2023 Spring Practice Tower

2023 SPRING PRACTICE (beginning January 27, 2023)
 

Unofficial Recaps by Roger Tower (unless otherwise noted)

January 27, 2023 
Gray 3, Blue 3 (6 1/2 innings)

A cool evening but baseball in January at the Reck. What a treat, 

M. Linskey pitched the first 3 innings no hit for the home squad (White uniforms).  He struck out 4, walked 4 and hit 2 batters with a pitch.  One run scored on a wild pitch. 

Parker Smith pitched the first for the visitors (Blue uniforms).   Smith pitched 3 scoreless innings.  He struck out 3, allowed 2 hits, walked 1 batter. 

After 3 innings, visitors were up 1-0. 

M. Perkins pitched the next 3 innings for home squad.  Perkins gave up single runs in the 5th and 6th innings.  He walked 2 and hit 1 batter. 

R. Urbanczyk pitched the 4th-6th innings for the road team.  He gave up 3 runs on 2 hits, 4 walks with 3 SO.  

After 6 innings, it was 3-3. 

M. Fuentes pitched a perfect seventh inning.  Two infield ground outs and a SO. 

Offensive highlights: 

In the second, the visitors scored a single run on a wild pitch following a walk and a hit batter. 

In the 4th inning, the home squad tied the game.  D. Holderbach walked.  Paul Smith walked.  T, Duffield doubled to score Halderbach.  Smith to third. 

In the fifth, G.Garibay singled up-the-middle to open the frame. He scored when M. Garza was HBP with the bases loaded that followed an infield error and a walk to C.Walsh

In the sixth, B. Rosengard lined back to the pitcher Perkins.  Perkins reacted and made a great play as he caught the ball in his glove above his left shoulder.  G. West followed with a double to deep center. C. Salazar hit a deep drive to right-center. T. Duffield crashed into the wall making the catch.  He fell down but held onto ball for the out.  G. West had to scramble back to second to tag up and then run home to score on a two base advancement on the sac-fly. 

The game ended as Urbancyzk and Fuentes each pitched 1-2-3 inns to close the game. 

Another scrimmage tomorrow.  

January 28, 2023 
Gray 7, Blue 1 (7 innings)


The scrimmage got underway shortly after noon. Home scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th to add on to a 3-1 lead and win 7-1. 

Home Pitchers: 
J. D. McCracken opened for the home squad.  He pitched 3 shutout innings and allowed only a lead off single to C. Salazar.  He had 2 SO, walked 2 and hit a batter. 

T. Fox relieved in the 4th inning.  He pitched one inning.  C. Walsh reached second on an infield error start the inning.   
The pinch runner reached third on a fielder's choice and scored on B. Rosengard's RBI ground out.  A fly to center ended the frame.   

G. Stratton closed for the home squad. In 3 innings he allowed no runs. He gave up three singles (N. Becker, Walsh and M. Garza), one BB with 3 SO. 

Visitor Pitchers: 

G. Zaskoda pitched the first 3 innings for Blue.  He gave up a 2 run HR to P. Smith in the 1st inning.  He pitched scoreless ball after that.  His line was 2 R, 2 H (HR by Smith, single by Dukes), 4 BB and 3 SO. 

J. Crews pitched a solitary inning in relief.  No runs, J. Devenny sandwiched a single in between 2 SO.  He was picked off. 

T. Hamilton pitched the final 3 innings for Blue.  His line was 6 R, 1 SO, 1 HBP, 4 BB and 5 H (singles by B. Royo, P. Gallo and D. Halderbach and doubles by C. Hannnigan and Dukes

Home scored once on RBI HBP to J. Devenny in the 6th. 

Home scored 5 times in the 7th.  Dukes a 2 RBI double. P. Gallo RBI single, D. Halderbach  RBI  single and Smith RBI grounder. 

Final was 7-1 for the Home squad. 

