Game 2 - May 26, 2006
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GRAND CHUTE, WIS. - Wheaton's 2-0 victory over North Carolina Wesleyan (31-18) in the second game of the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship at Fox Cities Stadium was another brick in the wall for Wheaton (39-8) head coach Eric Podbelski.
Podbelski, who built the Wheaton program from the ground up and has served as the team's only head coach since beginning varsity play in 1998, reflected on his near decade-long project saying, "There have been shaky moments, but we built this program by getting the right kinds of kids." Wheaton (Mass.) pitcher Chris McDonough (left), who cited Podbelski's team's mentality in making his college choice, proved to be the right kind of kid on the mound for the Lyons Friday.
The crafty sophomore lefty threw eight innings of scoreless ball, allowing six hits and striking out five while walking two. "My changeup was consistent today and I was able to spot it to keep their hitters off balance," said McDonough. North Carolina Wesleyan coach Charlie Long agreed, "There was outstanding pitching on both sides today. We pressed at the plate, but we have to tip our hats to their pitcher, he did a good job of getting us out front on pitches."
McDonough had all the run support he would need before ever taking the mound after Rafael Castillo led off the game with a single and advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt. Jake Yagjian (pictured right) followed with an RBI single to give the Lyons a 1-0 lead. Yagjian finished the game 4-for-5 at the plate and also drove in Wheaton's second run with an RBI single in the fifth inning.
North Carolina Wesleyan starter Blake Rice settled in after falling behind in the first inning and went the distance for the Battling Bishops. Rice allowed nine hits, one earned run, one walk and struck out seven in the game. "This was a classic game for anyone who likes baseball," said Podbelski. "Both teams had their aces going and this was the kind of contest we expected and the kind of contest we feel confident that we can win."
McDonough single-handily defused the Battling Bishops best threat of the game, as North Carolina Wesleyan's Matt Smith followed Rob Johnson's one-out walk with a single in the eighth inning. McDonough got out of the jam by picking off Johnson at second base before fielding Ryan Snyder's grounder for the routine out to end the inning.
Ted Williams(pictured left) had three hits to pace North Carolina Wesleyan at the plate.
Jaime Baker came on to pitch the ninth for Wheaton, earning his 10th save of the season.
Wheaton moves on to face Chapman at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, while North Carolina Wesleyan battles Eastern Connecticut State, who fell to Chapman 6-3, in an elimination contest at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Long closed by saying, "The nerves should be gone and with our backs against I would like to think our guys will come out fighting…we're not ready to fly home just yet.
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Wheaton 2 Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Rafael Castillo ss........ 5 1 1 0 0 2 1 2 Jake Yagilian 2b.......... 5 0 4 2 0 1 2 2 Andy Koocher 1b........... 4 0 1 0 0 0 9 0 Scott Guillerault 3b...... 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 5 Adam Laplante c........... 3 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 Pat O'Conner rf........... 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 Mark Baumer dh............ 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 Kyle Olson pr............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brandon Leonard cf........ 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 Travis Anthoine lf........ 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 Chris McDonough p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Jaime Baker p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals.................... 33 2 9 2 1 7 27 13 NC Wesleyan 0 Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Chris Pecora rf........... 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 Robert Johnson 3b......... 3 0 1 0 1 1 1 3 Matthew Smith cf.......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 Ryan Snyder 2b............ 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 Mark Wooten 1b............ 4 0 1 0 0 2 5 2 Kenny Flythe dh........... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Ted Williams c............ 3 0 3 0 1 0 7 0 Nathan West ss............ 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Jason Webb ph............. 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Luke Williford lf......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Blake Rice p.............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 Totals.................... 