Baseball: Blue Team Takes Game One
October 08, 2006 10:53 AM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Blue Team took game one of the Blue-Gold World Series 6-5 Saturday afternoon at Hawley Field.
Blue Team Captain Trent Ridgley hit a clutch three run home run in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score at four. Ridgley then pitched the top of the tenth inning in relief to lead the Blue Team to a game one victory.
The Gold team jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when lead-off hitter Adam White and shortstop Jason Pape hit back to back doubles to give the Gold the early lead. The Gold squad greeted Blue reliever Josh Whitlock with two more runs in the top of the fifth to stretch the lead to 4-0.
After the Gold Team failed to score in the top of the eighth, Blue Team lead-off hitter Tyler Kuhn opened the bottom of the inning with a long home run to right-centerfield, his second of the Fall. One out later, left fielder Justin Jenkins and catcher Mike Schmidt drew consecutive walks. Ridgley then delivered a big three run home run over the right field fence to even the scoring at four heading into the ninth.
Neither team could push a run across in the ninth forcing extra innings.
The Gold jumped ahead 5-4 in the top of the tenth inning on an RBI single by second baseman Shane Smith. Ridgley then worked his way out of trouble leaving the Blue Team down by a run heading into the bottom of the tenth.
Third baseman Vince Belnome led off the Blue tenth by drawing a walk and came around to score the tieing run on Jenkins’ double. Schmidt and Ridgley were both then intentionally walked to load the bases setting up Michael Burger's game winning single down the right field line to score Jenkins.
The Gold Team pounded out eleven base hits led by Pape's double and two singles in five trips to the plate. White, Justin Parks and Grant Buckner chipped in two knocks apiece. For the Blue Team, Kuhn led the hit parade with three hits. Belnome and Bill Wooten added two each as the Blue collected 10 base hits on the afternoon.
The two teams meet again Sunday at 3 p.m. for game two of the series at Hawley Field. On the mound for the Blue will be southpaw Kenny Durst and getting the nod for the Gold is right hander Billy Gross. The public is invited to attend and admission is free.
