Portage rallied for three unearned runs in 3-2 win over Crown Point in DAC opener

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

4-14-2004

Team (Record) / Inning	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E	LOB
Portage (3-3, 1-0)	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	6	2	8
CROWN POINT (4-2, 0-1)	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	6	5	11

4-13-2004 - 43 degrees, sunny in Crown Point

WP - Jon Rush (2-1) CG No. 2, 6K, 6 walks
LP - Mike Schultz (1-1) CG No. 2, 3K, 2 walks

Milton Rivera (P) 2 singles
Jon Rush (P) Triple, double, walk
Chris Murray (P) Single, RBI
Jake Pierce (CP) Triple, 2 walks
Matt Long (CP) Single, stolen base
Adam Quinn (CP) Single, RBI
Nick Bodinet (CP) Single, 2 walks

CROWN POINT (4-13-2004) - The first five dates of the season were all fairly positive days for Crown Point, even the 5-4 loss at undefeated Kankakee Valley last Saturday. The same can't be said for Tuesday's Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) opener against Portage.

Leading most of the game and in position to break it open at any time, Crown Point just didn't get anything done, giving up three unearned runs in a 3-2 loss that put the Bulldogs in the hole in the DAC race right off the bat.
The Bulldogs committed six errors, left 11 runners on base and had tying run Dave Dickerson slip and fall as he rounded third base with two out in the seventh inning.

"It was a pretty terrible day all the way around," said Bulldog coach Steve Strayer, who noted that an irrigation problem started the day with a lot of extra pre-game work on the field. "We may have taken a lot of things for granted. I guess this is what it takes, losing. I don't know what happened to David. I haven't asked him yet. But we left so many men on base and made so many errors that that play should not have mattered."

"This was a great day for us," said Portage coach Reid Amones. "We never gave up."

Portage led 1-0 after CP third baseman Doug Ricard fumbled a leadoff ground ball and threw it away for a double error. Jon Rush's RBI-triple off Mike Schultz (1-1) made it 1-0 on a 43-degree day with 20-MPH north winds.

CP tied the game in the bottom of the first. Jake Pierce walked and Matt long singled before junior Adam Quinn tied the game with a two-out RBI single. CP took the lead in the bottom of the third when Pierce triple to right center. Two outs later, Jimmy Wilson's RBI single made it 2-1.

Rush walked the bases full with one out in the fourth inning but he recovered to strikeout Pierce on a 1-2 pitch and retire Long on a flyball to left field.

In the top of the sixth, Portage benefited from CP errors. Rivera, probably the top outfielder in the DAC, singled with one out. CP's first baseman Quinn fumbled Rush's ground ball for one error and, with runners at first and second Schultz fielded an easy ground ball back to the mound. The tall pitcher threw to shortstop Matt Long to begin a double play at second, but Long missed a very catchable throw, allowing Rivera to score. On a 1-2 pitch to Zach Bryan, Rush and Shane Dixon pulled off a double steal. Zach Bryan walked on a 3-2 pitch to fill the bases. Chris Murray then sliced a 2-2 pitch into right field for the go-ahead run.

Crown Point loaded the bases in the sixth and could not score. In the seventh inning, CP had the tying run at second base with two out and got a line drive single to left field from senior catcher Nick Bodinet. But, as Portage left fielder Zach Potts fumbled the ball, runner Dave Dickerson slipped and fell on the cold grass as he was rounding third base. All he could do was go back to third base. Rush then came on strong and struck out CP sophomore Tommy Wise on four pitches.

The game was a triumph of perseverance for Rush (2-2), Portage's senior left-hander who allowed 17 base-runners but only allowed six hits. He threw 106 pitches, but gave up only two runs.

"Jon has been pitching since he was a freshman for me," said Reid Amones. "And he's pitched well all year. He lost 3-0 to Munster and only two of the runs were earned. It helps to have a senior on the mound."

"Jon talked about the guy falling down rounding third base. That's the first big break we've had all year. Take it for what its worth. Sometimes we get a break, too."

