Baseball Release (2004) - Intrasquad World Series - Guilford College

2003 INTRASQUAD WORLD SERIES RECAP

9/19/2003

McBane-gate Scandal Rocks World Series Infrastructure

The annual Guilford College Baseball Intrasquad will take on a new look this fall as Team Black has failed to meet financial obligations required to maintain a franchise and has been contracted by commissioner, Gene Baker. "We cannot let the accounting short-comings of one franchise drag our whole league underwater. Team Black (winner of the last four fall classics) has been under investigation for a variety of issues from corked bats and steroid abuse to salary cap infractions and work-study embezzlement. We now have indisputable evidence of serious league violations, and feel it is in our best interest to act quickly and decisively."

Senior A J McCauley, a team Black member since November of 2000 has disputed any and all claims against the operation of his ball club. "I don't know, they just said play centerfield and bat leadoff. I thought the cash in the envelope was to pay for bubblegum." McCauley has been suspended from play in this year's series, but may fill a coaching spot should on be vacated. Longtime shortstop and recent retiree, Zach Morgan was the only member of last year's defeated Team Cardinal squad that could be reached for comment. "I told you they cheated. No one wanted to listen to what old Keeb had to say, but everybody hears it now. I think they should have to forfeit all four of those series victories. Everyone should have known that, for my team to lose four consecutive series there had to be some kind of fix." Morgan's comments have been largely discounted as he remains the only four time loser in the history of the intrasquad world series (dating back to 1977), and most feel his disenchantment is a bad case of sour grapes.

Be that as it may, only 6 players from Team Black's 2002 championship squad are currently eligible for the re-entry draft to be held in the next couple of weeks, with McCauley suspended and lefty Matt Spoerlein on the disabled list. And, with the dominant team of the millennium now disbanded there is a mad scramble to assemble a contender to four-time runner up Team Cardinal. The Buffalo Bills of the World Series crowd, Team Cardinal views Team Black's demise as an unexpected windfall. Jeff Ebert and Ciahnan Miller have been with Team Cardinal each of the last 2 years. Neither was able to string together and understandable comment on short notice. Ebert mentioned something about burning a lab, while Miller saluted, put on a pair of boots and took off at a jog pace.

The leading contender for Team Black's vacant slot appears to be Team Gray. A new team to the loop, the grays have shown great promise despite the white logo on their light gray jerseys. "We consider it a rallying point." one of their players was heard to say. It's still anyone's race down the stretch, but one fact is known. There will be no repeat winner in this year's series.

10/3/2003

Slate, Chelenza tabbed in first round of draft

Pitching can wait seemed to be the order of the day as Teams Gray and Cardinal conducted the annual Intrasquad World Series draft on Thursday. Sophomore 2nd baseman Brian Slate was the first selection overall, and Fr 1B/3B (in case you forgot he played third also) was taken with the second pick by Tram Cardinal. Team Gray Co coaches AJ McCauley and Mike Idol were solid on their draft strategy. "We really don't care if Slate can't run or throw, or that he isn't hitting right now. He is doing everything else very well," remarked Idol. Chelenza seems a more logical pick, leading the league in hitting this fall at .four8four with a current 73 game hitting streak. Stated Cardinal co skipper, Jeff Roberts, "(Co coach) Ciahnan (Miller) really wanted to go with AJ (McCauley) in the first round. I'm still not sure he understands that AJ is hurt, and coaching the other team. But, our next choice was definitely Chalupa."

In somewhat of a surprise, the first pitcher taken was second rounder, freshman Oliver Beale. Beale is second among starting pitchers this fall with a .217 batting average against, and the team he has pitched for has won four of 6 decisions. Still, junior Dave Shaffer was available, but slipped all the way to round 6. "I guess experience means nothing to these guys," bemoaned Shaffer, who enters the series as the only third or fourth year player who has played on a series winning team. Overall, the 11 picks prior to Shaffer have played a total of 5 seasons at Guilford.

