single and two RBIs.
Bradley Gneiting had a single.
Justin Dunlap had a single.
Nathan Becker a double and a single.
Justin Long also had two singles.
For Team 2 :
Braden Comeaux had two hits and an RBI.
Cade Edwards had a double.
Guy Garibay had a single.
Austin Bulman had a single and an RBI.
Antonio Cruz had a single.
Johnny Hoyle had a triple.
Team 2 turned an excellent 5-4-3 DP in the second inning.
They'll do it again on Monday.
November 2, 2020
Team Two 8, Team One 4 (7 1/2 innings)
Once again, it was a beautiful day to play baseball. Team 2 won 8-4 in 7 1/2 innings.
Blake Brogdon pitched three scoreless and hitless innings for Team 2. The only runner reached on an infield error. He struck out three.
Alex DeLeon opened for Team 1. He pitched the first three innings. In the first, Cade Edwards and Nathan Becker each hit two run HRs. Guy Garibay reached on a single to left center in front of Cade's HR to left. Bradley Gneiting preceded Nathan's HR to right center with a double down the left field line.
Team 2 hit a third two run in the second when Braden Comeaux singled to lead-off the inning. Garibay followed with a HR to center.
DeLeon faced three batters in the third. An infield 5-4-3 DP erased an infield error. A pop to left ended his outing
Team 2 leads 6-0 after 3.
Brandon Deskins pitched innings 4-6 for Team 2. In the fourth, an unearned run scored after an infield error, a double by Antonio Cruz and an RBI fielder's choice by Justin Collins.
Team One added two more runs in the fifth. Eric Benitez doubled to center to lead-off. Hughes dropped a single into left scoring Benitez. Hughes stole second and third. He scored on a single to right-center by Austin Bulman. Two outs followed to end the frame.
Deskins struck out two with a fly out to endi his day.
Drake Greenwood pitched three scoreless innings for Team One. He allowed singles by Garibay, Becker and Comeaux. He struck out three.
Caleb Burgess pitched a perfect seventh versus Team one for Team Two.
In the eighth, Team One scored a single run off Burgess. Justin Collins walked. Hughes doubled. Collins was thrown out at the plate. Hughes moved up on an infield error. Connor Walsh walked. Hughes scored and Walsh moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. An infield line drive ended the frame.
I have Johnny Hoyle pitching the seventh inning against Team One Team One scored twice on two hits and two infield errors. Justin Dunlap hit a double to the base the left field wall. Dunlap moved up on a wild pitch. Garibay reached on an infield hit and took second on a bad throw. Garibay later scored on an infield error.
Hoyle struck out two.
The next scrimmage is scheduled for Friday.
Go Owls!
November 6, 2020
Scrimmage
In 8 innings, Team 1 (Visitors) beat Team 2 (Home) 7-5.
In the coaches performance rated points system, Team 1 won 20-10.
Starting line-ups:
Team 1 : Comeaux (3B), Walsh (CF), Karp (SS), Bulman 1B), Dunlap (LF), Cruz (RF), Long (C), Benitez (DH), Burbank (2B)
Team 2 : Hughes (SS), Edwards (LF), Garibay (RF), Gneiting (1B), Becker (DH), Collins (DH), Hoyle (3B), Cox (CF), Hannigan (C)
Team 1 Pitching rotation: Janac (1-4), Rickett (5-7), Davis (8)
Team 2 Pitching rotation: Gallant (1-4+), Cienfuegos (4- -6), Linskey (7-8). (Gallant started the fourth. Cienfuegos finished the fourth)
Team 1 took the lead in the first on a Comeaux single, a walk to Karp and a sac fly by Dunlap. 1 run/4 points
Team 1 added to their lead in the third on Burbank's single to left. He stole second. Comeaux walked. Burbank scored a 2 point run. (SB added a point) on Walsh's double. Comeaux scored on a sac-fly. Score was now 3 runs/7 points. Dunlap homered to left to add another run and a point.
After 4 innings, Team 1 was up 4 runs to 0 and 20 points to zero.
Gallant pitched 3 plus innings allowing 5 hits , 4 runs with 2 Ks.
Janac pitched four shutout innings for Team 1. Team 2 had 3 singles (Garibay, Hoyle, and Hughes). He struck out 2.
In the fifth, Team 1 scored 3 runs with 8 points. Comeaux reached on an infield single. Walsh doubled center. Comeaux to second.. Karp reached on a WP strike out. Comeaux scored. Walsh to third. Karp stole second. Bulman walked. A WP advanced Bulman. Dunlap walked. Inning called. 2 runs/ 8 points..Team 1 now had a 6 run/16 points lead.
