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Ridgway Legion eliminated from playoffs |
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Tuesday, 15 July 2008 |
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 Photo by Greg Reedy Joe Renaud waits for a pitch during Ridgway's American Legion playoff game with Smethport.
Ridgway Legion eliminated from playoffs by Smethport
By Greg Reedy
SMETHPORT - The Ridgway American Legion baseball team was eliminated from the Elk County American Legion baseball playoffs by Smethport Monday as it suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Smethport.
Smethport moves on to play Fox Township on Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. Fox Township defeated Kane 11-4.
Smethport struck in the first inning, capitalizing on a pair of singles. Cody Matzner led off for Smethport with an infield single. That was followed up by a single from Zach Buckler to put two men on. A wild pitch moved each runner up a base, and gave Smethport two baserunners in scoring position.
A groundout from Justin Smith scored Matzner and moved Buckler to third, giving Smethport a 1-0 lead. Mark Larson then also grounded out to score Buckler and up Smethport's lead to 2-0.
The only other run of the game came in the bottom of the third as Buckler lined a solo home run into left-center field to put Smethport ahead by a 3-0 margin.
Smethport pitcher Zach Meyer threw 5 2-3 innings and allowed four hits, walked two and struck out three.
Ridgway coach Barry Caggiano said his team his team had trouble with the pitching of Meyer and Brian Wetzel, who came on in relief.
"We couldn't hit the slower stuff," Caggiano said. "Smethport's a good hitting team and we did well with them. In the end, it's just another close loss."
Jerico Weitzel threw a complete game for Ridgway on the mound. Weitzel went six innings and allowed five hits. He struck out three batters.
"It was a good pitching performance," Caggiano said. "We were thin on pitching and if he didn't go the whole game, we would have had to mix and match at the end."
Weitzel, Sam Skraba, Barry Caggiano, Zack Hoyt and Alan Buehler each reached base with a single. Joe Renaud was hit by a pitch and Joe Chittester and Derek Gaffey each walked.
Ridgway's season ends but Caggiano said he was happy so many of his young players could step in and play during the season.
"They got a lot of playing time," Caggiano said. "As long as they come back and play, they should be good and keep getting better."
Ridgway 000 000 0 - 0
Smethport 201 000 x - 3
Ridgway AB R H BI
Weitzel 4 0 1 0
S. Skraba 4 0 1 0
Renaud 2 0 0 0
Chittester 2 0 0 0
Miraglia 3 0 0 0
Gaffey 2 0 0 0
Caggiano 3 0 1 0
Hoyt 3 0 1 0
Buehler 2 0 1 0
D.J. Skraba 0 0 0 0
Jaques 1 0 0 0
HBP - Renaud.
Smethport AB R H BI
Matzner 3 1 1 0
Buckler 2 2 2 1
Smith 3 0 1 1
Larson 2 0 0 1
Kreitzer 3 0 0 0
Hughes 3 0 0 0
Meyer 2 0 1 0
Austin 2 0 0 0
Doutt 2 0 0 0
HR - Buckler. HBP - Buckler, Larson.
Ridgway IP H R BB K
Weitzel 6 5 3 0 3
Smethport IP H R BB K
Meyer 5.2 4 0 2 3
Wetzel 1.1 1 0 0 2 |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 July 2008 )
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