Apaches News
Sun, May 20, 2007 - [Baseball]
Joe Buie, Staff Writer, Tyler Morning Telegraph
When Tyler Junior College sophomore Michael Wilson takes the mound, it’s just another day in paradise.
Wilson tossed his third consecutive shutout as the Apaches opened the NJCAA Division III World Series on Saturday with an 8-0 win over Suffolk County (N.Y.) Community College-Grant at Mike Carter Field.
Wilson tossed his third consecutive shutout as the Apaches opened the NJCAA Division III World Series on Saturday with an 8-0 win over Suffolk County (N.Y.) Community College-Grant at Mike Carter Field.
Close to 1,000 fans showed up to watch top-ranked TJC (43-11) make its national tournament debut, and they didn’t leave disappointed.
The Apaches delighted the big crowd by scoring seven runs in the third inning — all with two outs — and sending Wilson (13-1) to his fifth consecutive victory.
The 6-6, 255-pound right-hander lowered his ERA to 1.26 after pitching a seven-inning complete game. He struck out five, did not walk a batter, and allowed four hits as the Apaches advanced to the second round against Massasoit (Mass.) Community College at 4 p.m. Sunday.
“I was a little bit more nervous out there,” Wilson said of the big stage. “I’ve been talking to my dad all week and he said, "It’s just another ballgame. You’ve been playing it since you were 5 and you’ve had a few big games in your lifetime."
“I just went out there and threw the ball like I’ve been doing all year long and it paid off. Starting out, I felt like I was popping (the fastball) real hard, and the slider was looking real nasty. It was breaking real hard and moving everywhere. I felt like I could have went all nine.”
Instead, the game ended two innings early under the NJCAA’s eight-run rule after seven.
“Michael has really blossomed into such a great pitcher for us,” said TJC head coach Jon Groth. “He just pounds the zone and, defensively, he’s got confidence that those kids are going to make plays and they did.”
The key for the TJC offense was getting a second look at Suffolk starter Tom Gudzik (2-3), who pitched a complete-game gem in the Longhorns’ regional playoff opener.
Gudzik struck out four of the first eight batters he faced and then got two outs to open the third before the Apaches unleashed a fury of five consecutive hits.
“By design, we want to work the count and we want to force a guy to show us what he’s going to do,” Groth said. “The second time through (the order), we were able to make things happen.”
Davis Page and Clint Stroud began the onslaught with a pair of two-strike singles, but designated hitter Jordan Rutenbar took a different approach.
Rutenbar, a sophomore designated hitter, jumped on the first pitch from Gudzik — a changeup that hung — and tattooed a three-run homer that hit off a tree high above the 370-foot sign in center field. The clout gave the Apaches a 3-0 lead.
It was Rutenbar’s first home run since March 30, and his sixth overall.
“Jordan has been a big part of this team for two years,” Groth said. “That was a huge hit for us — it was a big lift for the dugout and got the fans into the game. I think we relaxed a little bit after that.”
Brock Lemire, who came into the game batting .439, continued the hit parade with a legged-out double. Kevin Els then ripped an RBI single up the middle to make it 4-0 before Bud Kidder’s walk and Kyle Harrison’s two-run triple off a first-pitch fastball.
Harrison scored the seventh run on a wild pitch.
Suffolk lefthander Anthony Quatrano came on in relief to open the fourth and kept the TJC bats relatively quiet for the rest of the game.
“They didn’t necessarily wear (Gudzik) down, they just saw everything he’s got and jumped on him,” said Suffolk head coach Bobby Molinaro, whose team had won 10 games in a row. “He hung a couple of changeups and that’s what the kid hit for a home run.”
The Longhorns were hitless until Mike Amendola hit a clean single to center with one out in the fourth. An infield single by Corey Itts put runners at the corners with two outs, but TJC shortstop Jose Molina made a nice stop of a Scott Sadowski grounder and fired to second for a force out.
