Madison Defeats

Madison Defeats Tallahassee Godby for First Win 8-4

The Madison Warhawks played the Tallahassee Godby Cougars of FL in their second game in the 2005 Orlando National Baseball Classic at McCracken Field next to the Citrus Bowl. The Warhawks were visitors again and faced Godby's pitcher Dale Evans. In the top of the first Rich Conlon grounded out and then Mark Riffee singled. Joe Canova singled and Riffee advanced to third base. Canova was caught leaning and was picked off for the second out and Evans struck out Josh Carter to end the inning with Riffee stranded on third. In the bottom of the first inning senior Chris Sterbenz took the mound for Madison. Lance Riverbank grounded out to Rich Conlon for the first out, and John Rickenbacker flied out to Joe Canova for the second out. Shawn Bezwiechin reached on an error with two outs and stole second base. Richie Beagles singled to score Bezwiechin and Godby led 1-0. Sterbenz hit Patrick Graham with a pitch to put runners on first and second and then Evans walked to load the bases. Chris Sterbenz pitched out of the jam by striking out Mink Baker to end the threat, only allowing the one unearned run.

In the top of the second Joey Hayes singled to start the inning. Ryan Mathews reached on an error with Hayes advancing to second base. The Cougars picked Hayes off of second base for the first out. Jason Farley stroked a single to left field that was misplayed by the left fielder scoring Mathews from first. Farley advanced all the way to third when the relay throw was also poor. The Warhawks had tied the game. Evans struck out Alex Andrews, walked Brian Eck with two outs and retired Rich Conlon to end the inning with men on first and third. The Game was tied 1-1. In the bottom of the second the sloppy play continued as Kevin Vasquez reached first on another Warhawks error. Blake Luenberger sacrificed Vasquez to second with Chris Sterbenz fielding the bunt and throwing to Jason Farley for the out. Vasquez advanced to third on an errant pick-off throw and scored on a bunt single as no one covered first base. Godby led again 2-1.Rickenbacker flied out to Josh Carter and Sterbenz struck out Bezwiechin to end the inning. After two innings, Madison trailed 2-1.

Mark Riffee was hit by a pitch to lead off the third and Joe Canova executed an excellent sacrifice bunt to move Riffee to second. Josh Carter stroked an RBI double to left field and Riffee raced home to tie the game with Carter standing on second. Joey Hayes grounded out to the right side to advance Carter to third with two outs. Evans hit Ryan Mathews with a pitch and the Warhawks had runners at the corner. Jason Farley hit his second RBI single of the game to score Carter and move Mathews to second. Madison led 3-2. Evans retired Alex Andrews to end the threat but the Warhawks had the lead. Chris Sterbenz retired the side in order in the bottom of the third, striking out Beagles, while Graham grounded out to Rich Conlon and Evans flied out to Joe Canova. Madison led 3-2 after three innings.

Evans retired the Warhawks in order in the top of the fourth striking out Brian Eck and Rich Conlon and then Eric Garner stroked a hard liner that the second baseman snatched to deny him a base hit. In the bottom of the fourth, Graham grounded out to Rich Conlon and then Chris Sterbenz struck out Vasquez for the second out. Luenberger singled for Godby and moved to second when Riverbank was hit with a pitch. Joe Canova ended the threat with a catch running in on a fly ball. Madison led 3-2 after 4 innings.

Joe Canova was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth. Josh Carter flied out to the shortstop and Sterling Sams grounded out with Canova moving to second. Ryan Mathews was hit by a pitch again (the fourth Madison hit batsman of the game and Mathew's second) to put runners at first and second. Evans ended the inning by getting Jason Farley to ground out. Mark Riffee took the hill in the bottom of the fifth to try to save the win. Bezwiechin singled for Godby but was immediately doubled off as Beagles hit a soft liner at Pat Powers who caught it and fired to Jason Farley to double off Bezwiechin for the second out. Graham singled and then Evans grounded to Pat Powers who threw to first and Farley gloved the wide throw and tagged Evans to end the inning. Madison led 3-2.

In the top of the sixth, David McIntyre reached second base on a two base error over-throw. Brian Smith then stroked a pinch-hit triple down the right field line to score McIntyre and Madison led 4-2. Smith scored on a passed ball to give the Warhawks a 5-2 lead. Kyle Hughes stepped up and hit a hard shot back at Evans who gloved it before it went through and threw to first for the first out. Mark Riffee then lined a shot up the middle that the shortstop snagged on a nice running catch to take another hit away. Joe Canova flied out for the third out but Madison led 5-2. In the bottom of the sixth, Mark Riffee retired Mink Baker by fielding a ball hit back to him for the first out. Vasquez walked but Riffee caught him off of first and then Vasquez scampered to second as the Warhawks did not throw to second. Luenberger grounded out to Pat Powers with Vasquez moving to third. Riverbank walked and then took second as the Warhawks chose not to throw him out on a very delayed steal. Both runners scored on a single by Rickenbacker who was awarded second on an interference call. Riffee ended the rally getting Bezwiechin to ground out to Powers. Madison led 5-4.

In the top of the seventh, Kevin Healy led off the inning with a single and moved to second on an excellent sacrifice bunt by Joey Hayes. Ryan Mathews hit a ball back to the pitcher and he threw out Healy who immediately broke for third. Mathews was on first on the fielder's choice. Jason Farley stroked his third single of the game moving Mathews to second. Alex Andrews loaded the bases reaching first on an error. Then Brian Eck drew a bases-loaded RBI walk to score Ryan Mathews with the insurance run. Madison led 6-4. Arman Moniri stroked a clutch pinch-hit 2RBI single to score Jason Farley and Alex Andrews and the Warhawks led 8-4. Evans retired Riffee to end the threat going into the bottom of the seventh. Mark Riffee recorded the save by retiring the side in order in the bottom of the seventh. Arman Moniri made a nice scoop at first on a ground ball throw out during the inning.

The Warhawks were pressing to get their first win and overcame early mistakes for the key first win. Chris Sterbenz recorded the win with four good innings allowing two runs on three hits with three strikeouts, one walk and two hit batsmen. Mark Riffee pitched the final three innings for the save. Jason Farley was the offensive leader going 3 for 4 with 2RBIs. Josh Carter had an RBI double, Brian Smith an RBI triple and Arman Moniri a 2 RBI single. Joe Canova, Joey Hayes and Kevin Healy also contributed singles to the attack. Madison plays the winner of Colonial FL and Monarch FL on Wednesday at Tinker Field in Orlando at 1PM.

"It was good to get that first win. It was a team win as we played 20 of 21 guys with everyone contributing in some way today," said Coach Mark Gjormand. "We held one player back, our starting pitcher for tomorrow, in case of injury so everyone had a role in the first win today. It reminds me of the first win in Charleston last year as we were pressing to get it (the first win) behind us and it feels good to get it. We overcame a lot of mistakes but I think this will help get us going with that winning attitude."

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