FALL BALL (October 5 - November 18, 2023)
Unofficial Recaps by Roger Tower (unless otherwise noted)
October 5, 2023
The fall ball began today with 3 1/2 inning scrimmage.
The visiting team won 5-3.
For the visiting pitchers;
In the first Stratton gave up one run. McDonald doubled. Duffield HR. And a single by Correa.
In the second Fox allowed a lead off single to L. West. He had one K. No runs
Williams pitched the third. He allowed two runs. Garza singled. Duffield and Correa walked. Garza and Duffield scored.
For the home squad pitchers:
Vincent pitched the first: One run. Royo HR. Riedel, Gallo and Motley each singled.
Blank pitched the second inning for home: One walk, two Ks, no runs and no hits.
Rheaume pitched the third. He allowed 2 runs on 3 hits. Royo, Riedel, and Motley each singled.
Hamilton picked the top of the fourth. He gave up 2 runs on 2 hits. Salazar and Dukes each singled and stole a base.
October 6, 2023
A perfect fall day for Rice baseball. Home squad won 5-3 in 4 innings.
With a three run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning the home squad won today's scrimmage.
Each team had the first two batters score in the first inning.
The Blue squad scored two runs when Riedel homered over the right field fence after Royo singled.
The Grey squad followed with two runs of their own. Cumming walked. McDonald singled. Walks to Garza, Duffield and Correa followed.
Cumming and McDonald scored. A fielder's choice grounder forced Garza at the plate. Pitch count ended the inning.
Neither team scored again until the fourth.
With two outs Garibay homered to right. This gave the visitors a 3-2 lead.
Gallo singled and stole second. A strikeout ended the rally.
In the bottom of the fourth L. West reached on an infield throwing error. Vaszquez walked. The runners advanced on a wild pitch.
Two strikeouts followed. Cumming singled to left to score the two runners. McDonald followed with a double to right. This was his third hit of the day. Cumming scored. McDonald was out at third. That ended the scrimmage.
Other hits included a single by Salazar in the second
McDonald's other hit was a single in the third. He stole two bases after the hit.
Pitchers for Home were Paul Smith, Rodriguez, Ben-Shoshan and Relamb.
Pitchers for Visitors were Urbanczyk, Perkins, Hickson and Alch.
No scrimmage tomorrow.
October 12, 2023
In the 4 inning scrimmage today the home squad won 6-4.
Home pitchers were Wrehe, Williams, Rheaume, and Stratton.
Away pitchers were Fox, Hamilton, Blank, and Vincent.
Wrehe was to throw only fastballs. All other pitchers threw off-speed pitches and started with an inherited runner.
All pitchers were limited to one inning or 25 pitches.
Royo opened the game with a HR to left field. Two runners reached on fielding errors.
Gallo and L.West followed with singles to left. Three runs scored.
In the bottom of the first the inherited runner stole second. Cumming was HBP. McDonald, Garza and Duffield each singled.
Home scored three times. The inning ended on an infield grounder double play.
Visitors failed to score or get base hits in the second and third.
The home squad scored once in the second. The inherited runner advanced on a single by Anderson and when Ayala was HBP. He scored on an infield single by Cumming.
In the third the home squad added two more runs. The inherited runner stole second. Pinch hitter Paul Smith was HBP.
Two errors resulted in the runner scoring and Smith advancing to second. Smith scored on a single by Duffield. Inning ended after Becker was HBP.
The visitors scored once in the top of the fourth. The inherited runner reached second on a single by L. West. West and the inherited runner each advanced on a fielder's choice grounder to first. Devenny walked. The runner scored on a wild pitch with West and Devenny advancing a base. Royo walked. A fly out ended the frame.
In the bottom of the fourth the inherited runner was picked-off. An infield out followed. G. West reached on an infield error. Dukes walked. A strike out ended the rally and the scrimmage.
Tomorrow's scrimmage begins at 3:15 PM
October 13, 2023
Today the pitchers were throwing all off speed pitches. Each inning began with an inherited runner (hereafter IR) on first base.
Rodriguez, Urbanczyk, Alch and Hickson for the Home team.
Perkins, Paul Smith, Ralamb. and Ben-Shoshan for the visitors.
The away team failed to score in the first. Riedel a single. Rodriguez 2 SOs.
For the Home squad the IR scored. Cumming was HBP. Vasquez sac bunt. Runners moved to second and third. McDonald was out at first on a fielder's choice RBI that scored the IR. Garibay singled.