January 29, 2023 
Gray 3, Blue 0


I stayed home today but received game info from Lisa, Adam and Bryan.  Thank you. 

White pitching lines: 

B. Brogdon          1 inning  0 R 1 BB 1 SO 
T. Vincent            1 inning  0 R 2 BB 1 SO and 1 single by P. Smith 
J. Long                 3 inning   0 R 2 BB 1 HBP 3 SO. and 1 single by B. Royo 
J. Ben-Shoshan    1 inning  0 R. 9 BB. 2 SO.  


Navy pitching lines: 

K. Raj                   2 innings. 0 R 0 BB 3 SO 
H. Durke               2 innings  1 R 4 BB 4 SO 2 singles (G.West, P. Gallo) 
C. Cienfuegos       2 innings.  2 R 2 BB 1 SO 1 HR (M. Garza) 

White squad scored a single run in the third inning and 2 runs on Garza's HR in fifth inning. 

February 3, 2023 
Away 2, Home 0

On a gorgeous sunny February afternoon, the Away squad scored 2 early runs backed by shutout pitching from M. Perkins and M. Linskey to secure a 2-0 win. 

In the top of the first, M. Johnson singled to left-center off R. Urbanczyk.  Paul Smith walked.  D. Holderbach doubled down the third base line.  Johnson scored.  Smith advanced to third.  After a strikeout, T. Duffield walked to load the bases.  Smith scored on B. Dukes bases loaded walk.  Inning was called. 

Those were the only runs in the scrimmage. 

For the Home team, Urbanczyk pitched 1.2 innings. 3 R, 2 H (Johnson single and Holderbach double), 4 BB, and 1 K 

M. Perkins opened for the visitors. He pitched 1.2 innings.  No R, 1 H (G. West single), 4 BB and 3 K 

Parker Smith pitched the final 4 innings for the Home squad. 
No R, 1 infield single to short by Holderbach, 2 HBP, and 4 K. 

M. Linskey closed for the Away team. He pitched 3.0 innings. 
No R, 3 H (a double to right by M. Garza, a single to left by N. Becker 
and a bunt single by B. Royo), 1 BB and 3 K. 

Tomorrow should be another great day. 

February 4, 2023 
Home 8, Away 4  (9 innings)

In today's scrimmage, the Home squad scored 3 runs in the first and 1 in the 3rd to take a 4-0 lead into the 5th inning. 

The Away team plated single runs in the 5th, 7th 8th and 9th, 

The Home team added 2 runs in the 6th and 8th innings for a final score of 8-4. 

Scoring for Home (White uniforms) 8 runs 

1st inning: 3 runs 
Royo singled with 1 out.  Johnson singled Royo to second with 2 out.  Garza singled home Royo. Duffield walked. 
Devenny's base hit drove home Garza and Duffield.  Inning called. 

3rd inning: 1 run 
Paul Smith singled to lead-off. Johnson singled Smith to second.  Garza singled to load the bases. A strikeout was 
first out.  Devenny forced  Smith at the plate on a pitcher to catcher fielder's choice.  Bases still loaded. 
Dukes walked to send Johnson home for the lone run of the inning.  Inning called. 

7th inning: 2 runs; 

Royo singled.  He stole second and reached 3rd on a wild pitch.  Smith walked.  As best as I can tell, Royo scored on an error by the pitcher and Smith reached third.  Smith scored on a second to first fielder's choice ground out.  Duffield walked.  Two outs followed to end the inning. 

8th inning:  2 runs: 

Garza walked.  Line out.  Dukes fouled out.  Garza to third.  Gallo singled Garza home.  Dukes to third.  A passed ball scored Dukes.  The inning was called after a walk to Royo

Scoring for Away side (Navy uniforms) 

5th inning: 1 run 

Becker singled and Rosengard walked.  Infield out.  Becker to third.  Becker scored on a sac-fly by Smigelski. Ground out ended the inning. 

