For immediate release 10/8/98

In what has been termed a mild upset, Tim Lucason out-dueled first round draft pick Chad Coward in Game 1 of the Guilford College Intrasquad World Series, giving Team Black a win on its home field and a 1-0 lead in the best-of- seven series.

Lucason mixed an assortment of off-speed pitches in twirling a nifty three-hit shutout over Team Cardinal Wednesday afternoon at McBane Field. Lucason worked brilliantly out of trouble, recording only one 1-2-3 inning, and leaving runners in scoring position in four innings. He struck out four and walked three, while allowing only three singles in his complete-game effort.

Team Cardinal's Chad Coward nearly matched Lucason, allowing only two first-inning singles on his way to a six-strikeout, complete-game of his own.

Disappointed in their opening game loss with Coward on the mound, coaches Davis and Probst need look no farther than the mirror to explain the defeat.

With two out and runners on the corners in the bottom of the fourth, freshman catcher Justin Bouldin dutifully bounced out from behind the plate and signaled for a play to let his throw go through to second base on an attempted steal.  As Team Black right fielder(?) and co-coach Andy Reed broke for second, shortstop(?) Kevin Moore, who had been hit by a pitch, stole home as Bouldin's throw to second was high and Team Cardinal's shortstop, Probst, was unable to return the throw to the plate in time. When quizzed afterwards as to why the call was to have the throw go through, Davis (also the third baseman on the play), responded, "I didn't know we throwing through."

Clearly a point of fact of which the coaching staff should be aware.  Team Cardinal's best threat to score came in the top of the fifth, as center-fielder Josh Wolfe, led off with a line-drive single to right followed by a Texas-leaguer to right by leadoff man Probst. As Davis was attempting to move the runners into scoring position with a bunt, Team Black catcher, Jason Rodriquez made the key defensive play of the game picking Wolfe off second base.

Game two is slated for Friday afternoon at 3:05 EDT at Team Cardinal's Park, coincidentally also named McBane Field and on the Guilford College campus.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E

Cardinal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2

Black 0 0 0 1 0 0 x 1 2 2

WP - Lucason (1-0) LP - Coward (0-1)

Errors - Dooley (B) (2), Coward (C), Probst (1)

Double plays - B - 1, C - (1)

Stolen Bases - Moore (B) (1), Reed (B) (1)

Time of game - 1:24