Garza grounded out. Perkins pitched.
The Visitors failed to score in the second. A double play grounder eliminated the IR. A strikeout ended the frame. Urbanczyk pitched.
Home tallied one run in the second. Fly to center. IR stole second and third. G. West walked. The Ayala reached on a fielder's choice grounder that saw the IR thrown out at the plate. Vazquez singled to left. G. West scored. Runners advanced to second and third on an outfield error. Cumming flied out to right. Paul Smith pitched.
Visitors failed to score in the third. There were no hits, a fielder's choice, a pick-off and a SO. Alch pitched.
Ralamb pitched the third for visitors. A nicely turned DP from first to short and back to first erased the IR. A grounder off the pitcher's hand to short and on to first ended the third inning.
Home was leading 2-0.
In the top of the fourth the visitors rallied to score three runs. It first appeared that the IR was picked-off first. The call was overturned. IR back on first. Devenny was HBP. Runners at 1st and 2nd. DP to grounder to third with throw to first to retire the batter. Runner now at second base. Riedel walked. Duffield HBP. Passed ball moved the runners up. Devenny scored. Runners on second and third. Gallo singled to left. 2 RBI. He took second on an outfield miscue. Becker walked. Pitch count ended the pitcher's outing. Hickson was pitching.
In the Home fourth Ben-Shoshan pitched for the visitors. IR runner moved to second on failed pick-off, Pop foul out. Fly to center. IR stole third. Infield ground out second to first ended the scrimmage.
Final Visitors 3, Home 2.
October 19, 2023
Highlights of the six innings that I saw:
Today's scrimmage had the teams doing competitive situations throughout the scrimmage.
Most innings started with an inherited runner(IR) on third with the pitcher, catcher and two infielders. Sometimes no infielders, sometimes a lone outfielder. The other fielders usually took the field after the first out.
Pitchers I saw were:
Away pitchers: Mayo (1), Rheaume (2), Fox (2), Wrehe (1)
Home pitchers: Blank (2), Hamilton (2), Williams
Away scored 12 runs and home 9 in the 6 innings I saw. Each team had inherited runners score 5 times.
Away scored 1 run in 2 innings vs. Blank. Riedel had a single. Blank 3 SOs.
Home failed to score in Mayo's inning. Garibay scored on a sac-fly after 3 walks.
Home scored 2 runs versus Rheaume in his two innings. A sac-fly drove home the IR from third in the second.
Home scored the IR on McDonald's ball hit through the empty left side of the infield. McDonald to third. A walk and fly out ended the frame on pitch count.
Hamilton pitched the next two innings for Home. Away scored 3 runs in the third.
Becker had a 2 run double to center, Walks and infield errors contributed to another run.
Away tacked on 3 more runs in the fourth, Sallis IV drove home the IR. A walk followed. Two runs cored on Cumming hit to center. Riedel singled to center with one out. Inning called. Hamilton had 5 SOs.
Fox took the mound for the away squad in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth the IR scored on a sac-fly by Duffield.
In the fifth the IR scored on a WP. Runner placed back on third. G. West hit grounder through unmanned infield.
G. West to third. Dukes drove G. West home with a double. Dukes moved to third. McDonald's sac-fly scored Dukes.
Fox one SO.
Williams took the bump for Home in the fifth and sixth. With the IR on third a HBP and a walk filled the bases, Anderson walked to score IR. A SO ended the inning.
Away would score four runs in the sixth. IR scored on a grounder by Devenny through the empty side of the infield. Devenny to third. Cumming HBP. Royo hit a three run HR to left. A walk followed ending the frame.
Wrehe pitched the bottom of the sixth versus home squad. This was his second outing. The IR started at first base. Wrehe struck out the first batter. a walk and HBP followed to load the bases. Another walk to G. West pushed home the IR. Dukes hit a deep fly to dead-center to score L.West.
Final Away 12, Home 9
Another scrimmage tomorrow at 3:15 PM.
October 20, 2023
The scrimmage was played with competitive situations again.
Each squad faced inherited runners (IRs) on third base to begin 8 innings.
Of those IRs, 6 scored for the visiting squad and 7 scored for the home team.
