Game 15 - May 27, 2003
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Grand Chute, Wisconsin - It is amazing what a team can achieve when destiny is on its side. Chapman University had the tough task Tuesday of winning two games against Christopher Newport University at Fox Cities Stadium to claim the title at the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Series. For the team of destiny from Chapman, beating previously unbeaten Christopher Newport twice would be just another feat in an amazing run to the national championship.
After pounding the Captains 15-2 in the first game Tuesday to force a second championship game in the double-elimination tournament, Chapman beat Christopher Newport 15-7 to win its first national championship. The Panthers became the third team ever, and the first since Montclair State University in 2000, to win two games on the final day to claim the title. “I don’t think anyone didn’t believe we couldn’t pull this off today,” Chapman shortstop Brian Sanders said.
First-year Chapman head coach Tom Tereschuk had already seen his team beat George Fox University twice on the final day of the regional just to get to the Championship Series. Then it was a superb performance in front of a record and highly partisan University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh crowd of 3,868 on Friday in a 6-1 win over the Titans. He then witnessed a fabulous comeback Sunday night against Emory University that saw the Panthers score four times, including three runs with two outs, in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Eagles 6-5 in an elimination game. “We had complete confidence from the start,” Tereschuk said. “They never wavered in their faith, and they kept after it.”
The Panthers, which came into the Championship Series with one of the best pitching staffs in the nation, did the talking with their bats on Tuesday. In the two games, Chapman (39-12) scored 30 runs and pounded out 40 hits, all while getting solid pitching from a staff depleted by five days of play. The Panthers had 24 hits, a season high, in the title game. “For a team that supposedly pitches it pretty good, they hit it pretty good too,” Christopher Newport head coach John Harvell said.
After getting routed in the first game, it appeared as though the Captains had righted the ship. After falling behind 4-2, thanks to a four-run third inning by Chapman in which Matt Graves (right) belted a two-run double, Christopher Newport rallied in the bottom half of the frame. Matt Turner led off with a homer, and the Captains got two more hits in the inning and took advantage of two walks to grab a 5-4 lead.
But the hits just kept coming for Chapman. The Panthers scored two more in the fourth and fifth, and Graves belted a solo homer in the sixth to give Chapman a 9-7 lead heading into the seventh. “It’s hard to play catch-up all the time,” Harvell said. “(Chapman) flat-out swung the bats today.”
The Panthers really broke the game open with five runs in the seventh. Chapman had five hits in the inning, including a two-run single by Shaun Donahoe (left)and a two-run double by Sanders. The Panthers added another run in the eighth to complete the scoring, and it was driven in on a double by second baseman Alex Taylor, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Championship Series.
“I thought we were loose as we can be. I think we had the advantage today. I think they were nervous,” Sanders (right) said. “When you play that bad and win (against Emory), it does something for you. After that game, I didn’t think we were going to lose.”
After getting off to a rocky start, Chapman starter Scott Akamine (left) settled down in the second half of the game. He didn’t allow a run in the final four innings and went the distance. He allowed nine hits, struck out six and walked five.
The first game of the day was tied 1-1 heading into the top of the fifth when the Panthers sent 11 men to the plate and exploded for eight runs to break it open. Chapman then took any doubt out of the game with six runs in the ninth.
Jeff Green pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits and two runs. He struck out 11 and walked four.
Max Gruber led the offense, which tallied 16 hits, by going 4-for-5 with four RBI. Donahoe, Taylor, Sanders and Chris Van Camp all had two hits for the Panthers. “We played in front of the largest crowd. We had the biggest comeback. We won the championship,” Taylor said. “I can’t think of any other team that could have experienced the scope of the tournament (more).”
The announced crowd of 1,484 on Tuesday pushed the Championship Series attendance to 29,543, breaking the old record of 19,575 by nearly 10,000.