Strayer didn't have high marks for anybody after this one. Schultz, the 6-3 senior pitcher, pitched his second consecutive complete game and did not allow an earned run. But Strayer didn't like some pitch locations when his senior pitcher was ahead in the count.

"If it's 0-2 or 1-2, with few exceptions, if the pitch is in the strike zone," said Strayer, "that's not really where you want it. That's got to be low and outside. That's a mistake. I was disappointed in our discipline Saturday. Matt Jansen and Tommy Wise were decent Saturday. Our pitching staff was OK. We're going to have to get a lot better."

BULLDOG NOTES: If you have one of the CPHS pocket schedules, let's just say its not going to help you for baseball anymore. Crown Point hosts Lafayette power Jefferson at 7 p.m. on May 14 and they'll travel to Terre Haute to face two teams on May 22. Drop the May dates with Munster and Highland. That pushes the CPHS game total to 28, with 24 games and two tournaments. I believe there is room for another game if CP wishes to schedule it.

The Friday, May 7 home game with 4A No. 1 LaPorte has not yet been switched to a night game. "There's still the problem of what to do with the JV game," said CP athletic director Jerry Caravana. "They don't want to send two buses. But the varsity still wants to play that game at night."

The Bulldogs head for the Steel Yard in Gary to play Michigan City at 5 p.m. Wednesday (April 23) on the home field of the Gary South Shore RailCats. Tickets are $3 and are still on sale at the CPHS athletic department. The game will be aired on WEFM (95.9) FM. Fans should be forewarned that whatever temperature is in Crown Point, it is significantly colder at the big ballpark on 5th Avenue just west of Broadway. Fans are consistently surprised at how cold it is in the spring at the new ballpark.

2004 CROWN POINT (4-2, 0-1)
Coach Steve Strayer 23-10-1 in 2003
all games at 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise indicated

4-3 (W) 35-0 (5) at Hammond (1-4)
4-4 (W) 4-3 Gavit (4-2)
4-6 (W) 4-2 Highland (3-1)

Kankakee Valley Invitational
4-10 (W) 13-1 Knox (1-6)
4-10 (L) 4-5 Kankakee Valley (8-0) title
4-13 (L) 2-3 PORTAGE (3-3)

4-14 (W) at Hebron
4-15 (Th) at VALPARAISO (2-2)
4-17 (S) at Griffith (7-0)
4-19 (M) at LaPORTE (5-0)
4-21 (M) CHESTERTON (5-1)
4-23 (W) MICHIGAN CITY (0-6) 5 p.m.
at RailCats Stadium - Gary - WEFM (95.9) FM
4-26 (M) Rensselaer (2-3)
4-27 (Tu) LAKE CENTRAL (6-1)
4-29 (Th) at MERRILLVILLE (4-3)

5-3 (M) at PORTAGE (3-3)
5-5 (W) VALPARAISO (2-2)
5-7 (F) LaPORTE (5-0) 4:30 or 7 p.m.
5-11 (Tu) CHESTERTON (5-1)
5-13 (Th) at MICHIGAN CITY (0-6)
5-14 (F) (Lafayette) Jefferson (3-2) 7 p.m.
5-18 (Tu) at LAKE CENTRAL (6-1)
5-20 (Th) MERRILLVILLE (4-3)

Terre Haute North Invitational
5-22 (S) Castle
5-22 (S) Terre Haute North

5-25 (Tu) at Lowell (3-4)
5-27 (Th) at Clark (7-0)
5-29 (S) Washington Township (3-3) 11 a.m.

MERRILLVILLE 4A Sectional
5-31-4 (M) quarterfinal
6-2-4 (W) semifinals
6-4-4 (F) Championship

4A Regional
6-8-4 (Tu) one game

Lafayette 4A Semi-State
6-12-4 (S) semifinals
6-12-4 (S) championship

4A State Championship (at Victory Field - Indianapolis)
6-19-4 (S) 7 p.m.