Baseball Release (2004-05) - Intrasquad World Series - Guilford College
- 2004 INTRASQUAD WORLD SERIES RECAP
10/8/04
Blue skies and gentle breezes are anticipated for game one of the 7th annual Guilford College (22nd overall) Intrasquad World Series. Guilford seniors drafted from a deeper than usual pool of talent to lay their reputations on the line in the best of five winner take all series.
Team Cardinal, known affectionaltely as the Pennsylvania Gang due to their management team of Dave Shaffer, Adam Comstock, and Jeff Ebert, made sophmore, pitcher/second baseman, Chad Boone the first pick in the draft, then immediately followed up with picks of pitcher Logan Collier and second baseman, Brian Slate. Spokesman for the group, Adam Comstock stated, (We felt if we could lock up second base, then add a starter and closer in the first three rounds, the remainder of the draft would be academic. Pitching depth, outfielders, catchers, corner guys -- all over-rated." In another surprise, the PA boys didn't pick up their intended game 3 starting pitcher until the 8th round of the draft.
For their part, Team Cardinal, led by Josh Miller and Eric Flournoy, seemed to have a plan, selecting starting pitchers for the first three games in their first five picks, while not doubling up at any defensive position until the 12th round. "Obviously, the nickname Keystone State makes some reference to Keystone Cops," commented Miller, alluding to Team Cardinal's organization. Added Flournoy, "Yeah. Hey, did somebody say the cops were on the way?"
The homestanding Grays will send junior transfer, Chris Raines to the hill in game 1. Raines has been a pleasant surprise this fall, posting a stingy .111 batting average against mark. Inexplicably however, his defense has let him down at times. None-the-less, in three fall appearances, Raines has yet to pitch for a losing team. Flournoy, also his teams' relief ace plans to take a day off with Raines on the hill. "I've got mid terms coming up, so I think I'll do some studying down in the bullpen. You know how I always put academics ahead of baseball. I can remember pulling a few all nighters back when I was at Rockingham, the Oxford of North Carolina."
Team Cardinal counters with hard throwing right hander, Logan Collier. Collier is adapting his game to the 7 mph he added to his fastball under Guilford Head Coach and IWS Commissioner, Gene Baker. "Basically, I overhauled Logan's mechanics, put him on a strict exercise program, and took him under my wing as a personal project. Just about anyone could throw a 90-95 mph fastball if they would spend a couple of months and several thousand dollars with me," spouted Baker. "I've taken Logan on as one of those free test cases, where a guy with absolutelely no ability what-so-ever becomes a prospect within a year. But, anybody thinks I'm doing this for free again, has got another thing coming." Collier has posted a .240 batting average against this fall, but has yet to pitch for a winning team. That having been said, he does have a year of GCIWS experience that may prove invaluable in his matchup with Raines.
Overall, Team Cardinal boasts 16 players with GCIWS experience, including Comstock, Jake Lubel, Matt Spoerleinand Chuck Overman, who have participated in multiple series, and never lost. For Gray, only Rick Parks can make that claim, and is is on the injured list with a bad foot, ankle, shin, knee, hip elbow, shoulder, back, and finger. He is, however, expected back before the end of the series, and hopes to make a difference. "If I didn't hurt so bad, I'd be pain-free. What I try to do is funnel the pain to the injury that isn't impacting my performance. I know it's going to hurt to do anything, so if I make my shoulder hurt real bad, I almost forget about the pain in my ankle. Then, I can run." Team Gray's team psychologist, Danny Elkins, has cleared Parks to play, but has suggested he not leave his bed until gametime, or risk another injury.
The Guilford Series, dating back to 1998, has been dominated by Team Black, who was disbanded for numerous participation and drug related issues following the 2002 fall classic. Black remains the defending champion, however, due to last year's rain-halted 2-2-1 tie. Key players in 2003 for Team Cardinal, Adam Comstock and Fred parent have remained with the club, but Mike Chelenza and Rick Parks signed free agent contracts just this week with the Grays. Ironically, Team Gray has no standout performers, and thus doesn't feel the loss of Jeff Arzonico, Matt Spoerlein, Dave Shaffer, Oliver Beale, Rob Bittner, or Phil Drew should seriously hurt their chances. Comstock joins assistant coach, Nick Black, as the only returning GCIWS MVP's, Comstock earning the award for his pitching in last year's series and Black for his offensive prowess in 2000. A reception is planned for all former MVP's in attendance following today's game 1.
Those interested in attending series games should note that all McBane Field seats have been sold out, but tickets remain available from scalpers outside the stadium. Today's game is slated for a 3:00pm start, while games 2 and 3 will start at noon on Saturday and Sunday.
10/8/04
Gray takes 1-0 lead
Guilford pitchers overcame a jittery start to dominate the day as Team Gray won game one of the Guilford College Intrasquad World Series.
