2022 SPRING PRACTICE (beginning January 28, 2022)
Unofficial Recaps by Roger Tower (unless otherwise noted)
January 28, 2022
Gray 10, Blue 7 (Woodcox hits 4 HRs)
An absolutely gorgeous day to open the preseason scrimmages.
Gray outlasted Blue today with a 10-7 win in 9 innings.
Blue pitchers were Cooper Chandler (3 inn), Alex DeLeon (3 inn). Caleb Matthews (2 inn) and Matthew Linskey (1 inn).
Gray pitchers were Mark Perkins (3 inn), Reed Gallant (2 inn), Caleb Burgess (1 inn), Dalton Wood (2 inn) and Micah Davis (1 inn).
Gray scored 2 runs in each of the first two innings and one in the third. D. Woodcox hit a 2 run HR in the first and a solo shot in the third. In the second, P. Gallo doubled and J. Hoyle singled for two runs following a walk to J. Long.
Blue was shut out in the first three innings.
Gray failed to score in the fourth. Gray added three runs in the fifth when Woodcox hit his third HR of the afternoon. J. Riedel scored on the HR after he had reached on a single. G. Garibay followed with a solo HR.
Blue scored two runs in fourth and two more in the fifth.
In the fourth, J. Ben-Shoshan hit a ground rule double to center. A. Smigelski singled him to third. Smigelski reached second on a passed ball. A. Bulman's sac-fly scored Ben-Shoshan. Smigelski to third. J. Dunlap singled. Smigelski scored. In the firth, H. Hughes walked and W. Burbank's HR to left scored two runs.
After 5 innings, Gray was up 8-4.
Gray was held scoreless in innings 6, 7 and 8. M. Garza doubled in the sixth and Hoyle doubled in the eight.
In the meantime, Blue closed the gap to 8-7 with three runs in the 6th on 4 walks.
Going to the ninth, the score remained 8-7 Gray.
In the ninth, Gray scored when C. Walsh reached second base on a throwing error. A stolen base and a wild pitch scored Walsh.
Woodcox hit his fourth HR of the day to score the tenth run for Gray. Woodcox had 4 HRs and 6 RBI on the day. A. Cruz singled.
Blue failed to score after they drew two one out walks in the bottom of the ninth.
Fanfest tomorrow.
WBB at 2:00 PM.Go Owls.
January 29, 2022
Gray 3, Blue 1 (7 innings)
Today was a perfect day for the 2022 Baseball Fanfest. The crowd was great with everyone looking forward to this year's team under Jose Cruz, Jr.
The scrimmage saw Gray winning 3-1 behind the pitching of Parker Smith (4 inn allowing 1 run), Thomas Burbank (3 inn and no runs), David Shaw (1 inning and no. runs) and Tom Vincent (1 inn and no runs).
Blue pitchers were almost as good with Brandon Deskins (4 inn allowing 1 run), Garret Zaskoda (2 inn 1 run), Micah Davis (1 inn 1 unearned run), and Cristian Cienfuegos (2 inn and no runs).
The teams combined for five singles. The singles were by Jack Ben-Shoshan, Aaron Smigelski, Connor Walsh, Guy Garibay and Pierce Gallo.
There is a five inning scrimmage tomorrow. Practice starts at 1:00 PM. Scrimmage approximately 2:00 PM.
January 30, 2022
Gray 8, Blue 0 (6 innings)
Another perfect day for baseball . Gray pitching held Blue to one hit in an 8-0 win in six innings.
Gray pitching Lines: 6 innings 0 Runs 8 SO 1 H 4 BB 1 H
T. Clucas 2 innings 0 Runs 3 SO 2 BB 1 H
R. Gallant 1 innings 0 Runs 2 SO 1 BB 0 H
T. Vincent 1 inning 0 Runs 1 BB 0 H
D. Wood 1 inning 0 Runs 2 SO 0 H
D. Shaw 1 inning 0 Runs 1 SO.
Blue pitching Lines: 4 innings 8 Runs 6 ER 4 SO 9 BB 8 H
C. Matthews 2 innings. 4 Runs 2 ERs 1 SO 4 BB 3 H
C. Burgess 2 innings 0 Runs 1 SO 2 BB 2 H
M. Linsky 2 innings 4 Runs 2 SO 3 BB 3 H
Gray offense:
Woodcox 1 HR (5th of spring),1 single, 2 RBI, SB
Bulman 2 singles, 1 RBI
Dukes 1 single, 2 SB
Hoyle 2 singles, SB
Garza 1 single, 1 RBI
Garibay 1 RBI
Blue offense:
Long 1 Bermuda Triangle single that landed on the infield.
