Last local team falls out

Chris Humphreys
Published: July 26, 2008

After a rough start that saw Heritage commit nine errors in a 12-3 loss to the Long Island Astros in Thursday’s NABF 17-under World Series opener, the Pioneers rebounded in the consolation bracket, narrowly missing a semifinal berth on Saturday before falling to Stembridge (Md.) 4-3 at Liberty Christian Academy.

Trailing 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Pioneers’ Gip Hobbs drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Joseph Knight flied out to center, Terry Staton singled and took second when the left fielder booted the ball.

Hobbs, who got a late start as he made sure the liner cleared the glove of the leaping Riverbats’ third baseman, finally scored and Staton went to third when Trevor Darragh’s grounded out to second. But Stembridge pitcher Eric Quinn got Justin Wirt to bounce out to third, allowing Stembridge to make it to Saturday night’s consolation semifinal.

“It was a very well played game by both clubs,” Riverbats coach Don Nowak said. “It was a very good game.”

Quinn went the distance for Stembridge to earn the victory, allowing three runs, two earned runs, five hits, two walks and striking out six batters.

“Quinn was excellent,” Nowak said. “He threw his breaking ball over when he wanted to and he hit the outside corner. He kept them off balance.”

The Riverbats scored two runs in the top of the first and never trailed. Mike Smith got things started by ripping a triple just inside the first base bag. Bo Loar followed with a single to center field. Dean Hicks then reached on a fielder’s choice and starting pitcher Allen Suefert walked the next three batters.

Heritage rallied to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third when Chris Ellis’ two-out single plated Staton, but Stembridge answered in the fourth when Joe Harbach led off with a walk, stole second and scored on Hicks’ bunt single.

The Pioneers nearly tied the game at 3 in the fifth when Staton reached on a fielder’s choice and Darragh followed with an RBI double over the center fielder’s head. After Wirt flied out to right, Ellis appeared to have driven a ball into the right-center gap for extra bases, but the Riverbats’ center fielder laid out and made a diving catch, according to the infield umpire, for the third out.

“We thought he dropped it,” Heritage coach Jeff Pultz said. “The umpire stayed in the infield, but to me, on a dying ball to the outfield, you’ve got to go there and see.”

Darragh went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Staton was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Hobbs was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Ellis was 1-for-3 with an RBI and the Pioneers’ catcher saved a run in the fifth by expertly blocking the plate with his left leg while receiving a throw from right field and holding on to the ball during the collision.

“After that first game on Thursday, we played very well,” Pultz said. “This is basically a high school team playing against all stars and I couldn’t have been more proud of them. They fought and played hard.”