Wilson retired the side in order in the fifth and sixth before the Longhorns threatened to extend the game in the seventh with a couple of hits. However, Andy Lorch hit a high fly to the second baseman and Joe Manzella grounded out to end the game.
“Wilson got ahead (in the count) and when you get ahead as a pitcher, you’re going to dominate,” Molinaro said. “That’s when you get the guys guessing.”
Smoke Signals: Although Molinaro was impressed with Wilson, the coach said he was blown away by Lemire, who went 2-for-3 at the plate and also made three good plays at third base. “I haven’t seen a third baseman like him in the five years I’ve been coaching,” Molinaro said. … The Longhorns will play Herkimer County (N.Y.) Community College at 9 a.m. Sunday in an elimination game. Herkimer lost to Massasoit, 10-9. Suffolk will start its ace, Mike Kitt (5-1). Kitt, who normally starts at shortstop and bats leadoff, was being saved for either the championship game or after the team’s first loss. Molinaro said Gudzik is the team’s No. 3 starter. …
Groth and TJC athletic director Dr. Tim Drain were beaming over the turnout Saturday. “We’ve had pretty good crowds out here, but nothing like this,” Groth said. “This is the biggest crowd ever since I’ve been here in 15 years. And we want more (Sunday). The band wagon is big enough for everyone in East Texas. This place holds 4,000 people, so come on out.”
A tournament pass is $25 (adults only). Individual session passes cost $5 for adults, $3 for students with ID, and $2 for children 9-14. There is no charge for kids 8 & under, or for any Little Leaguer in uniform.
No. 1 Tyler 8, Suffolk (N.Y.) 0
Tyler 007 010 0 — 8 8 1
Suffolk 000 000 0 — 0 4 2
Michael Wilson and Kevin Els; Tom Gudzik, Anthony Quatrano (4) and Mike Amendola. W - Wilson (13-1); L - Gudzik (2-3). 2B — TJC: Brock Lemire; 3B — TJC: Kyle Harrison; HR — TJC: Jordan Rutenbar (two on, third inning); SF — TJC: Bud Kidder.
RECORDS — Tyler, 43-11; Suffolk Grant, 27-10.
NEXT UP — Suffolk vs. Herkimer (N.Y.), 9 a.m. Sunday (elimination game); Tyler vs. Massasoit (Mass.), 4 p.m. Sunday.
EST. ATT. — 900.
The Apaches delighted the big crowd by scoring seven runs in the third inning — all with two outs — and sending Wilson (13-1) to his fifth consecutive victory.
The 6-6, 255-pound right-hander lowered his ERA to 1.26 after pitching a seven-inning complete game. He struck out five, did not walk a batter, and allowed four hits as the Apaches advanced to the second round against Massasoit (Mass.) Community College at 4 p.m. Sunday.
“I was a little bit more nervous out there,” Wilson said of the big stage. “I’ve been talking to my dad all week and he said, "It’s just another ballgame. You’ve been playing it since you were 5 and you’ve had a few big games in your lifetime."
“I just went out there and threw the ball like I’ve been doing all year long and it paid off. Starting out, I felt like I was popping (the fastball) real hard, and the slider was looking real nasty. It was breaking real hard and moving everywhere. I felt like I could have went all nine.”
Instead, the game ended two innings early under the NJCAA’s eight-run rule after seven.
“Michael has really blossomed into such a great pitcher for us,” said TJC head coach Jon Groth. “He just pounds the zone and, defensively, he’s got confidence that those kids are going to make plays and they did.”
The key for the TJC offense was getting a second look at Suffolk starter Tom Gudzik (2-3), who pitched a complete-game gem in the Longhorns’ regional playoff opener.
Gudzik struck out four of the first eight batters he faced and then got two outs to open the third before the Apaches unleashed a fury of five consecutive hits.
“By design, we want to work the count and we want to force a guy to show us what he’s going to do,” Groth said. “The second time through (the order), we were able to make things happen.”
