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Monday, July 28, 2008
Shillington Eliminated From Legion Regional Play
Greater Reading, PA
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By: Dave Conard
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Photo(s) By: Dave Conard
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fall to Coplay 8-6
Coplay, PA
Dave Conard
Red Sox battle but fall to host Coplay
By David Conard
Shillington battled back from a 7-2 deficit Sunday, but it was not enough to overcome a slow start as the Red Sox fell 8-6 to host team Coplay, thus eliminating them from the Region Three tournament.
Coplay (14-13) got a great effort out of starting pitcher Adam Vrabel who carried a perfect game into the sixth inning. Shillington had hit the ball hard on several occasions, but much like the Berks Tournament, right at a defender…most notably Mark Yost who drilled a shot to the wall in the second, and lined out to third and to left field. “We hit the ball hard again toady,” said head coach Chris Hole. “It seems lately that we crush a ball but it’s always right at someone
Jose Leon became the Red Sox’ first base runner by drawing a walk to start the sixth inning. Shillington (26-8) was quick to pounce as Kyle Neumuller laid down a sacrifice bunt, but was able to reach second as Coplay third basemen Scott Kromer threw the ball down the right field line. Josh Ruffner and Casey Casatini followed up by each rapping a base hit scoring Leon and Neumuller giving Shillington a 2-1 advantage.
Casatini was “called” out at second trying to stretch it into a double, when it appeared that the only person in the stadium that saw the “tag” was the second base umpire.
Coplay tied the game in the bottom half of the frame when Matt Rottet (3-for-3, 2 runs, 3RBI), remember that name, drilled a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left center. Shillington starter Mike Schlamowitz had great command of his pitches through the first six as he fanned four while issuing only one walk, and in one stretch retired nine straight. In the home seventh, Coplay took advantage of a couple of breaks and a suddenly shrunken strike zone as, with two out and two on Adam Vrabel walked, loading the bases for Matt Rottet, who had homered in his last at bat. Schlamowitz got ahead 2-1 in the count before “walking” Rottet with a fastball at the knees, to push a run across the plate giving Coplay a 3-2 lead. “We should have been out of the inning right there,” said an emotional Dan Ruffner who had just played his last game in a Red Sox uniform. “ Mike made a great pitch, he just didn’t get the call.”
The Sox could have been out of the inning with minimal damage, until left fielder Nick Sist, who stepped in 0-for-3 in the game, blasted as 2-2 offering over the temporary fence in right field for his first career grand slam, posting Coplay to a 7-2 advantage.
“I knew we would fight back,” said Hole. “I have seen these guys do it before, I was confidant we would respond.” Respond they did; Jose Leon took one for the team to start the eighth inning, as he was plunked in the back with a Vrabel fastball. He scored as Dan Ruffner crushed a triple off the wall in dead center. Josh Ruffner and Mark Yost both doubled driving in three more runs and suddenly it was a 7-6 game. “I thought we had taken the momentum right there, “ said Dan Ruffner. “ I thought we would take the lead and shut them down ,but things don’t always work out how you think they will. Today just wasn’t our day again.” Unfortunately, for the Sox and their fans, it was as close as Shillington would come as Coplay added another run in the home eighth and retired the Red Sox in order in the ninth. “I am so proud of this group of kids,” said Chris Hole. “ It will be hard next season to take the field without some of the kids that will be leaving. The leadership and other qualities they have on and off the field will be hard to replace. This is a special group of young men.”
Shillington’s early exit from the regional can’t detract from the fact that the Red Sox had an incredible season, finishing 17-4 in the Berks County league. The most telling stat was that Shillington batted just .151 for the tournament and struck out an uncharacteristic 18 times, while stranding 14 runners. I am going to miss this team,” said Dan Ruffner. “ I have played with some of these guys since I was eight years old, I love these guys. Not being with them next year will probably be the toughest time of my life.
Tournament Stats
Name AB H R RBI 2B 3B K BB SAC
J Ruffner 8 2 2 2 2
Casatini 6 1 2 1 3 2
Eagleson 9 1 2
Yost 6 1 3 1 1
Sclamowitz 8 4 1 1 1
Cala 7 0 3 1
Leon 6 0 2 2 1
Wertz 5 0 2
D Ruffner 6 1 1 1 1 2 1
Neumuller 4 0 1 1
Rhoads 1 0
Pitching IP R ER H K BB WP
Schlamowitz (0-1) 6.66 7 6 12 4 3 1
Eagleson (0-1) 8 7 5 13 8 3 0
Cala 1 1 1 2 0 0 0
Rhoads 0.33 0 0 0 0 1 0
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