By JAMES PETERS For The Capital
Published 07/25/09
COLLEGE PARK - To qualify for this weekend's Maryland State American Legion tournament, Pasadena Post 277 outslugged Mayo Post 226 in a game that saw 35 baserunners cross the plate.
But in its first state tournament game yesterday at the University of Maryland's Shipley Field, Post 277, winners of seven straight Anne Arundel District crowns, simply got slugged over and over again. Pasadena's bats fell nearly silent and is pitchers surrendered 14 hits and 12 walks in a 26-5 loss to Mt. Airy Post 191.
Pasadena (14-10) will resume play at 9 a.m. today against LaPlata Post 82, an 8-0 loser to Wicomico Post 64 in the tournament's first game yesterday. Post 277 must win to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament. Kyle Bush (2-3, 4.50 ERA) will start on the mound for the Saints.
"Definitely, pitching's hurting us," said Post 277 manager Joe Wright, whose team is missing its top two starters - John Hodges (4-0, 1.52 ERA) and Dylan Porter (4-2, 5.50 ERA) - because of injury. "We knew it would be an issue. A lot of starting pitchers are worn out. Injuries are definitely hurting us and definitely, with the legion schedule going up so late to get our district champion squared away … hurt us. All we can do it come out and play and keep chugging along. I've got a pretty good feeling about tomorrow. Maybe we can get one win out of this."
Mt. Airy (29-14) scored the game's first run in the top of the first on a double down the right-field line by Jake Ringold that brought home Larson Kimble. Kimble walked to start the contest after a seven-pitch at-bat.
Tim Coulbourn worked out of further trouble by inducing a groundout and recording a strikeout. Coulbourn, who had five home runs and 28 RBI during the regular season, then tied the score with a double to left-center to score Justin Robey,
Post 277 looked to take the lead in the second inning, but Bush was thrown out at the plate on a single by Robey. A perfect throw to the plate cut Bush down as he went into a slide.
Things got only worse for Pasadena in the top of the third as Mt. Airy used a couple of hits, a couple of bunts and an error to open up a 4-1 lead. John Mahaffey started the rally with a single and moved along on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Kimble. Smoot fielded the ball cleanly at third but tried to throw to second base to get the lead runner. His attempt sailed into the outfield to put runners on the corners.
Brian Peuthus then bunted past Coulbourn, and Coulbourn failed to cover first as Mahaffey scored for a 2-1 advantage. Doug Anuszewski walked the bases loaded before Jason Driver belted a sacrifice fly to center field to push the lead to 3-1. Michael Virbibkis finished the inning with a single to left field to score Peuthus for a 4-1 cushion.
Post 191 continued its onslaught in the top of the fourth inning with six runs to chase Coulbourn (2-4). Mt. Airy got an RBI triple from Mahaffey, an RBI from Peuthus, a two-run single from Taylor Henry. Pasadena reliever Steve Smoot let in another run with a wild pitch.
The wheels completely came off in the fifth inning for Post 277, which was touched for 16 runs largely on a bases-clearing triple by Driver and a grand slam by Ringold. Post 191 batted around twice and then some in the inning against three Post 277 relievers.
"Our top pitchers are out," said Robey, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and a walk. "We're not too strong (on the mound). We went through five pitchers. Four of them pitched two innings all year. We just fell apart. There's not a whole lot we could do about it."
Pasadena scored its second run in the bottom of the sixth on a groundout by Josh Rickman and added three more in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI groundout by Smoot and a two-run single by Angelo Archie.
In other tournament action, Frederick Post 11 (31-2) crushed Cumberland Post 13, 34-3, in seven innings. Post 11 will play the winner of last night's first round finale between host Gaithersburg Post 295 (25-6) and Gaithersburg Post 104 (18-10).
