NORD defeats Cleveland 7-4
August 12, 2011 - It took New Orleans seven innings to finally figure out Cleveland starter Jesse Coblentz, but they were able to put up 6 runs in the final 3 innings to stay alive in the tournament. Cleveland had the lead midway through the game, but could not overcome the strong NORD club in the end.
Pitchers Dual Through Three
The first five innings went by quickly for both teams. Chardon Blizzard starter Jesse Coblentz hit the first batter and walked the third, but had two strike outs and picked-off a runner at second base. New Orleans starter Craig Pellegrin--competing in his first game since suffering a shoulder injury--sent the Blizzard down in order with a grond-out and two strike outs.
"I just can't say enough about our starting pitcher," said New Orleans manager Bill Babin. "He's coming off an injury and that's his first start in a while, so he really did a good job."
In the second, another walk and hit-batsmen gave NORD two more base runners, but this time three ground outs kept them off the board. The Blizzard went down in order again. After a lead-off walk, Aaron Miller grounded into a double play and Anthony Tomasone popped up to the shortstop. Both teams left a runner on base in the third: New Orleans courtesy a walk to Logan Jones and Cleveland when Ryan Weed (1-for-12 coming into the game) singled for the first hit of the game.
New Orleans scores first
In the fourth, another hit batsmen got NORD a baserunner, and he moved to third when Danie Brockhoeft doubled off the wall. After recording an out at home on Sam Carriere's at-bat, the Boosters got on the board when Bryant Tassin reached first on an error.
The Blizard led off the fourth with a double from Jack LaMarca, but stranded him at second. NORD also stranded a runner at second in the fifth. Logan Jones had reached on a walk and stole second base. Jones ended the game with 3 walks and 2 singles in 5 at-bats.
Cleveland is given the lead
In the bottom of the fifth, Cleveland took the lead. Tomasone walked and stole second. He advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored as Jim Jaksa reached on an error. Phil Navatsky singled and LaMarca walked to load the bases, which ended the night for pitcher Pellegrin. Joshua Wood came in and walked the only batter he faced, giving Cleveland the lead 2-1. Veteran Joe Broussard then came in and struck out Kevin Bernay to end the inning with the bases loaded.
The Boosters wasted a lead-off walk in the sixth, as Coblentz continued his strong performance on the mound. The Blizzard added to their lead in their half of the inning, as Miller singled, Tomasone walked, Bryan Gregorich sacrificed them over, and Jim Jaksa's ground out scored Miller.
Boosters rally in the seventh
In the seventh, NORD led off with a single by Luke Voiron. Then with one out, Sean McMullen hammered a shot off the wall in deep right field and raced around the bases to score an inside-the-park home run with a great slide at the plate.
"He went hard all the way from out the box and he needed to," said Babin. "He made a great slide at the plate for the close safe call. He's another one of our veterans, so we count on those guys to lead the team and do those kinds of things."
Jones then singled, stole second, and reached third when the throw went into centerfield. Angelo Bruno was the next batter and hit a grounder to third baseman Gregorich who fired home to catcher Jaksa. While the throw was in time, Jaksa could not handle the throw, allowing Jones to score the go-ahead run. New Orleans failed to add more runs when Tomasone's throw from right field on Broussard's hit caught two runners at third base. Harold Toscano then grounded out to end the inning, as Cleveland kept the deficit to only one run.
"I think we worked and got ahead and then to lose all that, it slowed us down a little bit, but we were fighting as hard as we could," said Coblentz.
The Blizzard went down in order in both the seventh and eighth, as Broussard put up 3 more strike outs.
"I knew I had a good team behind me, I just wanted to throw strikes and give them a chance to play good defense," said Broussard.
In the top of the ninth, Logan and Bruno singled with one out for the Boosters (George Bliss pinch-ran for Bruno) and Broussard brought them both in with a triple to right centerfield. Cleveland manager Don Navatsyk decided to go to the bullpen and brought in right-hander Matt Murzynski. His first batter was Toscano, who singled over third base for another run. Toscano was caught stealing second and Cameron Hoffman grounded out to end the half-inning.
"[Coach Navatsyk] just wanted to throw me out there and go as long as I could, and I gave it as much as I could, it just didn't end up the way we wanted, but that's abseball," said Coblentz. He explained that his submarine pitching technique allows him to pitch longer in games and had already thrown several 100+ pitch games this summer.
"My kid threw a lot of pitches, but he's able to throw a lot of pitches," said Navatsyk. "I've seen him throw 150 pitches before and I've seen him throw 10 days in a row in Arizona. He told me he was fine, so I left him in there. I may have kept him in there one inning too long, but it's not because of the pitch count."
"That kid threw his heart out," said Broussard of Coblentz. "He kept us down the whole game and then Sean McMullen stepped up with a big hit and it lit a fire under us."
"What a gutsy performance by him. Their pitcher was just outstanding," said Babin of Coblentz. "I was telling our kids early in the game, I'm sure he's got to be on a pitch count, and our first baseman told me that they said he would throw as many pitches as it takes. That's what amateur baseball is all about: a gutsy performance like that, the kid trying to keep his team in the tournament. He did a great job."
Cleveland's comeback falls short
NORD brought in closer Cullen Babin for the ninth, but the Blizzard refused to go down quietly. Gregorich led off with a double to right field, and Jaksa walked. Ryan Weed put up a long, strong fight but was struck out. However, Phil Navatsyk was walked to load the bases with one out. Gregorich scored as LaMarca flew out to center, cutting the lead to three, but Andrew Frey flew out to right to end the game.
New Orleans advances, Cleveland eliminated
The loss eliminates Cleveland from the tournament after a successful 3-2 run. Coach Navatsyk and his team had praise for the tournament and high hopes for next season.
"The Old Timers have done a tremendous job," said Navatsyk. "There is no tournament like this in the country for this age group, or even for 22-and-under. The NABF World Series can't compare to this and it's because of the city and the people in the city. It's been a blessing for me to be here."
About his experience in the tournament, Coblentz said: "This is probably the nicest field I've ever played on and it's probably the nicest tournament I've ever been in. I think they did a great job."
"My guys are all 19 and we'll be back next year, only this time we'll be back with everybody," said Navatsyk.
For New Orleans, they will move on to play Baltimore tomorrow at 3:00pm at the Point Stadium. The Boosters must win two more games to claim the championship, either twice against Baltimore or once against both Baltimore and Livonia.
"We're good [with pitching]," said Babin. "We've got Bonvillain, who threw the no-hitter in the first game. He's fresh and he's throwing the next game for sure."