The key pick in the draft may have been Nathan Gavin. The explosive Gavin, who has the only four hit day of fall 2003, was selected in the 15th round by Team Cardinal. Said Miller, "I couldn't believe he was still available. How did they miss him? How did we miss him? His hair alone should have put him in the top 3 rounds." Team Gray was indecisive on the Gavin issue. "It was Idol's fault," said McCauley. "It was AJ's fault," said Idol.

Vegas odds makers have made Team Cardinal a 3-2 favorite to end their four-year losing streak, primarily because they have the 3 top statistical pitchers and both shortstops, but Team Gray has the intangibles on their side. Dave Wall's pants fit better this year, and both Cape Cod guys will be sporting the silver.

The series is slated to start at 12:30 on Saturday. The weather will be cool, but dry (much like this writer) and the baseball promised to be much crisper than the final tune up, which produced more errors than hits on Thursday.

Starting pitchers have yet to be tabbed, but a Beale vs. freshman Logan Collier match up seems most likely.

10/4/2003

Gray hangs on for 8-7 win

Sophomore Ben Bizier and freshman Chris Wagner accounted for 6 hits, four RBI, and 5 runs as Team Gray opened the Guilford College Intrasquad World Series with a nail-biting 8-7 victory. Bizier and Wagner each scored in the first and second innings as Gray built a 5-1 lead against Cardinal starter Logan Collier, as Brad Schlesinger drove in a run in each frame.

Cardinal battled back to tie the game with 2 unearned runs in the third and back to back to back doubles by Fred parent, Jake Lubel, and Chad Boone in the fourth, chasing starter Oliver Beale.

Both bullpens were sharp as Cardinal fireman Chuck Taylor pitched four scoreless innings before tiring with 2 out in the seventh, and the Grays sent Daniel Coles to the mound for 2 scoreless innings followed by lefty Matt Spoerlein, who was touched for a run in the seventh and senior Mike Idol, who recorded a two inning save.

After 2 frames of 5 to 5 baseball, Chuck Overman delivered the go ahead run for Team Cardinal with an infield hit scoring Boone, who led off the 7th with a free pass issued by Spoerlein. But the sophomore from Greensboro settled down to retire Travis Clodfelter and Nathan Gavin and end the threat.

Taylor retired the first 2 Gray hitters in the bottom of the frame, but Aaron Horton delivered a pinch hit single followed by Eric Flournoy's only hit of the day and back to back triples by Bizier and Wagner to provide Gray with an 8-6 lead. Said Wagner, "I was looking for something to drive out of the park, but I just missed it." Idol allowed 3 hits in his two innings, but was aided by a throw out at third of Fred Parent to end the visitors 8th, and retired Rick Parks and Clodfelter to end the game after singles by Boone and Jeff Roberts and a fielders choice by Mike Chelenza had narrowed the margin to 8-7 with 1 out in the ninth.

Both starting pitchers were hampered by shaky defense, but both teams played errorless ball from the 3rd inning on.

Team Gray will send junior Dave Shaffer to the mound in game 2, opposed by Cardinal co skipper Ciahnan Miller. Whichever starter is sharpest will be a huge factor in the outcome of the game, and Shaffer spent four hours manicuring the mound to his liking following the game 1 victory. The question is, did Shaffer leave his game under the tarp of McBane Field?

Game 2 is set for 1:30pm on Sunday and likely is a must win game for Team Cardinal, who has lost the last four Intrasquad World Series.

10/5/2003

Cardinal Squares Series at 1 game all

Nine of the first eleven hitters Team Cardinal sent to plate scored in the first inning and Ciahnan Miller and Mike Maciag made it stand up as Team Cardinal evened the Guilford College Intrasquad World Series at 1 game a piece under sunny, Carolina Blue skies at McBane Field on Sunday.

