Published: July 10, 2009 10:56 am      

Rays battle hard

Elizabethton takes series

PRINCETON — The powerful Elizabethton Twins and the Princeton Rays locked up in a classic series playing two seven-inning games on July 6 (due to a rainout the preceding evening) and the third game on July 7.

The Twins won the opening contest 5-2, but Princeton captured the second game, 5-4. Elizabethton was victorious in the thrilling, hard-fought third game, 4-3.

Each game was played beautifully by both teams. In fact, this observer does not recall a better-played series in 14 years of watching Princeton baseball.

The games were a quintessential confrontation between an offensive juggernaut (the Twins) and a very talented pitching corps (the Rays).

Entering the series, Elizabethton led the league in most offensive categories. The Twins had a composite batting average of .311, averaged a whopping nine runs and five extra-base hits per game. Moreover, the Twins were hitting two home runs a game. After the Princeton series, Elizabeth-ton is still leading the league in offense, but Princeton’s pitching staff performed admirably against a quality batting team.

In contrast, at times Princeton hitters have struggled at the plate. They are last in the league with a team batting average hovering around .225. In addition, they average a league low of 3 1/2 runs a game. Prior to meeting Elizabeth-ton, the Rays had hit only three home runs in 12 games.

Princet-on’s strength is its pitching. The Rays lead the league in ERA (earned run average) and most other pitching categories. Elizabethton has a solid pitching staff, but it is overshadowed usually by the team’s offensive prowess.

Although they lost the series, Princeton performed well. They cut the Twins’ scoring from nine runs a game to four runs per contest. Moreover, the Rays held Elizabethton to a total of eight extra-base hits, or an average of less than three per game. The Rays countered with seven extra-base knocks of their own. (Both teams had one home run during the series.)

Princeton’s starting pitchers in the series (Joey Callender, Omar Bencomo, and Trevor Shull) were brilliant. They had a combined ERA of 2.45.



Twins—5, Rays—2

The Rays threatened to score in the first two innings, but did not produce any runs. Ryan Wiegand doubled in the first inning, but was left stranded. In the second frame, Seth Henry doubled, Tomas Francisco singled, and Daniel Rhaut walked to load the bases with no outs, but the Rays were unable to manufacture a score.

Princeton tallied two runs in the third inning to take the lead. Cody Rogers singled, and Wiegand walked. Rogers moved to third on a fly out. Henry ripped a single to right driving in Rogers with Wiegand advancing to third.

Francisco’s sacrifice fly brought Wiegand home. The rest of the game the Rays were hitless.

Starter Omar Bencomo held Elizabethton scoreless for the first four innings. In the fifth, the Twins’ second baseman, Derek McCallum, slashed a triple scoring two teammates to tie the score at 2-2.

The next inning, the Twins combined two hits, three walks, and an error to score three runs and win the game.

Despite the loss, the Rays executed several fine fielding plays including two in the second inning. Shortstop Daniel Rhault made a beautiful leaping catch of a line drive. Left fielder Brian Bryles’ perfect throw to home plate cut down an opponent attempting to score. Center fielder Ty Morrison caught a line drive and doubled up a base runner at first in the seventh inning.



Rays—5, Twins—4

This game was the first as starting pitcher in professional baseball for knuckleballer Joey Callender. He performed very well, limiting the Twins to one earned run in five innings of work.

“I was throwing the knuckler about half the time,” Callender said.

His pitching repeatedly kept the Twins’ hitters off balance.

The Rays struck early, tallying a run in the first inning. Ty Morrison singled and stole second. He advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Cody Rogers’ sac fly.

Princeton added to its advantage in the third inning in a rather bizarre manner. With two outs, Ryan Wiegand struck out but reached first base on a wild pitch. Julio Cedeno doubled to left driving Wiegand home. Jason Patton also doubled to left scoring Cedeno.

Elizabethton responded with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Michael Gonzales doubled. Danny Rams sent him home with a double.

Rams advanced to third base on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly.

Princeton countered with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Seth Henry was hit by a pitch. He scored on Ty Morrison’s single and a fielding error by the Twins.

Elizabethton tied the game up in the top of the sixth inning with two runs. The Twins loaded the bases as the Rays walked three consecutive batters. They executed a double play, but a Twins’ runner scored in the process. The next Twins’ batter singled sending another runner across the plate.

Not to be denied the victory, the Rays scored in the bottom of the sixth inning. Morrison singled and was sent to second base by a balk by the Twins’ pitcher.

Cody Rogers singled to right field driving Morrison home with the winning run.

Relief pitcher James Hill earned the win.



Twins—4, Rays—3

The first two games of this series were exciting ones, but for sheer drama, they were surpassed by the final game as the lead seesawed throughout the game.

Elizabethton scored in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

The run was manufactured by back-to-back doubles by Chris Herrmann (who was 4-for-4 at the plate) and Tyler Ladendorf.

The Rays tied up the game in the bottom of the second inning. Kyle Spraker doubled to left field and scored on Tomas Francisco’s single.

In the fourth frame, Princeton took a 2-1 lead. Ryan Wiegand doubled against the fence and was sent home by Spraker’s single.

The Twins tied up the game in the sixth inning with Michael Gonzales’ solo homer. Later in the inning, Rays’ shortstop Daniel Rhault made the defensive play of the game. He made a sensational leaping grab of a line drive.

This play has become routine for Rhault.

Princeton quickly responded with Cody Rogers’ solo four-bagger, his second of the season, in the bottom of the sixth inning. (All of Princeton’s four home runs this season have come at home and have been over the right field fence.)

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Princeton threatened to score as the Rays loaded up the bases. The Twins’ defense stiffened and they denied the Rays a score.

Elizabethton converted a single, a sacrifice, and an error for the winning run in the top of the ninth inning.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Rays had a base runner. Brian Bryles drove the ball to deep left field, but the Twins’ outfielder caught the ball to end the contest and the series.