Then again...(playing devil's advocate) Coach West may decide that his team can hit any pitcher that Hickory throws at them and go after Great Bridge. But I will stick with my first assessment and say that Ali pitches against Hickory.
Maybe it depends on if Coach West believes that IR can still win the district. So will he use his ace to go after securing the playoff spot or chasing the title? I think you might be right ...playoffs first and title if they can.
Coach Lee might owe Coach Gedro lunch after this.
Coach Lee might owe Coach Gedro lunch after this.
It also may depend on how Ali feels come say... monday. anyone know his pitch count from thursday?
since teams usually play twice a week, its safe to assume that Ali is used to throwing once a week, if he threw alot of pitches thursday, he might not be ready to throw again after comfortably after 4 days.
wwho else would they throw if they dont pitch Ali? Ali is the only name i've ever heard/ seen from IR. I caught the end of their game against FC over spring break, but did not know who was throwing, was told it wasnt Ali
since teams usually play twice a week, its safe to assume that Ali is used to throwing once a week, if he threw alot of pitches thursday, he might not be ready to throw again after comfortably after 4 days.
wwho else would they throw if they dont pitch Ali? Ali is the only name i've ever heard/ seen from IR. I caught the end of their game against FC over spring break, but did not know who was throwing, was told it wasnt Ali
Western Branch 12 Hickory 4
WB ended its two-game slide with a hard-fought victory over Hickory in a game which was much closer than the final score indicates. Hickory scored first with a 2-run homerun by Brock Jaeger in the bottom of the second inning immediately after Evan McCloud's single. WB countered immediately in the top of the 3rd with 2 runs on rbi singles by Nick Thompson and Alex Hunt. WB scored 4 more runs in the top of the 5th on an rbi single by Kenny Cassidy, an rbi single by Tyler Manugo and a two-run double by Michael Donovan. Hickory responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th on an rbi double by Will Flora and a ground out by Brock Jaeger. The score at the end of 6 was 6-4 WB. WB scored 6 runs in the top of the 7th to break the game open, including a 2-run double by Brandon Doggett and a bases clearing double by Bobby Barefoot.
For WB, 5 players had multiple hits - Barefoot, Cassidy, Donovan, Hunt and Thompson. For Hickory, Will Flora was 3 for 4. Thompson got the win.
WB ended its two-game slide with a hard-fought victory over Hickory in a game which was much closer than the final score indicates. Hickory scored first with a 2-run homerun by Brock Jaeger in the bottom of the second inning immediately after Evan McCloud's single. WB countered immediately in the top of the 3rd with 2 runs on rbi singles by Nick Thompson and Alex Hunt. WB scored 4 more runs in the top of the 5th on an rbi single by Kenny Cassidy, an rbi single by Tyler Manugo and a two-run double by Michael Donovan. Hickory responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th on an rbi double by Will Flora and a ground out by Brock Jaeger. The score at the end of 6 was 6-4 WB. WB scored 6 runs in the top of the 7th to break the game open, including a 2-run double by Brandon Doggett and a bases clearing double by Bobby Barefoot.
For WB, 5 players had multiple hits - Barefoot, Cassidy, Donovan, Hunt and Thompson. For Hickory, Will Flora was 3 for 4. Thompson got the win.
Great Bridge 12, Oscar Smith 6
GB 12 OS 6
Who pitched for Oscar Smith?
Hate to say it but I only have Oscar Smith's jersey #'s. #2 pitched the first two innings; #17 pitched the next 3 innings; #12 & #8 pitched the 6th inning.
----------1--2--3--4--5--6--7---R--H--E
O. Smith--0--0--0--6--0--0--0---6--8--6
G. Bridge--2--3--0--0--4--3--X--12--8--3
WP: Van Assche ---- LP: Loudon ---- HR: Beard
For GB: Ryan Van Assche ('10) relieved Anthony Stokes ('10) with no outs in the 4th and struck out 3 over 3 innings of scoreless relief to secure the win. James Balser was 2-for-3 with 2 runs and Brian Beard ('12) had a pinch-hit 3-run homerun with 2 outs in the 6th to ice it.
Jones, Stokes - '10, Van Assche - '10, & Sutmiller pitched for GB.
For OS: Stephen Lorkiewicz ('12) and Caleb Ferrell ('12) were both 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Ferrell's 2-run double was followed by Troy Applin's ('11) 2-run single in the 6-run 4th as Smith fought back from a 5-0 deficit to take a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the 5th.
David Loudon ('13) allowed 1 earned run in 3 relief innings to keep the Tigers in it (but took the tough loss)... but the defense REALLY let Smith down tonight. All 6 errors were very costly... 5 of the 6 errors came in the 5th & 6th innings after the team had grabbed the lead. A dropped pop-up kept the 6th from being a 3-up-3-down & led to Beard's 3-run HR.
Kinsey - '10, Loudon - '13, McNeil - '12, & Bland - '11 pitched for Smith.
O. Smith--0--0--0--6--0--0--0---6--8--6
G. Bridge--2--3--0--0--4--3--X--12--8--3
WP: Van Assche ---- LP: Loudon ---- HR: Beard
For GB: Ryan Van Assche ('10) relieved Anthony Stokes ('10) with no outs in the 4th and struck out 3 over 3 innings of scoreless relief to secure the win. James Balser was 2-for-3 with 2 runs and Brian Beard ('12) had a pinch-hit 3-run homerun with 2 outs in the 6th to ice it.
Jones, Stokes - '10, Van Assche - '10, & Sutmiller pitched for GB.
For OS: Stephen Lorkiewicz ('12) and Caleb Ferrell ('12) were both 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Ferrell's 2-run double was followed by Troy Applin's ('11) 2-run single in the 6-run 4th as Smith fought back from a 5-0 deficit to take a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the 5th.
David Loudon ('13) allowed 1 earned run in 3 relief innings to keep the Tigers in it (but took the tough loss)... but the defense REALLY let Smith down tonight. All 6 errors were very costly... 5 of the 6 errors came in the 5th & 6th innings after the team had grabbed the lead. A dropped pop-up kept the 6th from being a 3-up-3-down & led to Beard's 3-run HR.
Kinsey - '10, Loudon - '13, McNeil - '12, & Bland - '11 pitched for Smith.
Hickory's playoff hopes now ride on next week. If IR beats them it's over for them. It's probably hard to do but they should be pulling hard for GB on Tuesday.