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Saturday Apr. 11, 2009

Boghosian/Brady lead Grenn Hope over JF Webb 3-2, in Hilltop Tourney

Colantino throws out first runner of the game attempting to steal Colantino picks off runner - called safe See video Eric Brady steals second See video Michael Sondag fields bunt - but run scores See video Colantino's sac puts winning run (Grudee) on 2nd See video Grant Shambley's game winning double scores Grudee See video

GH played another good team in Webb today, and this was a well played game by both teams. After GH's last game, today's performance was a welcome improvement, again having to play a disciplined "small ball" team in Webb. However for the most part, GH played within itself, getting the out versus trying to make the great play, as Webb executed bunts and baserunning as good as Glenn did last game. It wasn't a perfect performance, but good enough for the win, behind Adam Boghosian's pitching and Eric Brady's hitting.

The Green Hope plan was to have Boghosian pitch only about 4 or 5 innings (around 50 pitches), but as the game progressed, a combination of a well played close game, with Boghosian on top of his game, and possibly a few bad calls, had GH head coach Mike Miragliuolo change his plans and go for the win with Boghosian. And Bogo came through, going 7 innings, allowing only 5 singles, walking 3, hitting a batter, but striking out 11 which really prevented Webb from mounting any big inning.

The game was dominated by the pitchers, as Boghosian's performance was almost matched by Webb's Frazer (5 innings) and Talley (2 innings), who only allowed 4 hits, struckout 7, allowed 4 walks and a hit batter. Webb's pitching forced GH to play "small ball" to compete, and GH showed that they can play that game too. Anthony Colantino laid down 2 perfect sacrifice bunts to move Jonathan Grudee (on base via error and HBP) into scoring position, and Grudee scored on both those advances. GH attempted 2 other sacrifice bunts, both by Boghosian, Adam going 1 for 2 in those efforts.

Webb scored both their runs, in the 4th and 5th, by laying down beautiful sacrifice bunts to score a runner from third. But in between those two runs, GH scored 2 in the top of the 5th via Eric Brady's 2-run home run. Brady had 3 of the 4 GH hits, and was intentionally walked in the 7th, reaching base on all 4 at bats.

The game was won in the top of the 7th, as Grudee was hit, advanced to 2nd on Colantino's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Grant Shambley's double down the right field line. Other than Brady, Shambley had the only other GH hit, and he could have had another hit but Webb's 1B made a nice catch on a line shot from Shambley, not very much different than his double (just a few feet farther off the right field line).

So GH goes 2-1 in the Hilltop Tourney, not bad, and got to play 2 really good teams in Glenn and Webb which GH normally doesn't play against, so that experience can only help GH later on this year. GH moves to 11-2 on the year.

Grudee almost robs Webb of a hit See video Eric Brady's 2-run Home Run See video Adam Boghosian pitching See video

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