Team 2 answered in the fifth inning with 2 runs and 2 points. Edwards singled with one out against Rickett. He stole second. Garibay's RBI singled scored Edwards. Gneiting singled to left. Garibay to second. Becker doubled to right field corner. Garibay scored. Gneiting out at the plate. 2 runs and 4 points. 6-2 on runs and 16-4 on points.. Team 1 up.
In the sixth, Team 1 scored a run and 4 points on an infield single by Cruz. A walk to Benitez. Cruz to second. A pop out. Comeaux singled home Cruz. Inning called on total pitch count against Cienfuegos.
Cienfuegos piched 3 innings. 5 hits, 3 runs, and 3 strikeouts.
In the sixth, Team 2 didn't score a run but got 2 points for stranded runners.
After 6 innings, the score was now 7-2 runs. 20-6 points. Team 1 in front.
In the seventh, Garibay had a single. Rickett had 3 stikeouts.
Linskey pitched the final two innings for Team 2 shutting down Team1. Davis allowed no runs and no points. He struck out one and allowed 2 singles (Walsh and Benitez).
Rickett pitched 3 innings. 2 runs, 6 points, 5 hits and 5 Ks.
Davis pitched the bottom of the seventh. Four walks, three runs, 4 points.
Final Team 1 wins 7-5 and 20-10 on points. My point count may be wrong. Team 1 definitely won.
Tomorrow we do it again.
November 7, 2020
Scrimmage
Today's scrimmage was fast paced on an ideal late summer morning. The visitors won 1-0 on runs and 2-0 on points.
Today's starting pitchers each pitched a solid four innings.
Garret Zaskoda held Team 2 scoreless in his four innings. He allowed a triple to Cruz and an infield dribbler down the third baseline to Hoyle in the second. Long walked to load the bases. Team 1 defense turned a nice double play on a hard shot grounder to third base to end the frame. Zaskoda gave up a single by Cienfuegos to right in the third. No strikeouts with one walk and three hits in four innings.
Mitchell Holcomb pitched equally well tossing four scoreless innings against Team 1. Comeaux continued his hot hitting with a lead-off single in the first. Gneiting reached on an infield error with two outs. A fielder's choice grounder ended the first.
In the third, Comeaux reached on an outfield error. He was stranded.
In the fourth, Edwards doubled to left with two outs. An infield grounder ended the fourth and Holcomb's outing.
He struck out four, walked none and allowed two hits.
After four innings, the score was 0-0 runs and points.
Josh Larzabal relieved Zaskoda in the fifth. For Team 1, Hughes singled to center with one out. Hughes stole second and third. Walsh walked. On a double steal attempt, Hughes was out trying to steal home. Per scrimmage rules, Hughes was returned to third and Walsh to first with two outs. Hughes scored on Gneiting's infield grounder. Inning over. 1 run. 2 points for Team 1.
Dalton Wood took over and pitched for Team 1 in the fifth. He recorded two scoreless innings. Kemp singled to short with two outs in the fifth.
Larzabal pitched a perfect sixth. He gave up one hit, one run and one walk with two strikeouts.
Against Wood, Garibay doubled to right to open the sixth After a fly out, Garibay was tagged out on a fielder's choice short to third. A line drive to center ended Wood's outing. No walks or strikeouts. No runs on two hits.
Visitors win 1-0 by runs and 2-0 by points.
November 9, 2020
Scrimmage
The weather continues to bless us with perfect baseball conditions.
The squads played 10 innings by design today. The home team had two big innings to take today's game 9-7 and 19-10.
Home pitchers were Brandon Deskins, Alex DeLeon and Caleb Burgess. For the visiting team, Blake Brogdon, Drake Greenwoodand Johnny Hoyle.
Deskins pitched the the first four innings. He gave up 3 runs, 3 singles and a double with 4 SOs and a walk.
DeLeon pitched innings 5-8. He allowed 4 runs on 3 singles and a home run. He had 4 SOs and 4 walks.
Burgess closed out the 9th and 10th innings with no runs, 2 walks with a SO.
For the visitors, Brogdon pitched the first four frames. He gave up 3 runs, on a single, a double and a HR. He walked 3 and struck out 6.
Greenwood pitched the middle four innings. He was touched for 3 runs, 5 singles and a double. He had 2 SOs and 2 walks.
