Team Cardinal Evens Intrasquad World Series With 3-1 Win
Greensboro, NC (10/11/01) -
The pitching matchup of two veteran aces vs Game Two of the Intrasquad World Series lived up to expectations as Team Cardinal's Anthony Ramakis and Team Black's Joe Dooley hooked up in a low-hit, low-run affair Thursday afternoon. Dooley retired 19 of the last 22 batters he faced, but it wasn't good enough as Ramakis, a series MVP candidate a year ago, allowed only an unearned fifth-inning run to earn a 3-1 victory.
In
the top of the first, Team Cardinal set an IWS record with two triples in the
inning as Steve Danis led off the game with one and Ramakis added a
one-out three-bagger later in the inning. Danis, who fell rounding first on his
hit, remarked, "I felt like Anthony would triple later, so I fell on
purpose on what should have been an inside-the-park home run. Not everyone can
be as record conscious as me and still be able to go 1 for 4."
Between the triples was one of 11 Dooley strikeouts on the day against one walk and a Nick Black two-run homer. Black, one of the more intelligent Team Cardinal batsmen said, "I thought he (Dooley) might throw a fastball, so that's what I hit."
Ramakis followed with his Danis-predicted triple and scored on a two-out single by Gabe Staub. From there, Dooley settled down and allowed only one runner beyond first base the remainder of the afternoon, but the damage was done.
Ramakis was far from dominant, leaving runners in scoring position four times and recording only one perfect inning, but permitting only one dent to the plate - Tim Huie scoring on a fifth-inning Zach Whicker single. He also received extensive defensive help as two Team Black runners were thrown out at the plate, one thrown out stealing and another picked off. Noted Ramakis, "I didn't have my best stuff, but the way we hit, if I can keep my walks under 10 we're going to have a chance to win." He walked eight on the day.
Team Cardinal arrived noticeably more intent on winning Game Two than it had for Game One and Dooley showed some signs of rust after a relatively inactive fall. "I left for Japan because Coach Baker wanted me to pitch every time I thought I could win. That's just not what I'm about. Every now and then, I have to get too much or too little rest so I can go out there and struggle a little. Hopefully this will be an indication to him of how to worst utilize my ability, so I can use more of a surprise factor late in the season. Who would expect a 90 mph fastball from a guy with a 1-8 record?"
With the series tied at one game apiece and the veterans used up, both teams will turn to rookies to start the pivotal Game Three. Conrad Smith will go for Team Black, and Dave Shaffer will oppose him for Team Cardinal. Game time is set for 1:00 pm Saturday.
- Gene Baker