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Chapman 15 (39-12) Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Justin Hallenbeck 1b...... 6 2 3 1 0 0 12 0 Shaun Donahoe rf.......... 6 3 5 3 0 0 1 0 Alex Taylor 2b............ 6 2 3 3 0 0 2 5 Matt Graves c............. 5 2 3 3 1 0 5 1 Brian Sanders ss.......... 6 1 4 2 0 1 2 2 Chris Van Camp cf......... 2 0 1 1 1 0 4 0 Brian Brubaker dh......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jeff Levering dh.......... 3 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 Matt Ricatto dh........... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Max Gruber 3b............. 4 2 1 0 1 0 0 3 C.J. Castillo lf.......... 4 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 Travis Otott lf........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Scott Akamine p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Totals.................... 45 15 24 15 3 3 27 13 Christopher Newport 7 (35-9) Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Jeremy Elliot cf.......... 6 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 Ricky Medina 2b........... 5 0 0 0 1 0 2 7 Matt Turner rf............ 4 1 1 1 0 2 1 0 Chris Phaup 3b............ 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 Scotty George c........... 4 1 2 0 0 0 3 0 John Corbin 1b............ 4 1 1 0 0 0 12 1 Dave Diebler ph/1b........ 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Jayson Basanes dh......... 3 1 2 0 2 1 0 0 Jason Moody lf............ 4 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 Matt Lewellen ss.......... 5 0 2 2 0 1 5 5 Cary Bruner p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Steven Mingee p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Jason Brown p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Eben Brower p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ryan Gogan p.............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals.................... 40 7 9 5 5 6 27 18 Score by innings: R H E ---------------------------------------------- Chapman 004 221 510 - 15 24 4 Christopher Newport 113 020 000 - 7 9 0 ---------------------------------------------- E - A. Taylor; M. Gruber 3. DP - CNU 4. LOB - CU 10; CNU 13. 2B - A. Taylor(17); M. Graves(14); B. Sanders(11); J. Levering(8); J. Moody(7). 3B - C. Van Camp(3). HR - M. Graves(8); M. Turner(15). SB - J. Elliott 5(54); J. Moody(2). SH - C. Van Camp 2; S. George. SF - C. Van Camp. Chapman IP H R ER BB SO AB BF Scott Akamine....... 9.0 9 7 5 5 6 40 47 Christopher Newport IP H R ER BB SO AB BF Cary Bruner......... 4.0 9 6 6 1 0 18 22 Steven Mingee....... 1.0 4 2 2 0 0 6 7 Jason Brown......... 2.0 7 6 6 2 2 13 15 Eben Brower......... 1.0 3 1 1 0 0 5 5 Ryan Gogan.......... 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 3 3 Win - S. Akamine 6-5. Loss - C. Bruner 7-1. Save - None. WP - S. Akamine; C. Bruner. PB - S. George 2. HBP - by C. Bruner (C.J. Castill); by S. Akamine (M. Turner). Umpires - Home:Rick Lindquist 1st:Dennis Varweg 2nd:George Drouches 3rd:Gary Gilman Start: 4:30 pm Time: 3:01 Attendance: 1484
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Score by innings: R H E ---------------------------------------------- Chapman University 004 221 510 - 15 24 4 Christopher Newport 113 020 000 - 7 9 0 ---------------------------------------------- Chapman University inning 1 J. Hallenbec grounded out to 2b. S. Donahoe singled to center field. A. Taylor grounded into double play ss to 1b; S. Donahoe out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Christopher Newport inning 1 J. Elliott reached on an error by 2b. J. Elliott stole second. R. Medina grounded out to c, bunt. M. Turner grounded out to p. J. Elliott stole third. C. Phaup reached on a fielding error by 3b; J. Elliott scored, unearned. S. George singled to left center; C. Phaup advanced to second. J. Corbin reached on a fielder's choice; S. George out at second 2b unassisted. 1 run, 1 hit, 2 errors, 2 LOB. Chapman University inning 2 M. Graves singled to right field. B. Sanders singled to pitcher, bunt; M. Graves advanced to second. C. Van Camp out at first p to 2b, SAC, bunt; B. Sanders advanced to second; M. Graves advanced to third. B. Brubaker grounded out to p. M. Gruber lined out to ss. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Christopher Newport inning 2 J. Basanes struck out looking. J. Moody doubled to left field. M. Lewellen singled to center field, RBI; J. Moody scored. J. Elliott reached on a fielder's choice, bunt; M. Lewellen out at second 2b to ss. J. Elliott stole second. R. Medina flied out to cf. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Chapman University inning 3 C.J. Castill hit by pitch. C.J. Castill advanced to second on a wild pitch. J. Hallenbec singled to pitcher, bunt; C.J. Castill advanced to third. S. Donahoe singled to first base, bunt; J. Hallenbec advanced to second. A. Taylor singled to left field, RBI; S. Donahoe advanced to second; J. Hallenbec advanced to third; C.J. Castill scored. M. Graves doubled to left field, 2 RBI; A. Taylor advanced to third; S. Donahoe scored; J. Hallenbec scored. B. Sanders reached on a fielder's choice to pitcher. C. Van Camp flied into double play cf to 1b to 3b, SF, RBI; M. Graves out on the play; A. Taylor scored. B. Brubaker flied out to cf. 