2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball Back on Winning Track
Eduardo Guerrero
Issue date: 4/7/04 Section: Sports
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After starting the season 4-4, the Jaspers endured an ugly nine game losing streak. That came to an end after the Jaspers salvaged the last game of a three game series against Niagara, 12-4. Sophomore Chris Cody picked up his first win of the season after pitching seven effective innings.
After losing the first two games of the series, it seemed as if the team would lose again after the top of the first inning. After two easy outs to start the game, Niagara shortstop Reed Eastley tripled down the right field line. He eventually scored on a wild pitch from Cody. Then, designated hitter Mike Alati was walked but he would commit a baseball cardinal sin by getting caught stealing to end the inning.
In the bottom of the second, the Jaspers began their rout. Shortstop Sam Deluca was walked and eventually scored on a single up the middle from DH Sly Gutierrez to tie the game at one apiece. Then, both Gutierrez and outfielder Gary Diaz both scored on third baseman Frank Cappello single to give the Jaspers a 3-1 lead.
The barrage continued in the bottom of the third inning. After singles from Matt Cucurullo and Deluca with a pop out by Chris Gaskin sandwiched in between, Niagara starter Matt Fuller was taken out for Jeff St. Denis. The tandem of Cucurullo and Deluca performed a double steal. Cucurullo would end up scoring on a ground out by Josh Greco to make it 4-1. Then, a wild pitch allowed Deluca to score to push the lead to 5-1.
In the top of the fifth inning, Niagara scored when a Tim Fitzgerald single scored Greg Lehman making it a game at 5-2. That feeling didn't last long. In the bottom of the sixth, Josh Greco and pinch runner Jonathan Holzer scored on Gutierrez's double, extending the lead to 7-2.
The Jaspers would add two more runs in the bottom of the seventh and three more in the bottom of the eighth. For whatever its worth, Niagara added two runs in the top of the ninth to end the game at 12-4. The only regular in the Jaspers lineup that didn't get a hit was Chris Gaskin. Greco and Gutierrez each ended with three RBI. Deluca scored four runs in the game.
Overshadowed in the romp was the performance from Chris Cody. Despite walking five batters, Cody gave up only two runs, one of them earned. He struck out six and gave up six hits. If the pitching staff can continue to put up performances like Cody's, the team might be able to turn their season around and make another run at the MAAC Tournament.
After losing the first two games of the series, it seemed as if the team would lose again after the top of the first inning. After two easy outs to start the game, Niagara shortstop Reed Eastley tripled down the right field line. He eventually scored on a wild pitch from Cody. Then, designated hitter Mike Alati was walked but he would commit a baseball cardinal sin by getting caught stealing to end the inning.
In the bottom of the second, the Jaspers began their rout. Shortstop Sam Deluca was walked and eventually scored on a single up the middle from DH Sly Gutierrez to tie the game at one apiece. Then, both Gutierrez and outfielder Gary Diaz both scored on third baseman Frank Cappello single to give the Jaspers a 3-1 lead.
The barrage continued in the bottom of the third inning. After singles from Matt Cucurullo and Deluca with a pop out by Chris Gaskin sandwiched in between, Niagara starter Matt Fuller was taken out for Jeff St. Denis. The tandem of Cucurullo and Deluca performed a double steal. Cucurullo would end up scoring on a ground out by Josh Greco to make it 4-1. Then, a wild pitch allowed Deluca to score to push the lead to 5-1.
In the top of the fifth inning, Niagara scored when a Tim Fitzgerald single scored Greg Lehman making it a game at 5-2. That feeling didn't last long. In the bottom of the sixth, Josh Greco and pinch runner Jonathan Holzer scored on Gutierrez's double, extending the lead to 7-2.
The Jaspers would add two more runs in the bottom of the seventh and three more in the bottom of the eighth. For whatever its worth, Niagara added two runs in the top of the ninth to end the game at 12-4. The only regular in the Jaspers lineup that didn't get a hit was Chris Gaskin. Greco and Gutierrez each ended with three RBI. Deluca scored four runs in the game.
Overshadowed in the romp was the performance from Chris Cody. Despite walking five batters, Cody gave up only two runs, one of them earned. He struck out six and gave up six hits. If the pitching staff can continue to put up performances like Cody's, the team might be able to turn their season around and make another run at the MAAC Tournament.