Rick Parks, inexplicably benched in game one started things off for Cardinal with a leadoff double, and Jeff Roberts walked to set the table against Team Gray starter and loser Dave Shaffer. Shaffer offered no excuses. "I made some bad pitches, and they hit everyone of them. If it goes 5, I'll be ready to throw again." After hot hitting Mike Chelenza flew out to center, Travis Clodfelter plated Parks with a double of his own, and John Renegar scored Roberts with an RBI single. After a throwing error by a visibly shaken Shaffer, two walks and a strikeout, Jake Lubel drove in another run. With two out, Parks walked in his second plate appearance of the inning and Roberts struck the deciding blow early with a 3 run double off reliever Brad Stohr. "I felt more comfortable swinging the bat in the DH role," said Roberts. When Roberts scored on an RBI single by Chelenza, the rout was on and Team Cardinal never looked back.

Cardinal starter Ciahnan Miller stranded 8 runners in five scoreless innings to earn the win, and Mike Maciag allowed only two unearned 8th inning runs to earn the save with a solid four inning performance.

Brad Schlesinger had 2 of Team Gray's 5 hits, while Fred Parent, Clodfelter and Renegar had four, 3 and 3 hits respectively for Cardinal. After a Monday travel day, the series resumes at Cardinal Park for game three in what is now a best of three series. Team Gray is expected to start sophomore right-hander Rob Bittner, and Cardinal will counter with freshman Dave Whigham. Neither starter has seen action on the mound thus far in the series, but both have had a taste of the action with their sticks. Bittner appears ready to do his part to turn the series back in Gray's favor. "They embarrassed us in game 2, but the Yankees embarrassed the Pirates the whole series in 1960, until Mazeroski's home run won it." Whigham was a little lower key, "Yeah, whatever."

10/7/2003

Cardinal takes charge

In a game more resembling Roanoke 2002 vs. Southern Virginia 1999 than a Guilford College Intrasquad World Series game, Team Cardinal rested the series lead away from Team Gray with a convincing, if not efficient, 8-3 game 3 victory. Co skippers AJ McCauley and Mike Idol of Team Gray were distraught after a second consecutive embarrassment at the hands of 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 losers Cardinal. McCauley stated the obvious. "We've really played bad the last 2 days. We thought we drafted a team with a lot of heart, but we're just not seeing it. It may be time to make some lineup changes. Idol played a little shortstop when he was 6."

Pitcher Dave Whigham showed up when the Gray hitters didn't, holding the visitors to two runs, one earned, over 5 innings, while the home-standing Cardinals took advantage of uninspired Gray play to tally 8 runs in the same 5 frames. Catcher and co coach Jeff Roberts was impressed with Whigham. "He didn't have his best stuff, but he made their hitters look silly. I don't know how Gray even got in the series. I heard there was some scandal with Team Black. I wish they were here, at least the fans would get their money worth."

After a scoreless top of the first, Cardinal instigator, Rick Parks, led off the bottom of the frame with a single, and, after a single by Jeff Roberts, a triple by Chad Boone, and RBI groundout by Travis Clodfelter, a walk to John Renegar and a single by Fred Parent, Cardinal returned to defense a 3-0 leader. Gray starter, Rob Bittner fought control problems in his three innings of work, but kept his team close, stranding 7 runners over that span while allowing just 1 additional run.

Game 1 heroes Ben Bizier and Chris Wagner have all but disappeared from the box score going a collective 0-13 in games 2 and 3. "I can't speak for Chris," lamented a discouraged Bizier, "but this cross country travel is getting to me a little bit. I was ready to play at four:00 this morning, but by game time, I was spent." Wagner offered no excuses. "I should be a threat to hit for the cycle every game, and I'm just not getting it done."

With the score four-1, Daniel Coles entered the game for Gray and allowed a leadoff double to Mike Chelenza who scored on a Travis Clodfelter single prior to a 2 run Renegar home run that effectively put the game out of reach of the lack-luster Gray hitters. Clodfelter added a tack on RBI off reliever Matt Spoerlein in the fifth for a 3 RBI day, and Cardinal reliever Adam Comstock pitched the final two innings as his team put itself on the verge of a series victory.

While starting pitching has been the difference in each of the past two games, it's worth noting that Cardinal relievers have allowed only 3 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings of work in the series.