Off day tomorrow.
February 1, 2022
Blue 3, Gray 2 (5 1/2 innings)
It was another lovely evening for Rice baseball. Another game dominated by the pitchers. Beginning with inning two and ending after inning three, the pitchers would start with a runner on first base.
C. Chandler and T. Vincent each pitched one scoreless inning for Blue.
D. Greenwood and D. Shaw matched that with shutout innings of their own.
C. Cienfuegos faced two batters for Blue. The inherited runner was retired on a fielder's choice grounder to third. A double play was recorded on a hit-and-run play with the runner being retired when he failed to return to first when the infield pop-up was caught and the ball was thrown to first base.
M. Davis pitched the third for Gray. The inherited runner advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Davis hit a batter, walked a batter and hit another to force the inherited runner home. A strikeout ended the frame.
Blue was up 1-0 after three. Neither squad had a hit at this point.
G. Zaskoda pitched the fourth for Blue. G. Garibay walked. A fly out to center and a strikeout followed. J. Riedel hit a ground rule double to center. Garibay scored. A pop to center ended the rally.
T. Clucas pitched the fourth for Gray. C. Walsh reached on an infield single to open the frame. A strike out and pop foul out followed as Walsh stole second and third. W. Burbank doubled to center to send the runners home. A ground out to short ended the inning.
Blue was up 3-1. Gray had 1 hit and Blue 2.
In the top of the fifth, T. Burbank struck out the Gray side.
With A. DeLeon on the bump for Gray, B. Rosengard led off the fifth with a double to left center but was out at third attempting to stretch it to a triple. DeLeon got two pop outs to end his outing.
After 5 innings, Blue was still up 3-1.
D. Wood came on to close it out for Blue. M. Garza singled to short center. Garibay followed with a single to right. Garza to second. Garza reached third on a wild pitch. D. Woodcox walked to load the bases. Garza scored on a sac-fly by J. Riedel. Garibay to third. Woodcox took second on fielder's indifference. A grounder to first was bobbled but recovered and the flip to the pitcher got the out to end the scrimmage.
Blue wins 3-2.
We'll see what the groundhog has in store for us tomorrow.
February 5, 2022
Blue 5, Gray 4 (9 1/2 innings)
After a three day spell of Texas winter weather, the Rice baseball team was able to play a 9.5 inning scrimmage today.
Blue took the scrimmage 5-4.
I was late arriving after having watched the Rice MBB basketball team's late rally fall just short in a loss to UTEP 72-70.
I arrived in the top of the sixth with 2 outs. The score was tied 3-3.
A. DeLeon pitched the first 4 innings for Blue.
C. Chandler the first 4 innings for Gray.
After 4 innings, it was 3-2 Gray.
M. Perkins pitched innings 5-7 for Blue.
R. Garcia pitched the same innings for Gary.
When I arrived in the top of the sixth with 2 outs, the score was tied at 3.
Perkins closed the inning with a ground out. He pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings.
Perkins struck out the final 3 batters he faced.
R. Garcia faced three batters in each of the two innings I saw him pitch. He struck out two.
The score was still 3-3 after 7.
R. Gallant pitched the eighth and ninth innings for Blue. No runs with one strikeout.
C. Matthews pitched the eighth and ninth innings for Gray. Blue scored a single run in each inning.
In the eighth, J. Dunlap walked. H. Hughes doubled to center. Dunlap out at the plate on a great relay.
Hughes to third on the throw home. W. Burbank doubled him home. C. Hannigan dropped a single into left.
The runner advanced to third. A pitcher to short to first DP ended the rally.
Blue would add another run the ninth. With one out, A. Bulman singled. He advanced on a passed ball.
C. Walsh followed with a singled. Bulman scored. Two ground-outs ended the frame.
After nine, it was Blue was up 5-3.
M. Linskey closed for Blue in the tenth.
N. Becker singled to center. A deep fly to center was dropped for a two base error. Becker to third. Cruz to second.
B. Dukes walked to load the bases. J. Hoyle hit a sac-fly to right to score Bulman. A flyout and strikeout ended the scrimmage.
The following had hits: Walsh: single, double. Dukes and B. Rosengard: 2 singles each. P. Gallo, Dunlap and Hughes a double each and the following each had singles: Bulman, A. Smigelski, Hannigan and J. Hoyle.
