SALISBURY, MD – The York College baseball
team ran into a tough and talented Shenandoah squad Thursday
evening, falling 11-2 to the #2-seeded Hornets. The loss, which
ends the Spartans' stay in the winner's bracket, drops
York's record to 28-15 on the season.
Shenandoah jumped on the Green and White early, notching three
runs in the top of the first. Scott Lambert's single to right
center followed by Jesse Henry's walk put Hornets on first
and second with only one out. Greg Van Sickler, who hit the ball
well all night, doubled into left to plate both Lambert and Henry.
Following a Scot Van Dusseldorp ground out, which pushed Van
Sickler to third, Cory Nelson singled to right bringing home
Shenandoah's third run.
The majority of the Hornet's offensive output however came
in the third frame as Shenandoah scored seven runs. Sending 12
batters to the plate, the visitors put together five hits,
including three doubles while the Spartans' committed two
errors and walked a pair.
That third inning outburst gave Shenandoah a comfortably 10-0
lead and also chased Spartan starter Andy Rosenzweig (Glen
Rock, Pa./Susquehannock) after 2.1 innings. Kyle
Cook (Pylesville, Md./North Harford) came on to get the
final two outs of the frame.
Shenandoah would tack on one more in the fourth, a Nelson
two-bagger followed by a Jon Holcomb R.B.I. single into center, to
provide the Hornets with an 11-0 advantage.
That lead would prove more than enough for Hornet starter Josh
Simons. The senior right hander had a spectacular night registering
the complete game victory. Simons, who now moves to a flawless 5-0
on the year, scattered a mere four hits, while striking out ten and
only walking three.
Despite Simons' outstanding performance, York found an
offensive bright spot in the bottom of the sixth. Following a
Mike Connolly (Selden, N.Y./Newfield) two-out
walk, freshman Rob Andrews (East Northport,
N.Y./Commack) cranked a no-doubt two-run homer over the
left field fence. Andrews' first jack of his young Spartan
career gave York their two scores for the game.
The final three frames went by without a tick as Shenandoah
advanced in the winner's bracket.
York used a plethora of arms in the game as seven hurlers came
to the mound for the Green and White. Over the final six innings,
Tommy Moran (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip),
Jeff Benchich (Salt Point, N.Y./Millbrook),
Rob Harrington (Haddon Township, N.J./Haddon
Township), K.C. Beshore (New Cumberland, Pa./Red
Land), and Jake Hughes (Schwenksville,
Pa./Souderton) combined to only allowed one run on three
hits including no base knocks in the final three frames.
For the Hornets, Nelson was 3-for-4 with one R.B.I. and two runs
scored while Kevin Brashears notched a 2-for-6 night with three
runs batted in. Van Sickler finished the contest with a 2-for-5
performance with two runs driven-in and two runs scored.
Despite tonight's setback, the Spartans return action on
Friday as their 2009 NCAA Tournament South Regional continue. The
Green and White will take on Washington & Jefferson in an
elimination game at 1:15 from Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. Live Stats
will be available for the game at http://livestats.prestosports.com/salisbury/bsb/baseball.html.
BOX SCORE
Rob Andrews' photo courtesy of Scott
Guise