Homestanding Gray starter, Chris Raines, hit Cardinal lead off man, Fred Parent to open the game, then wild pitched him home with two out, but allowed only 5 baserunners over the next six innings, earning the win for Team Gray. After the first, Raines was never seriously challenged until his seventh, and final, inning of work. Jeff Arzonico lead off the frame with a single, and with one out was moved to third on a Phil Drew double, but Raines induced a pop up from Jake Lubel and got pinch hitter, Josh Chaney to ground to third to end the inning. "I was just trying to make good pitches, " said Raines, who struckout 5 and walked 1 on the day, "our defense played great, and that gave me the confidence to throw strikes. Besides, those guys aren't very good hitters."
Cardinal's Logan Collier matched Raines performance, including a shaky first. The first four batters to face Collier reached base, with Travis Clodfelter's double being the lone ball put in play. Dusty Rebert drew a lead off walk, but was erased at the plate trying to score on Clodfelter's two-bagger. Collier then hit the next two batters, mixed in two run-scoring wild pitches and surrendered a two out rbi single to Brian Burton before retiring the side with a strikeout of 'Poopie' McClannon (if I knew how he got the nickname, I'd tell you). Collier was understandably disappointed in his performance. "I had a chance to give us an early lead in the series, and I didn't get it done. That's hard to swallow. If the guys can keep us in it, I'll be ready for game 4 or 5, though."
With the score 3-1 after one, it gave the appearance of a basketball game, but if you took the over, pay your bookie. Gray scratched out a run in the third on a Clodfelter walk, a Josh Miller single, an Andrew Lerner sacrifice bunt and a Mike Chelenza sac fly, and that was the last time the plate would be dented.
In addition to the starters, Team Cardinal's Matt Spoerlein and Team Gray's Dave Whigham and Eric Flournoy, who earned his first save of the series, combined to toss 5 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. When the day ended, the teams had combined for a less-than-robust 11 for 58 day at the plate.
Offensively, Clodfelter reached base four times, but Cardinal's Phil Drew was the only other hitter to amass 2 base hits for the day. When reached for comment following the game, Cardinal manager could look up from his tamp only briefly to mutter, "if this lineup can't hit, I've got me Comstock, Maciag, and Spoerlein on the bench ready to step in. We can't take another day off with the bats and expect ot win this thing."
Game two is scheduled for a 12:30 start on Saturday, with junior, Mike Balash taking the mound for Team Gray and Cardinal countering with 2003 series MVP, Adam Comstock.
Gray Offense Asserts Itself
Mike Balash, Scottie Wilcox, and Chuck Taylor continued Team Gray's dominant pitching, but Cardinal hurlers failed to hold up their end of the bargain as they had in game 1, giving Gray an 11-4 victory and a 2-0 lead in games of the Guilford College Intrasquad World Series.
Seeking redemption for his 0-2 record in the 2002 series, Balash took the mound on a mission. He lasted into the 6th and was tagged for just one earned run over that span. The typically sound Gray defense let him down in the 2nd and 4th with 2 out errors leading eventually, to 3 runs. Cardinal's fourth run was legit as Jeff Ebert doubled pinch hitting for Josh Chaney leading off the 6th and scored on Ian Spector's base hit. But after Spector was thrown out stealing and Jake Lubel walked, Gray went to the bullpen and received 3 2/3 innings of scoreless work from Wilcox and Taylor. Said Balash, "I really didn't think anybody would remember the 2002 series after I took a year off to play overseas in Ohio. Surely nobody remembers the first 12 hitters in the top of the seventh all scored in the series clinching game." We do now Mike.
Cardinal starter Adam Comstock, kept his team in it, but was not as dominating as he was in his MVP performance a year ago. Comstock surrendered 5 runs, 4 earned, in five innings of work, but left the game trailing 5-3. "Last year it rained after 4 innings, so we never got to the fifth. Who knew I could give up a home run that traveled that far," was Comstock's comment regarding Gray's Josh Miller's satellite shot in the fifth. "I just didn't have the command I have to have, and Gray made me pay for it."
On the day, Gray pummeled 3 Cardinal arms for 11 runs on 13 hits, and placed an exclamation point on how effective Logan Collier and Matt Spoerlein had been a day earlier in holding Cardinal in check. All nine Team Gray hitters reached base at least once, and only Mike Braverman failed to tally a base hit. Two through 4 hitters, Dusty Rebert, Miller and Andrew Lerner went 7 for 10 on the day and reached base 11 of 13 plate appearances. Said Miller of his blast off Comstock, "When I hit it, I thought it might never come down. Commie left one in the middle, and I felt it might be a good time tom prune the apple tree down by the PE Center."
