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Ridgway baseball advances with shutout over Crusaders |
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Wednesday, 21 May 2008 |
By Greg Reedy
ST. MARYS – Mike Miraglia saved his best pitching performance for when it counted the most.
Miraglia struck out 11 batters in a 2-hit, complete-game shutout of Elk County Catholic as the Elkers
advanced with a 3-0 win over the Crusaders in the first round of the District 9 playoffs at Berwind Park yesterday afternoon.
"Mike, he's a gamer," Ridgway coach Mark Morelli said. "He really came through for us. He raised his performnce when we needed it."
Ridgway now takes on No. 4 seed Curwensville in the second round. The game will be in Curwensville at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Morelli credits the work of assistant coaches Travis Menteer and Jeff Stenta for helping the team and Miraglia.
"The experience of our assistant coaches is such a big plus," Morelli said. "Travis has been helping Mike with his mechanics. It's so gratifying to have those type of baseball backgrounds in the dugout. That gives me peace of mind in the dugout."
Ridgway got a strong defensive play in the first inning. Tom Schneider led off with a walk for the Crusaders. Herzing hit into a fielder's choice, retiring Schneider. That was followed by Nick Brennen hitting a flyball which dropped in front of the Ridgway outfield. Herzing advanced to second on the error. Chittester relayed the ball into second baseman Sam Skraba, who made a perfect throw to catcher Hudson Rees to nail Herzing at home for the out. The inning would end scoreless.
Ridgway did the damage offensively in the second inning. Joe Renaud and Hudson Rees led off with back-to-back singles. David Casolo then laid down a bunt in a sacrifice situation. Brennen's throw to first sailed into right field allowing Renaud and Rees to score and Casolo to get all the way to third.
"They made the critical error and we were able to capitalize," Morelli said. "Credit Casolo for getting the bunt down. That was a big plus early in the game."
A fielder's choice off the bat of Barry Wilson allowed Casolo to score and give the Elkers a 3-0 lead.
"I give the kids tremendous credit," Morelli said. "We have been getting the clutch hits when we need them. These kids are a lot more confident."
Pitching dominated the middle innings. Miraglia earned the rare feat of four strikeouts in the bottom of the second inning after Kiel Nissel reached third on a dropped third strike.
Ridgway got little offense going the rest of the game as Brennen settled down after the second inning. The Elkers had just six hits and Brennen struck out 10.
ECC's best chance came in the bottom of the fifth. Matt Schreiber led off with a walk. After a strikeout, Schneider and Herzing each walked to load the bases for Brennen. Brennen popped out to third for the second out. Josh Levenduski flew out to end the inning.
Ridgway's strategy with Brennen was to deal with him as few times as possible. Brennen was intentionally walked twice in an 0-for-2 day at the plate.
"We felt we could do better by putting Brennen on base," Morelli said. "In the playoffs, you have to take some risks and gamble."
ECC was held without a hit until the sixth inning. With one out, Andy Wehler broke through with a double. Kiel Nissel singled to set up runners at the corners, however Miraglia retired Schreiber and Tom Jovenitti to end the inning.
ECC put up one last gasp in the seventh inning. Schneider led off the inning by reaching on an error and then stole second. After a strikeout, Brennen was intentionally walked to put the tying run to the plate. Miraglia then got a strikeout and groundout to end the game and move Ridgway into the second round.
Ridgway 030 000 0 - 3
ECC 000 000 0 - 0
Ridgway AB R H BI
Wilson 3 0 1 1
Weitzel 4 0 2 0
Miraglia 4 0 0 0
Chittester 3 0 0 0
Renaud 4 1 1 0
Rees 1 1 1 0
Casolo 3 1 1 0
Gaffey 3 0 0 0
Skraba 3 0 0 0
D.J. Skraba 0 0 0 0
Dornisch 0 0 0 0
Totals 28 3 6 1
SB - Weitzel, D.J. Skraba
ECC AB R H BI
Schneider 2 0 0 0
Herzing 3 0 0 0
Brennen 2 0 0 0
Lovenduski 4 0 0 0
Hawkins 4 0 0 0
Wehler 3 0 1 0
Nissel 3 0 1 0
Schreiber 2 0 0 0
Jovenitti 3 0 0 0
Jacob 0 0 0 0
Wortman 0 0 0 0
Brem 0 0 0 0
Totals 26 0 2 0
2B - Wehler. SB - Schneider, Herzing, Nissel, Brem.
Ridgway IP H R BB K
Miraglia 7 2 0 6 11
ECC IP H R BB K
Brennen 7 6 3 4 10
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 22 May 2008 )
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