Selects vs. Predators
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The Selects simply couldn't come through with the all-important timely hit on Tuesday night, stranding 13 runners en route to a 3-0 loss to the Predators.
Things started off promisingly enough, when Kevin Ryrie hit a leadoff single in the top of the first and Brad Cleasby followed with a walk. Predators pitcher Dan Shantz was able to escape the jam, however, inducing three consecutive groundouts. The Predators then went to work in the bottom half of the inning. Dan Gehl hit a one-out single and scored when Mark Kelly drove a liner to right that found its way to the fence. Dan Mullin followed with a hard-hit single to score Kelly and give the Predators a 2-0 lead, but the Selects escaped with a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.
The Predators extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third when Mullin stroked a two-out double and scored on a Travis Schmidt single. It would be more than enough. Despite having runners in scoring position in all seven innings, the Selects were unable to claw back. Cleasby (1-2, 2 BB), Ryrie (2-4, SB), Brent Furtney (2-4), and Dan Clark (1-2) all put together solid offensive outings in the loss.
Shayne Riepert allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings, while striking out six. Three pitchers - Shantz (one inning), Kelly (five innings), and Mullin (one inning) - combined for the shutout for the Predators. The Selects, now 5-2, are back in action Thursday night against the Jays (3-1-1). It will mark the first meeting between the teams since the Jays ended the Selects' 2012 season with two heartbreaking losses in the quarterfinals. Game time is 7:00.
MVP: Brad Cleasby, SS