For Team Cardinal, Jake Lubel and Ian Spector each poked 2 base hits, and Lubel reached base safely in all 4 of his plate appearances. "Yeah, getting on base is great," noted Lubel, "but losing sucks. I'm sure our coaches will shuffle the lineup again for game 3, but the fact is, if we don't execute, we won't win."
Cardinal sends sophmore righthander Oliver Beale to the hill to try and avoid the sweep, while Gray counters with another sophmore, Dave Whigham. Since the inception of the Intrasquad World Series in 1977, there has been only one sweep, that by Team Black over Team Cardinal in 2000. Only the old timers remember back that far, but without some heroic effert, we may be seeing de ja vu all over again.
Game three is slated for a 12:30 start on Sunday in Cardinal Park. Noted Cardinal tri-skipper Jeff Ebert, "We're a much better club in front of the home folks. Don't think for a minute that we're not inspired by the throng of fandom that will be here to support us." Yes, he really said it.
GAME ON!
With nothing to gain and everything to lose, Team Gray skippers Josh Miller and Eric Flournoy have accepted the challenge of Team Cardinal to a two game set next Wednesday and Thursday. A confident Flournoy stated plainly, "They can't beat us. Not at home, not on the road, not with a lead not from behind, not on a box, not with a fox, not on a boat not with a goat, not in the rain, not on a train, they cannot beat us Sam I am, they cannot beat green eggs and ham." Flournoy has voluntarily checked himself in for psychiatric evaluation.
Team Cardinal sees this as an opportunity to save face. "Two of the three games could have gone either way," noted Dave Shaffer. "We had a chance to win all three," echoed Adam Comstock. "It's hard sighting dove in heavy brush," added Jeff Ebert.
With three games behind them, both clubs have a fair idea of what to expect of themselves and from their opponents. Cardinal has, indeed, been knocking on the door of all three games in the late going. Their primary undoing has been substandard relief pitching, and less than scholarly baserunning. To address the pitching woes, Cardinal will start relievers in the two game post-series. Mike Maciag will start on Wednesday and Mick Lerner will get the nod on Thursday. If Maciag and Lerner can give Cardinal quality starts, they can then rely on Adam Comstock, Logan Collier, Oliver Beale, and Matt Spoerlein, who have all proven to be effective against the Gray bats. Also missing in the three game shellacking of Team Cardinal was the top overall pick in the draft and ace reliever, Chad Boone. There may not have been a close situation for Cardinal, but, if two innings will keep you alive in the series, it's time to bring in the stopper.
Team Gray, exuding confidence after the three day dominance of Cardinal has decided to continue deeper into their pitching staff. Scottie Wilcox gets the ball to start on Wednesday and Jeremie Gunn climbs the mound for Gray on Thursday. In another surprise move announced just prior to press time, Gray has informed this reporter that regardless of the game situation, Danny Elkins will be first out of the bullpen on Wednesday and Chuck Taylor will be first in relief on Thursday. Pitching depth was a huge factor in the series, and looks to be in Team Gray's favor in the post-series.
After a media day event on Tuesday, the teams will tee it up with a 2:45 start on both Wednesday and Thursday.
It was incorrectly reported that Team Cardinal's starting pitcher on Thursday would be Mick Lerner. Information received since that report indicates that Lerner, a distant cousin of Team Gray catcher, Andrew Lerner, will not be making that start as he has been detained in a Turkish bath house by a sorority of Japanese geisha girls. Cardinal's starter on Thursday will be Nick Englert, who has stepped in on short notice in the past as a speech writer for presidential candidate, John Kerry. Kerry was very complimentary of Englert's ability as both a writer and pitcher, but three days later insisted that he had changed his view and would no longer read, let alone speak, any words that Englert may write, or throw.
Number One Pick Leaves Gray Seeing Red, err, Cardinal
So the series is clinched and the commissioner has mandated starting pitchers. So Team Gray was dominant in a 3 game sweep. So the camera crews and media have packed up and headed home. We still kept score, so there was something to play for.
On a day that the temperatures cooled, the Cardinal bats finally heated up as top pick, Chad Boone, went 4 for 4 with a double, triple, 3 runs scored and 2 rbi, to lead Team Cardinal to its first Guilford College Intrasquad World Series victory. Through 3 series clinching games, Gray never allowed Boone to be put in a position to win the series. "We knew he was their first pick, and we knew they wanted him to win games with his bat and his arm. If we could prevent those situations, we felt we had a good chance to win, and we were right," observed defeated Gray skipper, Josh Miller. In fact, Boone had notched a base hit everytime he came to the plate with a runner in scoring position in the series. But, it hadn't been enough times to even warrant his getting into the game as a closer. "It's been frustrating," lamented Boone, "but you do what you can. I'm clearly the best player in this series, my coaches just didn't draft a strong enough supporting cast, and haven't performed well enough themselves, for my performance to make a difference." Despite the self aimed bravado, Boone's point is well taken. In game 4, when the rest of the squad finally hit, Boone was in the middle of multi run rallies in the 1st, 2nd, and 6th. As they say, it ain't braggin' if it's the truth.
