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VIENNA, VA. June 1—As the sun set behind the visitor’s dugout at Waters Field, the stars on the Vienna Senators rose to come out strong for the 2007 campaign in front of a full house crowd. But after coming back to tie the McLean Raiders in the bottom of the eighth inning at 3, the Senators failed to secure the victory and lost 10-4.
The Senators (0-1), the defending champions of the Clark Griffith League, a premier wooden bat summer collegiate league, succumbed to one of the two newest franchises of the League, the McLean Raiders (1-0) as a result of errors and strong ninth-inning hitting by the visitors.
The game went quietly until the third inning, when the Raiders chalked up their first run of the game. Dave Kellerberg, a right-handed pitcher from Florida Southern, got the start for the Senators. He gave up a single to first baseman Jack Ferrick, which was followed by an RBI triple by centerfielder Kelly Muir.
The Senators surrendered another run to the Raiders in the top of the fourth after shortstop Robbie Shields scored after reaching second base on an error by Vienna second baseman Steven Gauthe, and reaching home on a throwing error by Kellerberg.
The Senators responded and got their first hit of the night in the bottom of the fourth off a double by Kyle Kretchmer, from UNLV. The Senators bats continued to heat up in the fifth inning, as left fielder Kyle Page singled up right field. Page advanced on a wild pitch, and Gauthe was walked. But in the middle of hometown hero Johnny Ayers’ at-bat, Page took off for third base and was caught stealing. Gauthe advanced to second, but the Raiders retired Ayers and Bryce Mendonca to end the Vienna threat.
Garrett Smith, a middle relief specialist for the Senators, came in to pitch in the top of the sixth and threw the rest of the game. He gave up a run on a sacrifice fly by Raiders right fielder Josh Mruczek. At the end of seven innings, the Raiders led 3-0.
The Senators were able to keep runners from scoring in the eighth after Smith gave up two hits. Vienna then brought home three runs in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the eighth to bring them within reach of victory. The Raiders walked first baseman Sam Honeck, then allowed a single by third baseman Nick Wheeler. Then Kretchmer grounded into a double play, but Honeck scored from third base during the play. Steven Moritz was then hit by a pitch in the thigh. Alan Harris, a rising sophomore from the University of New Orleans, then blasted a home run to centerfield to bring in two runs and make the score 3-3.
The
Senators’ chance at victory slipped away as the Raiders came out swinging
hard in the top of the ninth. They collected six hits and scored seven runs.
McLean catcher Josh Steinberg led off the top of the last inning with a
walk, and he was brought home by a RBI double from Dan Branca. Ferrick then
singled up the third base line. Kelly Muir came up to bat and reached second
on a Vienna error, which allowed Branca to score. McLean went up 5-3. Then
a series of hits allowed five more runs to score.
The Senators tried to put together a rally in the bottom of the ninth, as
Mendonca walked, stole a base and reached home safely on an RBI double by
Honeck. Wheeler grounded out to end the game with the score 10-4 in favor
of McLean.
The Senators look to chalk up a few wins tomorrow as they will compete in an inter-league double-header against the Putty Hill Greyhounds of the Maryland Collegiate Baseball League. Game time is set for 5 p.m. at Waters Field in Vienna.
###
For more information, please go to www.viennasenators.com or contact the
public relations intern, Kristin Pratt at (703) 401-6416 or at pratt.kristin@gmail.com.