Hoyle pitched 2 shutout innings. He struck out 3 and allowed a solitary single.
Team 1 scored 2 runs and 2 points in the second on a single by Hoyle, a double by Edwards, a SacFly by Cienfuegos and a wild pitch.
Team 2 scored 2 runs in the third with 6 points. Karp walked. Walsh reached on an infield single. Karp to third. Edwards drove home Karp on a SacFly to center. Cruz walked. Walsh scored on an infield error.
After 3, the score was 2-2 on runs but the home squad was up 6-2 on points.
Each squad added a run and a point in the fourth. Hughes had a single for the visitors. Burbank homered to left for the Home squad.
The visitors went scoreless in the fifth.
Home scored a run on a double by Cruz. He scored on a WP.
Home was up 4-3 and 8-6.
Each squad would score in the sixth.
Visitors added 4 runs and 6 points in the sixth. Cienfuegos walked. He stole second. Garibay singled to right center to score Cienfuegos. Hughes reached on an infield single. Collins homered to left to add three more runs. The total was 4 runs and 6 points.
Home would answer. Dunlap was HBP. Benitez singled. Dunlap moved to second. A WP advanced each runner. Karp walked to load the bases. Walsh scored Dunlap on a fielder's choice to third. Edwards followed with the same result. Two runs and 2 points.
Visitors lead 7-6 and 12-10 after 6 innings.
The Visitors would not score or get another hit in the next four innings. They would end with 7 runs and 12 points.
Home would not score in the seventh.. Dunlap had an infield single.
The Home squad would score 3 runs and register 9 points in the eighth.
Benitez singled to right. Karp walked. There were stolen bases to put the two runners in scoring position. Walsh drove home the two runners with a single to left. Walsh stole a base. He advanced on a fielder's choice, Cruz dropped a single into left to score Walsh and the final run of the day.
Home tallied bonus points with the stolen base runners scoring and also for the runner LOB when the innings was called.
Home called a total of 3 runs and 9 points making the final score 9-7 and 19-12 Home.
Hoyle and Burgess each pitched 2 shutout innings. Karp singled off Hoyle in the ninth.
Next scrimmage is Friday.
November 13, 2020
Fall World Series, Game 1
The Rice Owls kicked off their Blue Gray Fall World Series today. It will be a five game series. Each game will be seven innings. The teams are split into two squads. The same players will play for the same Gray or Blue team. The teams played straight baseball scoring.
The Gray lineup today was:
Will Karp SS
Johnny Hoyle 3B
Nathan Becker 1B
Justin Collins DH
Antonio Cruz CF
William Burbank 2B
Cullen Hannigan C
Gray used Daniel Hernandez and Alex DeLeon as LF and RF defense only
The Blue lineup was:
Guy Garibay 1B
Cade Edwards SS
Bradley Gneiting 2B
Justin Dunlap CF
Dominic Cox RF
Eric Benitez C
Justin Long LF
Cristian Cienfuegos 3B
In the top of the first, Gray scored two runs off Reed Gallant when Karp walked to open the game. Hoyle singled to right. Karp to third. Hoyle advanced to second on the throw to third. Karp scored on an infield ground-out by Becker. Hoyle later scored on a wild pitch.
Blue answered with a single run against Dillon Janac. Garibay walked. Edwards then singled to right. Garibay scampered to third base. Gneiting scored the run on a sac-fly to left. The inning ended on a double play grounder to second base.
Gray leads 2-1 after one.
Neither squad scored in the second.
Gray failed to score in the third.
Blue talled two runs in the third. Cienfuegos singled to center. Garibay forced him at second. He was on first. A fly out was the second out. Gneiting walked. Dunlap doubled down the left field line to score Garibay and Gneiting. Cox reached on an infield single between first base and the pitcher. No other runs scored.
After three, Blue was up 3-2.
Each squad scored one run in the fourth.
Gray scored on Karp's homer to left. Hoyle walked. Drake Greenwood relieved Gallant. An outfield pop-up was the first out. Hoyle was caught stealing for the second out. Collins singled to left. A fielder's choice ended the rally.
Janac continued pitching for Gray. After a fly-out, Cienfuegos walked. Garibay singled him to third. A fly to center was dropped and Cienfuegos scored. A 6-4-3 DP ended the inning.
After 4 innings, Blue leads 4-3.
Neither team scored in the next two innings.