7th inning: 1 run 

Smigelski HBP.  He stole second.  With one out, Garibay walked.  Walsh singled Smigelski home.  Garibay to second.  Inning called. 

8th inning: 1 run 

Rosengard singled.  He swiped second and scored on a single by West.  Two outs followed and the inning was called. 

9th inning: 1 run 

After 2 outs, Garibay walked. Becker doubled home Garibay.  There was no further scoring.  Walsh and Hannigan each had singles.  Inning called. 

Pitching highlights: 
Home:  Stratton      4 scoreless innings; No hits; 3 K: 1 BB. 
             Fox            2 innings. 1 R. 2 singles 1 K. 3 BB.  
             Hamilton   3 innings.  3 R. 1 double and 5 singles.  2 K. 2 BB 

Away:   McCracken 4 innings.  4 R. 8 singles. 5 K. 2 BB 
             Crews         2 innings   2 R. 1 double and 1 single. 3 K. 3 BB 
             Zaskoda     3 innings.   2 R. 1 double and 2 singles. 0 K. 3 BB 

Fan Fest tomorrow. 

February 5, 2023 
Home 5, Away 1 


A very enjoyable day and an entertaining scrimmage.  Home pitching dominated to grab a 5-1 win today. 

The Home pitchers did not allow the visitors to have the lead off batter reach base in any of the nine innings. 
Through eight innings, the home pitchers allowed no runs and faced four batters or less batters in seven of those innings. 

The pitching lines for the Home squad:  
Brogdon             1 inn.  0 R. 0 H. 1 SO 1 BB 
Rodriguez           1 inn.  0 R. 1 S. 0 SO 0 BB 
Cienfuegos         2 inn.  0 R. 1 S. 1 SO 0 BB 
Long                   4 inn.  0 R.1 D. 5 SO 1 BB 
Vincent               1 inn.  1 R. 1 H  1 HBP 1 BB. 

Hits for the visitors were singles by Dukes, Paul Smith and Johnson.  Johnson also doubled. 

The Visitors' pitchers held the home squad scoreless through five innings.  The lead off man for the Home squad failed to get on base in the first five innings. 

In the sixth inning, Home scored two runs.  Becker opened the inning with a single to right.  Smigelski doubled to left.  Becker to third.  Walsh singled Becker home. Smigelski to third.  Rosengard bunted Smigelski home.   

In the seventh, Hannigan reached on an error.  He scored on Garza's double to right center. 

Home would plate two more more runs in the eighth.  Walsh walked.   A line drive out followed.  West singled to left.  Walsh to second.  Salazar HBP.  Bases loaded.  Becker HBP pitch.  RBI.  Hannigan HBP.  RBI.   

The pitching lines for the Visiting squad: 
Gallant             1 inn.  0 R. 0 H. 0 SO 1 BB 
Raj                   3 inn.  0 R. 1 S. 2 SO 1 BB 
Durke               2 inn.  2 R. 3 S.1 D, 3 SO, 0 BB 
Ben-Shoshan  1.1 inn.  3 R.1 S,1 D. 5 SO 1 BB, 3 HBP 

Hits by the Home squad were Singles by Garza, West (2), Becker, Walsh and Doubles by Walsh and Garza

February 10, 2023 
Home 6, Away 3​​​

On a mostly sunny afternoon in February, the Home team used solid pitching and two home runs to win this afternoon's scrimmage 6-3.

After holding the visitors scoreless in the first the home squad took the lead in the bottom of the frame. Johnson walked.  He stole second and reached third on an infield ground out to second by Holderbach.  Garza drove Johnson home with a ground out to short.  Garibay was HBP, a foul pop ended the rally.

With one out, Duffield reached on a line drive off the pitcher's leg.  He was eliminated on a 1-6-3 double play to end the stanza.

The Visitors tied the game up in the top of the third.  With two outs, West singled to left.  He stole second.  Salazar walked.  Hannigan singled to right.  West scored and Salazar scampered to third.  The frame ended on a ground out to short.