For Team Cardinal, Fred Parent and Brian Slate each tallied 2 hits, with Slate homering in the first to give his club an early, if short-lived, 3 run lead. For the Grays, Andrew McClannon and Brian Burton hammered 2 hits apiece while Josh Miller and Mike Chelenza blasted towering home runs.
But, in the end, the best hitter on the day became the best pitcher as well, as Boone entered the game with a one run lead in the 6th and slammed the door, hurling 2 hitless innings to earn save and a bit of redemption for Team Cardinal.
Cool weather, but clear skies are predicted for Thursday's series finale. Team Gray, having clinched the series hands its 3-1 advantage to freshman Jeremie Gunn, and Team Cardinal counters with Nick Englert, both pitchers making their first starts of the fall.
Gametime is set for 3:00 at McBane Field.
In late breaking news, we have learned that Team Cardinal cleanup hitter Rob Bittner, has been detained with visa problems. He is expected to be deported to his native Delaware early Thursday, forcing his preclusion from game 5. In other news, Chad Boone has chosen this opportunity to hold out, pending renogiation of his Cardinal contract. His willingness to grace the Cardinal lineup in the final game of the series is very much up in the air.
Gray Makes Early Lead Stand in Series Finale
When all was said and done, it wasn't experience that was the key factor, it was the experience of winning, that determined the champion in the 7th Annual Guilford College Intrasquad World Series. While Cardinal players who had participated in a previous series out-numbered gray by 16-8, it was the fact that Gray had no players with losing series records that made a difference, as Team Gray sprinted to a 9-3 lead and held on for a 9-7 victory in the final game of the 2004 GCIWS fall classic.
After Cardinal's Josh Chaney plated leadoff man Fred Parent in the top of the first, it was all Gray. Lead off man Travis Clodfelter homered off rookie Nick Englert to open the bottom of the first and was followed by Dusty Rebert being hit by a pitch, Josh Miller reaching on an error, a walk to Mike Chelenza, and a Brian Burton double to add 2 more runs and give Gray an early 3-1 lead. Said Clodfelter of his home run, "That was great, I only hope coach remembers it when he sees my mid-term grades. Seriously, down a run like that, I just thought I should go up there swinging for the fences. Coach Keeb told me anybody can hit .360 going to the opposite field, I want to be a .280 hitter with 4 HR's."
For their part, Cardinal responded in the top of the second when Jake Lubel took a Chuck Taylor offering in the back, Andrew Finamore reached on a Clodfelter error, and each scored on ground balls by surprise starters Matt Spoerlein and Oliver Beale. The pitchers entered the lineup when a distraught Rob Bittner jumped the club after game 4, and Cardinal skipper Dave Shaffer was forced to bench game 4 hero Chad Boone for trying too hard to win. (Cardinal has a different way of going about things, perhaps attributing to there run of 6 consecutive years without a series title.
When Gray answered with 6 unearned runs in the second, the celebrating in the Gray streets began. Noted Shaffer, "Nick Englert will go down as the losing pitcher in this game, but when veterans fielders make 5 errors in 2 innings, it's hard to blame the kid. Sure, 9 runs is 9 runs, but only 2 were earned and he only gave up 5 hits. That's not so bad when you have to get 11 outs to get out of the second inning."
After the second, the defense and pitching settled back into more typical Guilford form, as Taylor allowed only one earned run and Mike Balash none through the 6th, and Cardinal relievers Adam comstock and Logan collier tossed 4 scoreless innings for Cardinal.
In the 7th, Cardinal took one last gasp of air, as Parent and Jeff Arzonice opened theinning with back to back singles and scored on a variety of wild pitches, passed balls, and walks to make the score 9-6. Finally, Brian Slate, who had drawn the one out walk, scored on Chad Boone's sacrifice fly to left to clear the bases. Gray reliever, Dave Whigham fanned Cardinal shortstop Jake Lubel to end the series and the corks were popped on the Cheerwine (for you northerners, it's a soft drink).
For his efforts, Team Gray thirdbaseman, Travis Clodfelter, was named series MVP. Clodfelter reached base 12 times in 21 plate appearances, collecting 9 hits in 19 official at bats.
The two squads will now join forces for a barnstorming tour of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Cardinal and gray will open play next February 6 at Methodist with a 2:00 start, then open its home season the following Tuesday, February 8 at 2:00 vs Southern Virginia. ODAC play opens with a noon doubleheader on Sunday February 27 in Harrisonburg, VA (brrr) against Eastern Mennonite.
- Gene Baker