Away scoring line 0-1-4-0-1-2-1-4-0=13
Home scoring line 2-1-2-4-0-2-4-4=19
Batting highlights:
Away:
Cumming: 3 RBI
Riedel: double, RBI
Gallo: Single, Double, 2 RBI
Garibay: HR, Double, 4 RBI
L. West: 2 RBI
Devenny: Single
Home:
Royo: 2 RBI
Dukes: 2 Doubles, 2 Singles, 4 RBI
McDonald: 2 Singles, 2 RBI
Becker: Double, 2 RBI
Garza: 2 Singles, 2 RBI
Duffield: Single, RBI
Vazquez: Single, 3 RBI
Anderson: Single, RBI
Pitching Highlights:
Away: Matthews: no runs; Alch:1K; Paul Smith: 3K, no Non-IR runs; Urbanczyk: 3K; Perkins: 2K
Home: Hickson: 4K; Ralamb: 2K; Rodriguez: 2K; Ben-Shoshan: 2K
All pitchers pitched 2 innings except Matthews.
We'll see how the weather treats us next week.
October 26, 2023
The teams were to play 6 innings. I was present only for the first 3 innings before I left for the soccer game.
It was senior night for 7 players and support.
Matthew, Mayo and Stratton pitched one inning each for the Navy squad while I was there.
Paul Smith pitched 2 innings and Fox 1 inning for the Gray team
Matthews 2 hits, 3 runs, 1 SO
Mayo 2 hits, 1 run, 1 SO
Stratton 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 SO
Paul Smith 1 hit, 1 run, 0 SO
Fox 3 hits, 3 runs, 0 SO
Offensive highlights:
Gray:
Dukes bunt single
Garibay Jr. HR 2 RBI
Vazquez single
L.West double, 1 RBI
Navy:
Riedel single
Becker single, HR, 2 RBI
Gallo HR, 2 RBI
12 inning scrimmage vs. HCU tomorrow evening.
November 2, 2023
A beautiful day for a fall ball scrimmage. Home scored 4 in the second inning to edge the Away team 4-3.
The Away scored first in the top of the second.
Garza singled. L.West doubled Garza to third. Vazquez hit sac-fly to left. Garza scored. After Motley walked, the side was retired.
Home responded with a 4 run rally. Riedel doubled down the right field line. Gallo and Anderson walked to load the bases.
After a strikeout Devenny reached on an infield hit that scored Riedel. A fielder's choice ground out to second by Sallis IV scored Gallo. Anderson advanced to third. McDonald singled to center. Anderson and Deveny each scored. McDonald took second on the throw. Inning called on pitch count.
4-1 Home after 2 innings.
In the 4tth inning Motley singled for Away team. He advanced to third on a passed ball and wild pitch. He scored on the sac-fly tonight by G.West. Away was retired after that.
In the fifth, Away attempted to rally for the win. Dukes opened the frame with a double. Duffield walked. Dukes and Duffield advanced on a passed ball. Becker sent Dukes home on a fielder's choice to short. Garza singled Duffield to third. L. West walked to ;had the bases. Two outs followed to close the inning.
Home failed to score in the 5th.
Final Home 4 Away 3.
Pitchers:
Home. Matthews 2 innings 1 R 2 H 1 SO
Fox 2 innings. 1 R 2 H 1 SO
Stratton 1 inning. 1 R 2 H
Away: Mayo 1.2 innings. 4 R 3 H 3 SO
Wrehe 1 inning 0 R 1 H.
Paul Smith 2 innings 0 R 1 H 2 SO
Offense: Away: Garza 1 S, 2 D; Dukes 1 D; L. West 1 S; Motley 1 S
Home: McDonald 1 S 1 D; Royo 1 S; Devenny 1 S: Riedel 1
November 8, 2023
On a perfect evening for fall ball, the squads battled to a 3-3 draw.
Matthews pitched the first two innings for Home.
The Away team opened the first with singles by McDonald and Correa. An infield double play eliminated Correa. L. West walked. Ayala followed with a three run HR over the left field fence.
Away did not score in the second. The Home pitchers would shutout the Away squad after that.
Mayo gave up 2 hits (singles by L. West and Ayala) in his 2 shutout innings. He struck out 3.
Wrehe retired the side in his lone inning.
Stratton allowed a single to Becker and walked one. He struck out 2 batters in his 2 frames.
The Home squad would score a single run against each of the three Away pitchers.
Fox walked Garibay and Garza after 2 outs. Gallo singled Garibay home. Duffield singled to start the second. An infield DP eliminated him. A ground-out ended Fox's day.