The Visitors threatened in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Rosengard tripled to deep center.  Devenny laid a perfect bunt down along the third baseline.  He was safe at first.  Rosengard was held at third.  Dukes walked but a ground out from third to first shut the scoring down.

The Home squad regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. With two out, Johnson doubled to right center.  Holderbach followed with another double to right center.  Johnson scored.  The rally ended on an infield ground out.

After 4 innings Home was on top 2-1.

Home added to their lead in the fifth on Royo's homer to left.

Home continued to add-on with 3 runs in the sixth.  After a pop up, Johnson walked.  Holderbach reached on a HBP.  Garza launched one over the right field wall for a three run shot.

The Home squad  was held scoreless for the remainder of the scrimmage.

Home was in front 6-1 after 6 innings.

The Visitors rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh. Dukes singled to the right side of the infield.  West reached on an infield throwing error.  Dukes and West each scored on Salazar's triple to right center.

Those were the final runs of the scrimmage.

Final Home 6 Visitors 2 in 8 innings.
 

Home:

Parker Smith 5.0 inn 1 R 5 H 5 K 2 BB

Durke           2.1 inn 2 R 2 H. 2 K 

Visitors:

Hamilton      2.0 Inn 1 R 1 H 2 BB 2 HBP

Urbanczyk      2.0 inn 1 R 2 H  4 K 1 H

Fox                 2.0 inn 4 R  2 H 4 K 1 BB 1 HBP

Linskey       1.2 inn  0 R 0 H, 3 K, 5 BB

February 11, 2023 
Visitors 11, Home 7 (9 innings)

It was once again a lovely February afternoon for a baseball scrimmage.  The Visitors used a 6 run second inning to jump on top early and cruise to an 11-7 win this afternoon.

After I posted the starting lineups for today I left to catch the Rice WBB team's 67-58 victory over FIU.

When I returned to Reckling Park the Visitors were up 7-2 after 3 innings.

In the next 6 innings the Home squad would narrow the gap but could never take the lead.

The final score was 11-7 for the Visitors.

In my absence the Visitors put 6 runs on the board in the second inning.  After a scoreless first inning the Visitors manufactured one of the bigger rallies of the preseason.  Garza singled to start the inning.  Smigelski doubled him to third.
Riedel drove home Garza with an infield ground-out. Royo singled Smigelski home. Becker doubled to put runners on second and third.  Walsh's ground-out scored Royo. Johnson singled to score Becker. Holderbach singled. Garibay doubled Johnson and Holderbach home. Inning called with 6 runs on 7 hits.

The Visitors added a single run the the third.  Smigelski walked with one out. Riedel singled.  Royo singled to score Smigelski.

Becker walked.  Strikeout followed.  Inning called after 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks.

Home plated two runs in the bottom of the third.  Paul Smith singled to start the frame. West was HBP. Rosengard walked the bases loaded. Smith scored off a sac by Duffield.  West scored on a Gallo's groundout.  Another groundout ended the rally.

After three it was Visitors 7. Home 2.

A scoreless fourth followed.

In the fifth Home scored a run.  Hannigan was HBP.  He advanced on a wild pitch.  Following a strikeout and a ground-out Gallo singled up-the middle to score Hannigan.  A fly out ended the fifth,

After 5 innings it was Visitors 7 Home 3.

Each pitcher struck out the side in the sixth.  McCracken for the home squad and Perkins for the Away team.

Each side had one batter reach on a walk in the seventh.  Each was stranded.

After 7 frames it was still 7-3.

In the final two innings each team scored two runs in each inning.

In the top of the eighth Smigelski doubled to left.  Riedel homered to right to score Smigelski. With two outs, Walsh singled to left.  Johnson reached on an infield single.  Inning called.

Home answered with two runs.  Gallo doubled to left.  Devenny reached on an infield single. Gallo to third.  Gallo scored and Devenny advanced on a wild pitch. Dukes singled to right to load the bases.  After a strikeout, Smith walked to force in the second run of the inning.  Inning called.

