Friday Apr. 17, 2009

Green Hope escapes Athens Drive with a 2-1 victory

Conference wins certainly aren't coming very easy these days, as today's game against Athens Drive could have gone either way. Both teams had several good scoring opportunities, but neither really capitalized on their chances. For GH, their downfall was not getting the timely hit, usually by striking out. For Athens, for the most part they put the ball in play with hard hits, but GH's defense just wouldn't give them anything. Clearly Athens outhit GH today, and just as clearly GH's defense outplayed Athens, and the pitching was very good on both teams (Athens had the better pitching stats but GH was facing better hitters).

The starting pitchers were Adam Boghosian for GH and Blair Betts for Athens, both were taken out while pitching in the 5th, both with even stats. Betts pitched to 3 batters in the 5th, but got no outs, and finished officially going 4 innings, striking out 7, allowing 5 hits, 4 walks and took the loss - while Adam went 4 2/3 innings, striking out 4, also allowing 5 hits, 1 walk and got the win. The relievers - Chris Williams for Athens going 3 innings, struckout 4, allowed no hits and 1 walk - Joe Pistacchio for GH going 2 1/3 innings, struckout 3, allowed 2 hits, 2 walks and got the save.

The first inning set the tone for the game, GH loading the bases with 1 out, after Eric Brady singled, Pistacchio doubled, and Michael Sondag walked. But after a strikeout, Matt Nusbaum's hard drive to left was caught, ending the inning without a score. In Athens turn, 3B Nolan Poythress made the two best plays of the game, robbing Athens of two hits (one backhand stop and one diving stop). Yet a walk and a double by Drew Woodall had runners at 2nd and 3rd, but Athens also did not score.

GH scored the first run in the 2nd, after 2 strikeouts, Jonathan Grudee doubled to right center, advanced to 3rd on a failed pickoff attempt, and scored on Grant Shambley's single. Athens tied the game in the 4th, Ross Snotherly ledoff with a double, followed by Woodall's single, and Michael King's single to drive in Snotherly. Game tied 1-1 after 4 innings.

The deciding run was scored in the 5th, Betts seemed to tire as Shambley ledoff with a single, went to second on a wild pitch, Brady was intentionally walked, and Pistacchio walked to load the bases with no outs, and ended Betts' day. But GH only scored 1 run, after a strikeout, pinch hitter Jeff Weygandt hit a fly to left to score Shambley from 3rd (on a very close play at the plate). And that ended the scoring with GH up 2-1.

The game got fairly suspenseful in the last couple of innings, but Pistacchio handled the pressure well, even when Athens loaded the bases in the bottom of the 7th with 2 outs. A groundout to SS Brady ended the game, one in which GH has to feel relieved and possibly a little lucky to win. GH moves to 6-0 conference, 13-2 overall.