Perkins relieved in the third. He retired the side in order in the third. In the fourth, Garza reached first with an infield single. He advanced to second via a fielder's choice grounder. Garza scored after a passed ball and wild pitch. Perkins retired the next three batters on infield grounders.
Paul Smith pitched the last two innings for the visitors. In the fifth, Devenny hit a hard shot down the right field line for a double. Royo singled Devenny home. No further scoring in the fifth.
After Gallo walked to lead-off the sixth, Smith retired the side. He struck out one.
The teams will scrimmage again tomorrow.
November 9, 2023
Due to the weather, bullpens replaced the scheduled Intrasquad time.
November 10, 2023
Today, some of the pitchers that didn't get to pitch yesterday pitched along with some who were scheduled for today.
Away pitchers:
Ralamb 2.0 inn; 0 R; 1 Double, 3 SO
Blank 2.0 inn; 2 R; 2 singles; 2 SO
Vincent 2.0 inn; 2 R; 2 singles; 5 BB; 1 HB; 2 SO
Rheaume 1.0 inn; 1 R; 0 H; 3 BB; 2 SO
Ben-Shoshan 1.0 inn; 1 R; 1 HR; 2 SO
( I didn't see the ninth inn)
Home pitchers:
Rodriguez 2.0 inn; 0 R; 1 single; 1 HBP; 4 SO
Urbanczyk 2.0 inn; 1 R; 1 bunt single plus a single; 1 HBP;1 BB; 3 SO
Hamilton 2.0 inn; 1 R, 1 HR and 1 single; 1 SO
Williams 1.0 inn; 0 R; 0 H; 2 BB; 1 SO
Hickson 1.0 inn; 0 R; 0 H; 1 BB; 3 SO
(I didn't see top ninth inn)
Away Offense:
Ayala: infield single
G. West: bunt single
McDonald: single
Becker: HR to left
L. West: single
Home Offense:
Riedel: double
Garza: 2 run single
Devenny: single
Royo: single
Duffield: single
Motley: HR to right center.
(I didn't see bottom ninth inn)
Have a great weekend.
November 14, 2023 - Fall World Series, Game 1
Team DC (Gray) won with 32 points over Team ASPO (Blue) 20 points.
Pitch limit was 18 for each pitcher per inning. Finish pitching to the batter when limit is reached.
Points = runs scored plus runners left on base if inning has less than 3 outs plus outs not made.
Vincent and Fox pitched 3 innings for Team DC. Williams pitched 2 innings.
Mayo and Blank pitched 3 innings for Team ASPO. Matthews pitched 2 innings.
DC was up 16-7 after 3 innings, 24-15 after 6 and a final of 32-20.
Team DC offense: Salazar single and HR, Dukes double, Royo single, Duffield double, L. West single.
Team ASPO offense: Cumming double, Riedel single, Garza 2 singles, Devenny single, Paul Smith single.
Game 2 is 4:00 PM tomorrow.
November 15, 2023 - Fall World Series, Game 2
It was a beautiful fall evening for baseball. In a 6 1/2 inning Game 2 of the Fall Ball World Series, Team DC (Gray) shut out Team ASPO (Blue) 16-0 under modified scoring, to sweep the Fall World Series.
Parker Smith pitched the first inning with 3 SOs and a lone single by Devenny. Tyler Hamilton followed with 3 shutout innings. He gave up 4 singles (Cumming, Becker, Devenny and Garibay). He had 2 SOs. Mauricio Rodriguez closed the game with 3 more shutout innings. He gave up a single to Cumming and hit one batter. He had 4 SOs.
Karl Ralamb pitched the first 3 innings for Team ASPO. He walked 4 and hit one with one HR.
Team DC scored on a three run HR by Dukes in the first. Total of 6 points. They would add 3 more points in the third.
After 3 frames, it was DC 9. ASPO 0.
Jack Ben-Shoshan pitched the 4th and fifth innings. He had 2 SOs and a walk in a scoreless fourth inning. In the fifth, Motley walked. McDonald doubled to left. Salazar singled the runners home. He walked out in an attempt to stretch it to a double. Inning called after Ben-Shoshan's third strikeout. DC added 3 more points.
After 5, it was 12-0 DC.
Garrett Stratton pitched the bottom of the sixth. He walked 2 batters and a fly out ended the inning on pitch count. DC added 4 points.
Since Team ASPO failed to score in the seventh, the game ended.
DC 16, ASPO 0.