Game four starters have not been announced, but Gray must have every healthy arm available to force a game 5. Cardinal has a lot of choices, but speculation insists they go with sophomore right-hander Andrew Jackson in game four. Jackson believes he is up to the task. "All I've seen out of Gray is a bunch of whiney complainers. If I get the ball they can whine all winter."

10/8/2003

Rain threatens Intrasquad World Series

With rain on the horizon, the completion of the 2003 Guilford College Intrasquad World Series is in serious jeopardy. A forecast of Wednesday afternoon showers has forced the cancellation of pregame hitting and infield, and moved game time up to 2:30.

In a written statement from the commissioner's office, it was reported that, "after yesterday's performance, we really want to get some more baseball in. Thursday's forecast is marginal, but we hope we can get in a game today before the rain sets in. The field is in great shape, and, of course, safety is our main concern."

Cardinal skipper Ciahnan Miller wasn't concerned about the weather. "We're up 2-1. If it rains, we win 2-1, if it doesn't, we win 3-1." Mike Idol wasn't as passé' as Miller. "Yeah, we played our way to a 2-1 deficit, but we had a team meeting last night, and we can turn things around. I only hope the commissioner's office will force Cardinal to prepare the field if possible."

There has never been a question about the league's preparedness to do what it takes to get a game in. "We have played with blizzards, hurricanes, ice storms, and tornadoes all around us. If there is only one game played in Greensboro today, it will be World Series game four," responded league commissioner, Gene Baker.

While playing the game would be good news to Team Gray, many others may have different opinions. The commissioner's sanity has often been questioned in regard to playing games under less than ideal conditions. But, in the words of Baker himself, "We sure do practice a lot to forego opportunities to play games."

So, expect a score later this afternoon, as the only thing that might stop the proceedings is an eclipse, because you just can't play in the dark.

Game four

Gray knots series at two apiece

Under threatening skies with a light mist falling throughout the afternoon, Team Gray pulled even at two in the Guilford Baseball Intrasquad World Series.

Gray starter, Oliver Beale, took the ball on three days rest and didn't allow an earned run in five innings of work, while his teammates took advantage of 7 (yes 7) Cardinal errors in an 8-2 romp in game four. "I knew I had to get it done, and we couldn't fall behind early what with the rain falling. My goal was to give our guys a chance to score first, which would take the pressure off a little bit. When we got four in the third, that was just peachy."

Andrew Jackson was as impressive as Beale to open the game for Cardinal, retiring 8 of the first 10 hitters he faced, but 8 was all he would retire, as a single by game 1 hero, Chris Wagner, a double by first draft pick Brian Slate, and a single by Rob Bittner chased him after 2 2/3 innings pitched. "I threw all the stuff I have up there," said Jackson, "but sometimes all you've got isn't quite enough." Following Jackson's departure, Logan Collier entered the game and walked Brad Schlesinger in front of a 2 run double by Seth Barwick. When the smoke had cleared, Gray led four-0 with the first pitcher picked in the draft cruising.

Cardinal tallied an unearned run in the bottom of the third, but Beale settled down through a scoreless fourth and fifth, and co skipper and closer, Mike Idol pitched an effective 6th and 7th to pick up the save.

While today's play was much more inspired than game 3, the defense failed to own up to its part of the bargain. Ten errors on the day set a record for combined errors in one IWS game, and the multitude of free base runners has Team Cardinal on the verge of breaking the IWS record for runners left on base. They have stranded four0 runners through four games, but on the plus side, have only been retired in order twice during the series.

Asked about his team's turnaround from yesterday, Gray co coach, AJ McCauley pointed to one man. "Slate was our emotional leader all day. But that's just how he is. Whenever someone is down, he's there to pick him up. He's never thinking of himself, Brian is the embodiment of a team player."

Mike Chelenza led the Cardinal offense with 3 hits, while Aaron Horton tallied 3 knocks for the Grays.

