Pasadena eliminated in legion tournament

By JAMES PETERS For The Capital Published 07/26/09

Post 277 battered by LaPlata, 10-0

COLLEGE PARK - Pasadena Post 277's stay at this weekend's Maryland State American Legion baseball tournament was both short and painful.

Playing with a shortened and weary pitching staff because of injuries and a late rush of regular season games, Post 277 (17-11) fell 26-5 in seven innings to Mount Airy Post 191 Friday and followed with a 10-0 loss in seven innings to LaPlata Post 82 (25-6) yesterday morning at the University of Maryland's Shipley Field, bouncing it from the eight-team, double-elimination tournament.

Unlike Friday's contest, Post 277 trailed just 4-0 through five innings but a three-run explosion, sparked by a two-run home run by Mark Anderson gave LaPlata a commanding 7-0 lead. That proved to be far more than Pasadena could overcome as its bats were quieted by Post 82 starter Mike Bowden.

"The bats just didn't start up today," Pasadena manager Joe Wright said. "No idea why. As John Madden says, 'Don't score, don't win.' It's hard. We were a little flat today offensively."
Bowden (4-1), who went the distance, was one the main reason why the Saints were held to just three hits as he struck out seven and faced the minimum three batters in four innings of his seven innings, including the seventh.

"He threw the ball hard," said Robey, who finished the tournament with three hits, two runs and two walks in six official at-bats in his final legion season. "We just couldn't catch up with it. We haven't seen pitching that fast all year. It was upper 80s."

Post 82 struck first in the top of the inning, scoring a run on an infield hit by Austin Barefoot with the bases loaded. Steve Smoot fielded the ball cleanly at shortstop but he had to range deep in the hole to make the stop.

LaPlata added three more in the third inning on a three-run home run over the right field fence by the lefty swinging J.B. Sapienza on a one-ball, two-strike pitch from Robey. Kyle Beckett singled and Mark Anderson walked to set up Sapienza's three-run shot.

Robey, who pitched four innings during the regular season, settled down and worked three straight outs in the third and kept LaPlata scoreless until the sixth inning when Beckett laced a single to left field to bring home Brandon Thomas for a 5-0 lead. Anderson followed with his two-run home run over the center field fence for a 7-0 advantage to chase Robey in favor of Kyle Bush.

Post 277 had a chance to get back into the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, loading the bases with none down but LaPlata shortstop Jordan McGraner caught a line drive by Steve Smoot and stepped on second for a double play. After Angelo Archie walked, Scott Arndt struck out to leave the bases full.

"That was huge," Bowden said. "He's been a shortstop for us for four years and he always makes plays like that. That was huge."

Post 82 tagged on three more runs in the seventh inning for the final 10-0 advantage. McGraner knocked in a run with a single, Beckett doubled in a run and McGraner scored on a double steal.