Note that some of the early runs were inherited runners placed on base for situational purposes.
There will be another scrimmage tomorrow. I'll start the day at Men's Tennis. Go Owls.
February 6, 2022
Gray 7, Blue 3 (10 innings)
I arrived at the baseball scrimmage as the fifth inning was completed.
After 5 innings, Blue was on top 3-1.
B. Deskins pitched five innings for Blue giving up one unearned run and 3 hits.
For the Gray squad, P. Smith pitched the first three innings and B. Brogdon took the bump for innings four and five. Blue scored 3 runs in those innings.
D. Shaw pitched the sixth and seventh innings. He allowed 4 unearned runs, 3 hits, 2 walks and a strikeout.
D. Wood pitched two perfect innings with 2 strikeouts and 4 ground ball outs,
After 7 innings, Gray was up 5-3.
For Blue, T. Burbank pitched a scoreless eighth inning with 2 strikeouts and a ground out,
M. Davis pitched a scoreless ninth. Pop-foul, walk and a pick-off catcher to first and a strikeout.
D. Greenwood pitched the eighth and ninth for Gray. The 3 outs in the eighth were on 2 strikeouts and a grounder. In the ninth, an infield single by N. Becker opened the frame. Decker was out catcher to short attempting to steal.second. Two strikeouts ended Greenwood's outing.
After 9 innings, it was Blue 5, Gray 3.
In the top of the tenth, Davis gave up two runs. He opened the inning hitting C.Walsh with a pitch. Walsh stole second. He took third on a failed pick-off throw to second. D. Woodcox got HBP also. He stole second. G. Garibay singled to score Walsh. Woodcox to third. A wild pitch scored Woodcox and moved Garibay to second, A walk fooled and a strikeout ended the inning.
Vincent closed for Blue. J. Ben-Shoshan walked. The runner took second on fielder's indifference. The next two batters struck out. W. Burbank singled to left. The runner on second rounded third and headed for home. On a great relay throw from left to third to catcher, the runner was out at the plate to end the rally. That ended the scrimmage.
Hits when I was present are as follows: N. Becker-single, W. Burbank-single, C. Walsh-single, A. Bulman-single, J. Hoyle-single, M. Garza-double and G. Garibay-single.
Blue 3, Gray 7.
February 8, 2022
Gray 9, Blue 2 (8 1/2 innings)
It was lovely late afternoon but a chilly evening for today's scrimmage.
Gray jumped on top in the first scoring five runs. J. Ben-Shoshan started things with a single through the left side. A sac-bunt moved him to second. D. Woodcox doubled to left. Ben-Shoshan scored. An infield ground-out moved Woodcox to third. J. Riedel walked. A. Cruz looped a single to center. Riedel to third. Woodcox scored. Riedel scored and Cruz advanced to second on a passed ball. J. Dunlap homered to center to score Cruz. A total of five runs scored.
Blue answered with one run. A. Bulman walked. Advanced on a passed ball. B. Rosengard singled Bulman home after 2 outs. Rosengard was caught stealing to end the first.
The score remained 5-1 until Gray added a single run in the fourth inning. Cruz tripled to center. He scored on a sac-fly by Dunlap.
Gray would add two more runs in the fifth. Ben-Shoshan singled through the right side. Walks to Woodcox and Garibay followed to load the bases. A strikeout was the first out. Riedel walked again forcing in the first run. Cruz reached on an infield single to score the second run of the frame. The inning ended there.
After five innings, Gray was up 8-1.
In the seventh, Gray would add one more run. P. Gallo reached on a wild pitch strikeout. Woodcox walked. Gallo to second. Two strikeouts followed. Cruz got his fourth hit of the day on single to right. Gallo scored. Cruz was caught stealing to end the rally.
Blue scored a solitary run in the eight. With one out, C. Walsh walked. Rosengard followed with a walk. The runners each advanced on a stolen base. Walsh scored on a wild pitch. Rosengard moved to third. A strikeout was the second out. After Smigelski walked, the inning was ended.
Gray 9, Blue 2 was the final in 8 1/2 innings.