Davis Page and Clint Stroud began the onslaught with a pair of two-strike singles, but designated hitter Jordan Rutenbar took a different approach.
Rutenbar, a sophomore designated hitter, jumped on the first pitch from Gudzik — a changeup that hung — and tattooed a three-run homer that hit off a tree high above the 370-foot sign in center field. The clout gave the Apaches a 3-0 lead.
It was Rutenbar’s first home run since March 30, and his sixth overall.
“Jordan has been a big part of this team for two years,” Groth said. “That was a huge hit for us — it was a big lift for the dugout and got the fans into the game. I think we relaxed a little bit after that.”
Brock Lemire, who came into the game batting .439, continued the hit parade with a legged-out double. Kevin Els then ripped an RBI single up the middle to make it 4-0 before Bud Kidder’s walk and Kyle Harrison’s two-run triple off a first-pitch fastball.
Harrison scored the seventh run on a wild pitch.
Suffolk lefthander Anthony Quatrano came on in relief to open the fourth and kept the TJC bats relatively quiet for the rest of the game.
“They didn’t necessarily wear (Gudzik) down, they just saw everything he’s got and jumped on him,” said Suffolk head coach Bobby Molinaro, whose team had won 10 games in a row. “He hung a couple of changeups and that’s what the kid hit for a home run.”
The Longhorns were hitless until Mike Amendola hit a clean single to center with one out in the fourth. An infield single by Corey Itts put runners at the corners with two outs, but TJC shortstop Jose Molina made a nice stop of a Scott Sadowski grounder and fired to second for a force out.
Wilson retired the side in order in the fifth and sixth before the Longhorns threatened to extend the game in the seventh with a couple of hits. However, Andy Lorch hit a high fly to the second baseman and Joe Manzella grounded out to end the game.
“Wilson got ahead (in the count) and when you get ahead as a pitcher, you’re going to dominate,” Molinaro said. “That’s when you get the guys guessing.”
Smoke Signals: Although Molinaro was impressed with Wilson, the coach said he was blown away by Lemire, who went 2-for-3 at the plate and also made three good plays at third base. “I haven’t seen a third baseman like him in the five years I’ve been coaching,” Molinaro said. … The Longhorns will play Herkimer County (N.Y.) Community College at 9 a.m. Sunday in an elimination game. Herkimer lost to Massasoit, 10-9. Suffolk will start its ace, Mike Kitt (5-1). Kitt, who normally starts at shortstop and bats leadoff, was being saved for either the championship game or after the team’s first loss. Molinaro said Gudzik is the team’s No. 3 starter. …
Groth and TJC athletic director Dr. Tim Drain were beaming over the turnout Saturday. “We’ve had pretty good crowds out here, but nothing like this,” Groth said. “This is the biggest crowd ever since I’ve been here in 15 years. And we want more (Sunday). The band wagon is big enough for everyone in East Texas. This place holds 4,000 people, so come on out.”
A tournament pass is $25 (adults only). Individual session passes cost $5 for adults, $3 for students with ID, and $2 for children 9-14. There is no charge for kids 8 & under, or for any Little Leaguer in uniform.
No. 1 Tyler 8, Suffolk (N.Y.) 0
Tyler 007 010 0 — 8 8 1
Suffolk 000 000 0 — 0 4 2
Michael Wilson and Kevin Els; Tom Gudzik, Anthony Quatrano (4) and Mike Amendola. W - Wilson (13-1); L - Gudzik (2-3). 2B — TJC: Brock Lemire; 3B — TJC: Kyle Harrison; HR — TJC: Jordan Rutenbar (two on, third inning); SF — TJC: Bud Kidder.
RECORDS — Tyler, 43-11; Suffolk Grant, 27-10.
NEXT UP — Suffolk vs. Herkimer (N.Y.), 9 a.m. Sunday (elimination game); Tyler vs. Massasoit (Mass.), 4 p.m. Sunday.
EST. ATT. — 900.
Original Link to Article: http://www.tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070520/SPORTS/70519015
