June 16, 2014
Squirrels win tournament's consolation championship 5-1 over Riverbend Ducks
sports@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- An opening round loss may have ensured the Charleston Fighting Squirrels wouldn't be in the championship hunt at their namesake Fighting Squirrel Classic, but that didn't stop them from making the most of their weekend...
By Brent Shipman - Standard Democrat
sports@standard-democrat.com
CHARLESTON -- An opening round loss may have ensured the Charleston Fighting Squirrels wouldn't be in the championship hunt at their namesake Fighting Squirrel Classic, but that didn't stop them from making the most of their weekend.
Playing the Riverbend Ducks on Saturday night, the Squirrels rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh to claim a 5-1 win in the consolation championship game.
"Ultimately you want to win the tournament and we lost that opportunity so we came out got three more wins," Charleston head coach Michael Minner said. "We got guys at bats and did a good job of finishing the tournament 3-1. To be 15-3 on the season at the 18 games mark is pretty solid. We just have to continue to get better."
Both the Squirrels and Ducks (2-5) suffered first round losses on Thursday, but picked up wins Friday and Saturday morning to stay alive on the consolation.
Through six innings the two teams were locked in a pitchers' duel adn headed into the top of the seventh tied at 1-1.
Charleston put the winning runner on when Cody Payne drew a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh frame and Chandler Young looked to bunt him over before drawing a walk himself.
Bruce Simmons sacrificed both runners over before a Brad Potts' grounder to short was thrown home to protect the tie, leaving the bases loaded and one out.
Coming in to pinch hit, Adam Kennard send a grounder near third base that was thrown home but not on target as the go-ahead run scored.
An error at short on the next play plated another two runs to make it 4-1. Tim Fox capped the rally with an RBI single to make up the final 5-1 as the Squirrels avoided their second extra-inning game of the tournament.
"We didn't hit early," Minner said. "We got a few advantage of there where they kind of got wild and kicked a few balls. We took advantage of it and got four runs there. All it would have taken was one run there though I think our pitcher Austin Alridge was going to finish it out."
Aldridge gave his team seven stellar innings to keep them in the game. He retired the first nine straight hitters he faced and finished the day allowing only three hits and a walk while striking out two.
After his team gave him the lead in top of the seventh, he gave up his only free pass of the night in the home half of the frame, but got three fly outs to end the game.
"Austin was incredible," Minner said. "Through five innings he had threw 54 pitches and 42 strikes. He pumped the strike zone and when guys have wood in their hands we want to fill the strike zone up.
"We want to really challenge them."
On the other side, Ducks' starter JaShawn McDaniel and Tripp Keene combined to allow only three hits as well.
McDaniel got the no decision in pitching four innings where he gave up his only run on a passed ball. He allowed one hit and four walks without recording a strikeout.
Keene took the loss despite three innings that saw only two Charleston hits, but two costly walks. He struck out two.
"I was proud of the kids," Riverbend coach Tim Campbell said. "(Charleston) is one of the better programs in the area and we're really young. We're pitching well and we're not swinging the bats very good. We just can't get that key hit when we need to.
"I thought JaShawn threw the ball well and so did Tripp. We just need to make a play here and there, that's all."
The Ducks got hits from Dylan Milisits, Garrison Keene and Tyler Sprouse.
Charleston matched their three-hit effort with Tim Fox leading the way, going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Cody Payne had the team's other hit and drew a walk.
Charleston 001 000 4 - 5
Riverbend 000 010 0 - 1
WP -- Austin Aldridge. LP -- Tripp Keene. Multiple hitters: (C) Tim Fox 2-4.
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