As expected, McBane Field held up extremely well under adverse conditions, much to the credit of head groundskeeper Matt Webb. Webber was instrumental in today's field preparation and manicuring, but could not be reached for comment following the game.

Rain is expected for Thursday, but so is baseball. After 27 days, 14 intrasquads, 2 games, and 6 practices, it all comes down to who's got the guts to get the job done. There are reasons baseball teams play a lot of games, and one is that team's with weaker mental constitution deserve the chance to fall by the wayside. Tomorrow, we find out who is tougher. Team Gray or Team Cardinal. The Vegas line on game 5 is pick 'em.

10/20/03

Say it ain't so!

All you Cub and Sox fans can take comfort in knowing there is a curse worse than the Bambino or the Goat. In the annals of cursedom, never have the Sox, since 1918, nor the Cubs, since 19four5, nor their fans, been asked to endure the hardships that have faced Team Cardinal following this year's fall classic. Poised at the threshold of victory with a 2-1 lead in games, and last spring's team ERA leader on the mound, the Cardinals need just one win to end a four-year curse, which seemed to be ancient history with the disbanding of longtime nemesis Team Black. But, alas, Team Cardinals hopes were dashed by a four run 3rd inning that forced the deciding game 5.

But, all was not lost. Cardinal would send Adam Comstock to the mound against Team Gray's Dave Shaffer in game 5. Comstock had been near unhittable in 3 1/3 of World Series work, while Shaffer had surrendered 8 runs in a 2/3-inning start in game 2. So there it was for the taking. Break a four-year curse, hold the nucleus together and create a dynasty. That was the goal of Team Cardinal skippers Jeff Roberts and Ciahnan Miller.

If game four had been played under questionable playing conditions, game 5 started under downright threatening skies. Rain had fallen and was still in the forecast, but McBane Field had weathered the moisture and provided a fair and safe playing surface by game time, which was moved up to accommodate the incoming precipitation.

The teams battled each other for four intense innings, and were playing their best baseball of the series. The rain had held off despite a few moments of mist in the second and third. Even an eerie shower that could be heard for nearly 10 minutes beyond the centerfield fence before making its way to the field passed without causing a significant delay or rendering the field unplayable.

On the field, both teams had squandered scoring chances stranding 6 runners apiece through the first four frames. Timely hitting had been a problem throughout the series, as the combatants left a combine 87 runners on base in the 5 games series.

So the story line became Shaffer vs. Comstock. Who would crack first? Both had worked out of jams, and, finally, Comstock had retired the Grays in order in the bottom of the fourth. With both bullpens silent, it finally happened. The skies opened up. What had been a curse of defeat became even worse. Team Cardinal had finally beaten back defeat, but they had also failed to win.

The 2003 Guilford College Intrasquad World Series had ended in a swampy 2-2-1 tie. Something never endured by the Goat or the Bambino. "We were so close," noted Jeff Ebert, who ran his series record to 0-2-1 with the deadlock. Ebert, the longest tenured Cardinal was visibly distraught. Jeff Roberts expressed his concern. "I'm really worried about Jeff. He was talking about not playing in the spring when we wear the Cardinal jerseys."

Team Gray skipper AJ McCauley, who had suffered 2 losses previously with Team Cardinal, while winning one in a year with Team Black, was understanding of the plight of his opponents. "Hey, we wanted to win too. Screw those guys." Or not.

For his efforts, Team Cardinal pitcher Adam Comstock was named series MVP. In 7 1/3 innings of work, he allowed just 3 hits and 1 unearned run. Special mention is also made of Cardinal teammates Rick Parks (7-13), Mike Chelenza (9-21, Jon Renegar (7-16), and Fred Parent (9-17) who had outstanding series at the plate, but came just a bit short of a win. Team Gray had no serious candidates for MVP, but held on for the tie. Hey it's a curse.

So, in their absence, Team Black remains the defending champions, and Teams Gray and cardinal will join forces to attempt to wreak havoc in the ODAC next spring. Cardinal fans, it may be a long century.

- Gene Baker