30 0 7 0 2 6 27 9 Score by innings: R H E ---------------------------------------------- Wheaton 100 010 000 - 2 9 0 NC Wesleyan 000 000 000 - 0 7 1 ---------------------------------------------- E - T Williams. DP - Wheaton 1. LOB - Wheaton 9; NC Wesleyan 8. 2B - O'Conner. SB - Yaglian. SH - Laplante; Leonard; Anthoine; M Smith; N West. Wheaton IP H R ER BB SO AB BF Chris McDonough..... 8.0 6 0 0 2 5 26 31 Jaime Baker......... 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 4 4 NC Wesleyan IP H R ER BB SO AB BF Blake Rice.......... 9.0 9 2 1 1 7 33 38 Win - McDonough 8-1. Loss - Rice 10-3. Save - J Baker (10). HBP - by McDonough (Flythe); by Rice (Anthoine). Umpires - Home:Carmine Perotti 1st:Eric Thorton 2nd:Steve Reinhadrt 3rd:Brandon Jackson Start: 1:30 Time: 1:52 Attendance: 589
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Score by innings: R H E ---------------------------------------------- Wheaton 100 010 000 - 2 9 0 NC Wesleyan 000 000 000 - 0 7 1 ---------------------------------------------- Wheaton inning 1 R Castillo singled to center field. R Castillo advanced to second on an error by c, advanced to third, failed pickoff attempt. Yaglian singled to center field, RBI; R Castillo scored, unearned. Koocher flied out to rf. Guillerault flied out to rf. Laplante struck out swinging. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. NC Wesleyan inning 1 Pecora struck out looking. R Johnson singled to center field. M Smith grounded out to p, SAC, bunt; R Johnson advanced to second. R Snyder flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Wheaton inning 2 O'Conner flied out to cf. Baumer struck out swinging. Leonard grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. NC Wesleyan inning 2 Wooten singled to left field. Flythe flied out to rf. T Williams singled to left field; Wooten advanced to second. N West grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; T Williams out on the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Wheaton inning 3 Anthoine grounded out to 3b. R Castillo struck out swinging. Yaglian singled through the right side. Koocher grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. NC Wesleyan inning 3 Williford grounded out to 3b. Pecora grounded out to 3b. R Johnson struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Wheaton inning 4 Guillerault walked. Laplante out at first p to 2b, SAC, bunt; Guillerault advanced to second. O'Conner flied out to rf. Baumer grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. NC Wesleyan inning 4 M Smith grounded out to 2b. R Snyder flied out to cf. Wooten struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Wheaton inning 5 Leonard singled to right field. Anthoine out at first 1b to 2b, SAC, bunt; Leonard advanced to second. R Castillo flied out to cf. Yaglian singled to right field, RBI; Leonard scored. Koocher singled to right field; Yaglian advanced to second. Guillerault flied out to cf. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. NC Wesleyan inning 5 Flythe singled to center field. T Williams singled to third base; Flythe advanced to second. N West out at first p to 2b, SAC, bunt; T Williams advanced to second; Flythe advanced to third. Williford popped up to ss. Pecora flied out to rf. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Wheaton inning 6 Laplante flied out to rf. O'Conner doubled to right field. Baumer struck out swinging. Leonard out at first 1b to p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. NC Wesleyan inning 6 R Johnson grounded out to p. M Smith fouled out to 3b. R Snyder grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Wheaton inning 7 Anthoine struck out swinging. R Castillo flied out to rf. Yaglian singled to left field. Yaglian stole second. Koocher fouled out to 3b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. NC Wesleyan inning 7 Wooten struck out looking. Flythe hit by pitch. T Williams walked; Flythe advanced to second. N West struck out swinging. Williford lined out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Wheaton inning 8 Guillerault flied out to lf. Laplante grounded out to 3b. O'Conner lined out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. NC Wesleyan inning 8 Pecora flied out to lf. R Johnson walked. M Smith singled to left field; R Johnson advanced to second. M Smith advanced to second; R Johnson out at third p to ss to 3b, picked off. R Snyder grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Wheaton inning 9 Baumer singled to center field. Leonard out at first p to 2b, SAC, bunt; Baumer advanced to second. Anthoine hit by pitch. K Olson pinch ran for Baumer. R Castillo struck out looking. Yaglian struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. NC Wesleyan inning 9 J Baker to p for McDonough. Wooten grounded out to 3b. Flythe flied out to lf. T Williams singled to third base. J Webb pinch hit for N West. J Webb struck out looking. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Updated May 2006