Blue pitching lines:
T. Burbank 3 inn. 5 R, 4 H,1 BB
T. Vincent 1 inn. 1 R, 1 H
G. Zaskoda 1 inn. 2 R, 2 H, 1 SO, 3 BB
M. Perkins 1 inn. 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB
C. Cienfuegos 2 inn. 1 R, 2 H, 1 BB
M. Linskey 1 inn. 0 R, 0 H, 3 SO, 1 BB
Gray Pitching lines:
T. Clucas 2 inn. 1 R, 1 H, 1 SO, 2 BB
C. Burgess 2 inn. 0 R, 1 H.2 BB
T. Fox 2 inn. 0 R, 0 H, 2 SO, 2 BB
R. Gallant 1 inn. 0 R, 0 H, 1 SO
M. Davis 1 inn. 1 R, 0 H, 1 SO, 3 BB
Blue Hits: Rosengard 1 single, Smigelski 1 double
Gray Hits: Ben-Shoshan 2 singles, Woodcox 1 double, Cruz 3 singles and 1 triple, Dunlap 1 HR, Hoyle 1 single
Rice Men's Basketball won 98-63.
February 11, 2022
Visitors (Gray) 6, Home (White) 2 (9 innings)
It had the feel of a real baseball game tonight. The home squad was dressed in white uniforms with the visitors in Gray.
Brandon Deskins opened for the home squad. He pitched shutout ball for the first 3 innings, In the fourth, Deskins gave up an unearned run. Justin Long reached when Deskins' throw to first sailed high. Long to second. Antonio Cruz singled him home. Two strike outs and a walk ended Deskins' outing. Alex DeLeon struck out the first batter he faced to end the rally.
Meanwhile, Cooper Chandler pitched for the visitors. In his outing, he pitched four scoreless inning to start. Austin Bulman got the first hit off Chandler with one out in the fourth. It was a double. He was stranded.
After four innings, it was 1-0 Visitors.
With one out in the top of the fifth inning, DeLeon gave up a double to Drew Woodcox. Woodcox advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. Guy Garibay walked. He was out attempting to steal second base. Long singled. Cruz tripled to right-center to score Long. J. Riedel walked. On the double steal attempt, Cruz was out at the plate on the return throw from second base.
After 4 1/2 innings, it was now 3-0 Visitors.
In the bottom of the fifth, the home squad scored two runs off Chandler. Manny Garza doubled to left. He advanced to third on a wild pitch. An infield ground out left him at third. William Burbank walked. A strikeout was then the second out of the inning. Hal Hughes was HBP to load the bases. Ben Rosengard singled to right. Two runs scored. The inning ended as Roel Garcia struck out the first batter he faced.
After five innings, Visitors were up 3-2. The score would remain 3-2 until the top of the ninth.
For the home team, DeLeon pitched a scoreless sixth. David Shaw pitched two scoreless innings (seventh and eighth). Dalton Wood pitched the ninth for the home team. Visitors would score 3 unearned runs.
Garcia would pitch three scoreless innings before being relieved in the eighth. Blake Brogdon came on with two outs in the eighth and held the home squad scoreless in the eighth and ninth.
Pitching:
Visitor: Chandler 4 2 inn, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 SO; Garcia 3.0 inn, 0 R, 0 H; 3 BB, 5 SO; Brogdon 1.1 inn, 0 R, 0 H. 1 BB, 4 SO
Home: Deskins 3.2 inn, 0 ER, 1 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 8 SO; DeLeon 2.1 inn, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 SO.
Shaw 2.0 inn. 0 R.1 H, 2 BB, 3 SO; Wood 1.0 inn. 3 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 SO
Hits:
Visitors: Pierce Gallo 1 Double; Woodcox 1 Single, 2 Doubles; Long 1 Single, Cruz 2 Singles, 1 Triple; Johnny Hoyle 1 Single
Home: Bulman 1 Double; Garza 1 Double; Rosengard 1 Single
Another scrimmage is scheduled for 1:45 PM tomorrow.
Go Owls.
February 12, 2022
Visitors (Gray) 14, Home (White) 6 (7 innings)
I attended the Rice MBB game today so I got to the scrimmage after 5 innings. Visitors were up 11-2.
Mark Perkins started for White. He pitched 1.2 innings allowing 6 runs (5 ER). He was relieved by Drake Greenwood. Greenwood pitched 1.2 innings giving up 3 ERs. Tom Vincent pitched 1.1 innings in relief giving up 2 runs (1 ER).
Thomas Burbank pitched five solid innings for the Visitors. He gave up 2 runs in the first and allowed 4 total hits.
I had enough of the cold and came home.
The game was ended after 2 more innings with the score 14-6 Visitors.