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Christopher Newport inning 3 M. Turner homered to left field, RBI. C. Phaup grounded out to 2b. S. George singled to center field. J. Corbin singled to right field; S. George advanced to third. J. Basanes walked; J. Corbin advanced to second. J. Moody walked, RBI; J. Basanes advanced to second; J. Corbin advanced to third; S. George scored. M. Lewellen reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; J. Moody out at second 2b to ss; J. Basanes advanced to third; J. Corbin scored. J. Elliott flied out to cf. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Chapman University inning 4 M. Gruber walked. C.J. Castill fouled out to 1b, bunt. J. Hallenbec singled down the lf line; M. Gruber advanced to second. S. Donahoe singled to right center, RBI; J. Hallenbec advanced to third; M. Gruber scored. A. Taylor grounded out to 2b, RBI; S. Donahoe advanced to second; J. Hallenbec scored. M. Graves grounded out to ss. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Christopher Newport inning 4 R. Medina grounded out to 3b. M. Turner hit by pitch. C. Phaup walked; M. Turner advanced to second. S. George grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt; C. Phaup advanced to second; M. Turner advanced to third. J. Corbin grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Chapman University inning 5 S. Mingee to p for C. Bruner. B. Sanders singled through the left side. C. Van Camp grounded out to p, SAC, bunt; B. Sanders advanced to second. J. Levering to dh for B. Brubaker. J. Levering doubled to right center, RBI; B. Sanders scored. M. Gruber flied out to rf. C.J. Castill singled to right field; J. Levering advanced to third. J. Hallenbec singled to left field, RBI; C.J. Castill advanced to second; J. Levering scored. S. Donahoe reached on a fielder's choice; J. Hallenbec out at second 2b to ss. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Christopher Newport inning 5 J. Basanes singled down the rf line. J. Moody reached on an error by 3b; J. Basanes advanced to second. M. Lewellen singled to third base, bunt; J. Moody advanced to second; J. Basanes advanced to third. J. Elliott reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; M. Lewellen out at second 2b unassisted; J. Moody advanced to third; J. Basanes scored. J. Elliott stole second; J. Moody stole home, unearned. R. Medina walked; J. Elliott stole third. M. Turner struck out swinging. C. Phaup flied out to cf. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. Chapman University inning 6 J. Brown to p for S. Mingee. A. Taylor grounded out to ss. M. Graves homered to left field, RBI. B. Sanders struck out swinging. C. Van Camp tripled to right field. J. Levering struck out looking. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Christopher Newport inning 6 S. George grounded out to ss. J. Corbin grounded out to ss. J. Basanes walked. J. Moody popped up to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Chapman University inning 7 M. Gruber singled down the rf line. C.J. Castill singled to pitcher, bunt; M. Gruber advanced to second. J. Hallenbec grounded out to 2b; C.J. Castill advanced to second; M. Gruber advanced to third. S. Donahoe singled to right field, 2 RBI; C.J. Castill scored; M. Gruber scored. A. Taylor singled to shortstop; S. Donahoe advanced to second. A. Taylor advanced to second; S. Donahoe advanced to third on a passed ball. M. Graves walked. B. Sanders doubled down the rf line, 2 RBI; M. Graves advanced to third; A. Taylor scored; S. Donahoe scored. C. Van Camp walked. J. Levering grounded out to 2b, RBI; C. Van Camp advanced to second; B. Sanders advanced to third; M. Graves scored. M. Gruber grounded out to 3b. 5 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Christopher Newport inning 7 M. Lewellen grounded out to p. J. Elliott flied out to lf. R. Medina grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Chapman University inning 8 E. Brower to p for J. Brown. C.J. Castill singled to left field. J. Hallenbec grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; C.J. Castill out on the play. S. Donahoe singled to left center. S. Donahoe advanced to second on a passed ball. A. Taylor doubled down the lf line, RBI; S. Donahoe scored. M. Graves popped up to ss. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Christopher Newport inning 8 M. Turner struck out swinging. C. Phaup flied out to rf. S. George reached on an error by 3b. D. Diebler pinch hit for J. Corbin. D. Diebler grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Chapman University inning 9 D. Diebler to 1b. R. Gogan to p for E. Brower. B. Sanders singled through the right side. C. Van Camp grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; B. Sanders out on the play. M. Ricatto to dh for J. Levering. M. Ricatto struck out looking. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Christopher Newport inning 9 T. Otott to lf for C.J. Castill. J. Basanes singled to center field. J. Moody struck out swinging. M. Lewellen struck out swinging. J. Elliott struck out swinging, reached first on a wild pitch; J. Basanes advanced to second. R. Medina flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Updated Sept 2003