9-5 Visitors after 8 innings.

In the top of the ninth Holderbach was HBP.  A fly to right was the first out.  Garza reached on an infield single.

Smigelski was HBP to load the bases.  A strikeout was the second out.  Royo doubled home two runs on a ball hit to left field.

Inning called. with 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 hit batters.

In the bottom of the ninth, Home opened with a West double to left. A ground-out to the pitcher was the first out. Duffield singled to left to score West.  The second out was a fly to center. Duffield stole second.  Devenny singled to center.  Duffield scored.  Devenny would steal second but was stranded on a pop foul out to first.  2 runs on 3 hits.

Final score Visitors 11. Home 7.  9 innings

Pitching lines.  

Home:  

Stratton        3.1 inn   7 R. 7 H. 2 K 2 BB 1 HBP        

McCracken   4.1 inn.  4 R. 6 H. 6 K. 1 BB 2 HBP

Visitors

Long             5.0 inn.   3 R  3 H 7 K 4 BB 4 HBP

Perkins          2.0 inn.   0 R 0 H. 5 K 1 BB

Crews              1.1 inn.    4 R 6 H  1 K 2 BB

February 12, 2023 
Visitors 12, Home 3 (9 innings)

The weather was perfect for our last preseason scrimmage. Today's scrimmage was all about the Visitor's hitting and pitching as they won 12-3.

The visitors scored 4 runs in the first on a 3 run HR to left center by Smigelski.

Garibay hit the next pitch over the fence in right.

They continued the offense in the second scoring 3 more runs.  A walk to Royo, a double by Walsh, an infield error, 2 infield outs, two walks and a balk.  Royo, Walsh and Johnson each scored.

In the third, Visitors tacked on 2 more runs. Singles by Holderbach, Becker and Royo loaded the bases,  Back-to-back sac-flies by Walsh and Johnson scored Holderbach and Becker.

After all that Raj finally pitched a scoreless inning in the fourth.  Smigelski had a single.

It was 9-0 after 4 innings.

Rodriquez pitched innings 5, 6, and 7 for Home. In the fifth, Visitors scored once when 

Becker hit a lead-off HR.  Walsh had a one out single.  

Visitors padded the score with 2 more runs in the sixth. Riedel singled.  Smigelski walked. Garibay drove home Riedel on a single up-the-middle. Smigelski to third. Garibay to second on the throw.  Holderbach drove Smigelski home with a grounder to short.  A pop-up and strikeout ended the rally.

Rodriquez pitch a perfect seventh inning.

After 7 innings the score was 12-0.

Brogdon pitched two scoreless innings for Home.  

The Visitors sent Zaskoda, Cienfuegos, Vincent and Gallant out to the mound for 2 innings apiece.

Zaskoda retired 6 straight batters.

Cienfuegos retired the side in order in the third.  Gallo reached on a slow grounder to third for the first hit by Home.  He then retired the next 3 batters.

Vincent took over in the fifth.

After one out, Duffield walked.  Vincent picked him off.  A strikeout ended the fifth.

Vincent walked the second batter in the sixth.  A strikeout and a great defensive catch in center by Walsh ended his outing.

Gallant pitched innings 7 and 8.

To open the seventh Smith singled to right.  He was stranded as three straight groundouts followed.

In the eighth, Rosengard opened with a double.Two fly balls to right and a groundout to short ended the inning.

After 8 innings it was 12-0 Visitors.

Ben-Shoshan pitched the ninth.  He stuckout the first batter.  Smith walked.  West doubled to left.  Smith to third.  A grounder to second got the second out . The runners held.  Duffield doubled to left.  Two runs scored.  Rosengard doubled to right.  Duffield scored.  A fly to right ended the scrimmage.

Final Vistors 12  Home 3

Season opener is Friday, February 17 at 6:30 PM against Louisiana.