Josh Larzabal relieved Greenwood in the seventh. With Gray down a run, Hannigan worked a walk. Karp advanced Hannigan on a ground-out. Hoyle hit a seeing-eye single to left. Hannigan scored to tie the score. Hoyle advanced to second on the throw home. Becker singled to right. Hoyle scored the go ahead run. Becker advanced to second on a WP. A strikeout followed. Cruz singled to right to score Becker for the final run of the inning.
Gray takes the lead 6-4.
Linskey continued to work the bottom of the inning. Blue hit two line drives. A diving catch by the right fielder was out one. The second out was a line out to short. Dunlap walked. A ground out 6-3 ended the day.
Was fun and exciting.
Gray wins 6-4 to lead 1-0.
Game 2 tomorrow morning.
November 14, 2020
Fall World Series, Game 2
The late summer weather continues to hold well into November. Gray was the Home squad today. Blue rallied with 4 runs in the top the seventh to win 4-1.
The Gray/home lineup today was:
Will Karp SS
Johnny Hoyle 3B
Nathan Becker 1B
Justin Collins DH
Antonio Cruz CF
William Burbank 2B
Cullen Hannigan C
Gray used two players in the outfield as defense only.
The Blue/visitors lineup was:
Guy Garibay 1B
Cade Edwards SS
Bradley Gneiting 2B
Justin Dunlap CF
Dominic Cox RF
Eric Benitez C
Cristian Cienfuegos 3B
Justin Long LF
Each starter pitched 5 solid innings.
Garret Zaskoda held blue scoreless.
Edwards singled with one out in the first. He was eliminated on a 4-6-3 DP.
Dunlap walked in the fourth for the only other runner for Blue.
Zaskoda struck-out one.
Mitchell Holcomb gave up one run in the second in his 5 innings of work.
In the second, Collins walked to lead-off. Cruz singled to center. Collins to third. Cruz to second on an outfield bobble. Burbank scored Collins on a fielder's choice grounder to short. Cruz out between 2nd and 3rd. Hannigan singled. Burbank to second. Burbank and Hannigan pulled off a double steal. Two strike outs ended the rally.
In the third, Becker singled to left. Collins reached on a slow high hop grounder to short. After a fly to center, the inning ended on a DP grounder to short.
In the fourth, Karp singled to center with one out. Blue turned another infield DP to end the inning,
Holcomb struck out 4.
Ryan Rickett relieved for Gray in the sixth. The first two batters reached. Garibay singled to center. Edwards walked. A line drive to left, a fielder's choice grounder and a strikeout ended the inning.
Cristian Cienfuegos relieved for Blue in the sixth. Burbank singled up the middle. He was eliminated on the hit-and-run play when the line drive drive was caught by the shortstop who threw to first below he could return to first base. Karp singled to center. A strikeout ended the frame.
After six innings, it was Gray 1, Blue 0.
Here comes the seventh inning rally by Blue. Rickett still pitching for Gray. Benitez walked on 4 pitches. Long was HBP. Garibay hit a ball over the left fielder's head. After some confusion on the base paths and what I'll call the "Coaches Conference Ruling", the bases were declared full with no outs. Bentiez scored on a sac-fly by Edwards. Long scored on a sac-fly by Gneiting. Dunlap singled up-the-middle. Garibay to second. Cox singled down the LF line. Garibay scored. Dunlap to third. Hoyle relieved Rickett. Benitez singled to left. Dunlap scored. Cox to third. A pop fly ended the rally.
Blue scored 4 runs.
Cienfuegos closed it out for Blue to pick up the win. Becker singled. Another infield DP eliminated him. A strikeout ended the day
Cienfuegos went 2 innings with no runs and 2 Ks.
The final was 4-1 Blue. Blue Gray Series is now even with a game each.
Game three is Monday afternoon.
November 16, 2020
Fall World Series, Game 3
Blue won game 3 by a score of 3-0 and now lead the series, 2-1.
Blake Brogdon was the WP. He pitched 5 innings and gave up 0 runs, 3 hits, 0 BB, while striking out 5 on just 54 pitches. Drake Greenwood pitched 2 scoreless innings in relief, retiring all 6 batters, striking out 1.
Brandon Deskins took the loss, pitching 5 innings giving up just 1 unearned run while allowing 4 hits, 0 BB and striking out 6. Alex DeLeon pitched the sixth, allowing 2 runs with 3 hits.
Cristian Cienfuegos led all hitters going 3-for-4, with 2 doubles and an RBI for the Blue.
There were no walks by either team.
November 19, 2020
Fall World Series, Game 4
Game 4 of the fall Blue-Gray Series was played under the lights on another gorgeous November evening.
