Selects vs. Phillies
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Shayne Riepert notched a complete game, 10-strikeout performance and added a three-for-three night at the plate for good measure, leading the Selects to a much-needed 5-2 win over the Phillies on Thursday night. Despite allowing baserunners in all six innings, Riepert consistently made big pitches in key spots to help his team secure the victory.
The Phillies opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Brandon Viol hit a high fly ball into shallow right-centre that nobody could find, allowing him to hustle into second. J.J. Gallo followed with a sacrifice bunt that was thrown into right field, permitting Viol to score and leaving Gallo standing on second. It was an inauspicious beginning. But after a groundout moved Gallo to third, Riepert notched two timely strikeouts to escape the inning down just 1-0.
The Selects answered in the top of the second. After singles from Tim Coverdale, Mike Tyler, and Riepert loaded the bases with two outs, Coverdale took home on a passed ball and Brad Dowling reached on an error to load them again. Kevin Ryrie then delivered a clutch double to score Tyler and Riepert, giving the Selects a 3-1 lead. The Phillies shaved it to 3-2 in the bottom half of the inning - courtesy of singles from James Gallo, Scott MacDonald, and Viol - but they would get no closer. The Selects added insurance runs in the third and fifth innings, and Riepert did the rest.
Riepert (3-3, run), Coverdale (2-3, 3B, run, RBI), and Tyler (2-3, run, RBI) paced the offense, as the Selects improved to 8-7 with four games remaining. Their next test comes Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the Thunder (3-10).
MVP: Shayne Riepert, P