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 |
VIENNA SENATORS DEFEAT FAIRFAX NATIONALS |
VIENNA , Va. July 11—The race for first place continued Wednesday night, as the No. 2-ranked Vienna Senators (22-4) hosted the No. 1-ranked Fairfax Nationals (26-6). The Senators won a commanding 12-3 contest against the Nationals, evening the series at two games apiece.
Right-handed hurler Nate Newman had a dominating seven-inning performance, not only being tough on the Fairfax bats by striking out 13 total, but also working well defensively and assisting in several putouts. Newman, who is now 4-0 on the season, only allowed three hits and just one run in the game.
Xavier Qualls, last season's League Most Valuable Player, returned to Vienna for the season. Qualls, from Southeastern Louisiana University , got his first start of the season Wednesday night and got to work quickly. His bat will be a nice addition to the power the Senators have accumulated this season.
The Senators, who totaled 15 hits in the game, jumped on board quickly and put up their first run in the first inning. Shortstop Steven Gauthe from Copiah-Lincoln Community College scored as third baseman Nick Wheeler grounded out.
Vienna bats started swinging again the second inning as the club piled on three more runs. Designated hitter Xavier Qualls got his first RBI of the season with a double that scored Marshall-product Brandon Casamassima. Right fielder Drew Allain next got on base with a single to center field. Qualls came around to score on a wild pitch during catcher Steven Moritz's at bat.
Steven Gauthe came up to the plate and hit a single to the shortstop, and reached second on a throwing error by the shortstop. The error allowed Drew Allain to score from third base and Steve Moritz to advance to third. Anthony Scelfo walked to load the bases with one out, but Nationals pitcher Jack Zeltner buckled down and got the next two batters out to end the Vienna threat.
The Nationals chalked up a run in the top of the fourth. After getting two outs, third baseman Alex Gregory got on base with a walk. He moved to second when Cory Lyda singled up the middle, and Gregory scored when Alan Wimmer hit an RBI single. Nate Newman buckled down and got Curtis Eward to strike out swinging to put a halt to the Fairfax offense.
In the fifth inning, Sam Honeck put the Senators up 5-1 with a solo shot that just made it over the centerfield wall. It was Honeck's ninth home run of the season, and his fifth homer in as many Clark Griffith League contests.
The Senators made things interesting in the sixth inning as they put up a few more insurance runs. Kyle Page led off the inning, pinch-hitting for Steve Moritz. Page walked and was replaced on the bases by speedy infielder Bryce Mendonca. Ryan Eden singled up the middle and Mendonca took off for second. Mendonca reached safely and advanced to third on a fielder's interference call. Steven Gauthe then notched and RBI single to allow Mendonca to score the team's sixth run. During Anthony Scelfo's at bat, Ryan Eden and Steven Gauthe both stole a base. Catcher Ty Boyles tried to throw Eden out at third, but overthrew the ball. Eden then scored on the catcher's error. Anthony Scelfo walked to put runners on first and second with no out.
The Nationals then took Jack Zeltner out of the game and replaced him on the mound with southpaw Russ Lowell. Lowell walked first baseman Sam Honeck, which allowed Gauthe to trot across home plate. With the bases still loaded and not out, Brandon Casamassima stepped up to the plate and launched a sacrifice fly to centerfield, which allowed Anthony Scelfo to score the team's ninth run. Ryan Heroy of Pepperdine came up to pinch-hit for Xavier Qualls, and flied out for the second out of the inning. Drew Allain singled past the short stop to score Nick Wheeler. Bryce Mendonca made another appearance in the inning, this time as a batter, and singled to right field. As Honeck came barreling toward home, he was thrown out at home by the right fielder for the third out.
But the damage was done, as the Senators scored five runs in the sixth inning to go ahead 10-1.
In the eighth inning, Vienna 's bats started going strong again. Sam Honeck led off with a singled, and Ryan Heroy brought him home with a double down the left field line. Heroy scored the team's twelfth run of the night when Ryan Eden doubled to centerfield.
But the Nationals got a taste of revenge in the top of the ninth when they added a couple of runs. Robert Lamas, who pinch-hit for catcher Ty Boyles, doubled to right to lead off the inning. After Alex Gregory grounded out, Cory Lyda singled to the first baseman and beat Sam Honeck to the bag. Billy Tinsley, who came in to relieve Nate Newman in the eighth, struck out Alan Wimmer to get two outs. Then Curtis Eward hit a long 2-RBI double down the right field line.
At 10 o'clock precisely, the lights by home plate and down the third base line went out. The two teams waited about 10 minutes before calling the game. The coaches and umpires agreed to count Eward as being picked off second base, for scoring purposes, to end the game 12-3.
While the two teams have been tangoing for the top spot all season long, the Senators still have to make up a handful of games on the season that were lost due to poor weather or schedule conflicts. Making up those games will help Vienna on their quest for an unprecedented ninth league championship.
The Senators will complete June 28 th 's game suspension tomorrow. The two teams left off at the top of the eighth inning, tied at 3 runs apiece, due to bad weather. At 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at Paul VI High School , the two teams will complete that game before going on to duel again at 7 p.m.
For every home game at Waters Field the rest of this season, the Vienna Senators will be broadcasting their games and stats live on their web site. For fans that cannot make it to the stadium on game days, they can keep up with their favorite summer collegiate baseball team at www.ViennaSenators.com and click on “Live Game Broadcasts.”
The next broadcast will be on Friday, July 13, when the Senators take on the DC Grays at Waters Field at 7 p.m.
###
For more information, please go to www.ViennaSenators.com or contact the public relations intern, Kristin Pratt, at pratt.kristin@gmail.com or at (703) 401-6416.