Gray withstood a late rally from Blue to even the series with a 5-3 win.
Game 5 will be the decider. First pitch is set for 1:30 PM.
The Gray pitching tandem of Mathew Linskey and Ryan Rickett held Blue scoreless for the first 5 innings. Linskey pitched three innings of scoreless baseball while striking out 5 walking none. The only hits were a Garibay single and a Dunlap double.
Rickett continued to hold Blue scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings. He allowed a triple to Long. He hit one batter. He struck out 4 in those innings.
Dalton Wood pitched the first two innings for Blue. He allowed one unearned with singles by Karp and Becker. He walked 5.
Caleb Burgess pitched the next 1.2 innings.
In the third, Burbank reached on an infield single to open the inning. He advanced to third on 2 WPs. Hannigan walked. Karp singled to score Burbank. Hannigan to second. Hannigan and Karp each moved up a base on an infield ground out. A wild pitch scored Hannigan. Karp was out at home attempting to score on the WP. Collins and Becker each walked. A line drive to second ended the inning.
In the fourth, the first two batters struck out. Karp followed with a walk. He advanced on a WP. Comeaux tripled to center. Karp scored. Burgess finished his day allowing 4 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks with 2 SOs.
Larzabal replaced Burgess. Collins doubled to left to score Comeaux. A comeback grounder ended the rally.
Larzabal pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, In the fifth, he gave up a single to Hannigan. He struck out 2.
After 5 innings, it was Gray 5 Blue 0.
In the top of the sixth, Blue rallied to score 3 runs. Rickett continued pitching. The lead-off man (Edwards) reached second on an infield throwing error. After Rickett's 5th strikeout, Cox singled to left. Edwards advanced to third. Gneiting worked the count full before singling to center. Edwards scored. Cox advanced a base. Micah Davis replaced Rickett. The runners scored on WPs. Long reached on a walk. Johnny Hoyle replaced Davis. Hoyle struck out the next batter and retired the side on a pop-out to short.
Gray 5, Blue 3.
The deciding game 5 is tomorrow afternoon. Pitchers listed are Dillon Janac for Gray and Reed Gallant for Blue.
Go Owls!!
November 20, 2020
Fall World Series, Game 5
On another delightful autumn day, Gray completed its comeback from being down 2 games to one by taking the final 4-3.
Reed Gallant pitched the first three innings for Blue. He held Blue to one run, one hit with 3 Ks and 3 BBs.
Gray scored their run in second inning.
Decker opened with a single down the right field line. Hoyle and Hannigan each drew walks to load the bases. Burbank's sac-fly to center scored Becker. A strikeout and fly out closed the inning.
Dillon Janac pitched the first four innings for Gray. He gave up three runs on four hits. Janac walked two and struck out four.
Blue scored a run in the first. Garibay singled to center and advanced to second on a pick-off attempt. He scored when Dunlap singled to center. A ground-out and strikeout ended the first.
In the second, Blue scored another run. Cienfuegos singled leading-off. Long singled up-the-middle. Cienfuegos to second. Cienfuegos took third on a fly to the outfield. Long stole second.. Cienfuegos scored on Edward's sac-fly to right. Dunlap walked. He was out trying to steal.
In the fourth, Blue scored their final run without a hit. After a ground-out, Garibay reached when he struck out on a ball in the dirt. When the throw to first went into the outfield, Garibay wound up on second base. Garibay took third on an infield out. Dunlap struck on on a low ball/. He was safe at first when the throw hit him and bounced away. Garibay scored.
Drake Greenwood pitched the next two innings for Blue.
In the fourth, he sandwiched two fly outs around a walk. The runner was out attempting to steal second for the third out.
After 4 innings, Blue was up 3-2.
In the top of the fifth, Blue rallied to score two runs. Comeaux reached on an infield single. Collins homered to left-center on a 2-2 pitch scoring Comeaux. Three outs followed.
Greenwood pitched 2 innings. He allowed 2 runs, 2 hits, walked one and struck-out one.
Garret Zaskoda closed out the game for Gray pitching the fifth and sixth innings.
Blue failed to score on three fly outs in the fifth.
Cienfuegos pitched the sixth for Blue. He pitched to four batters. He allowed only a two out single to Comeaux.
Zaskoda closed out his second inning with 2 Ks and a pop out to short in the bottom of the sixth.
It was good to watch the squads compete. The series generated lots of team spirit. The games were completive and fun to watch. Looking forward to next spring.
Go Owls!!!