May 26, 2009

Spartanburg eliminates Tigers from JUCO World Series 10-7

Falling behind early in its game against Spartanburg Methodist College Tuesday at the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Co., the Cowley College baseball team fought hard but were unable to get over the hump in a 10-7 loss to the Pioneers. The loss eliminated the Tigers from the JUCO World Series, while Spartanburg moves on to face the loser of San Jacinto College-North vs. Santa Fe Community College.

Cowley rallied from deficits of 4-0 and 8-4 to trail by only one run on two occasions, but never could regain the lead.

“We just never could throw a zero up on the scoreboard to give ourselves a chance,” Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said. “The guys battled and I am proud of them for that. I guess any time you end your season here it has been a good season.”

For the third straight game, the Tigers’ starting pitcher was unable to make it out of the third inning as Zach Cargill was pulled from the game after walking the first two batters to start the bottom of the third. Cargill allowed four hits and five runs in two innings of work.

Chase Webb relieved Cargill on the mound and lasted only 1 1/3 innings as he was pulled after walking two batters and hitting a batter in the bottom of the fourth.

Trailing 4-0, Cowley began its comeback in the third inning as they got a two-run double from Caleb Bass and a run scoring triple by Colt Loehrs. After Spartanburg scratched across a run in the bottom of the third, Cowley got a run back as Ryan Hege hit a one out double and scored on a two-out infield single by Ronald Melendez.

However, Webb’s control issues led to three runs for Spartanburg in the fourth. Spartanburg scored three runs in the inning on only one hit as Tiger reliever Calvin Drinnen hit Travis Witherspoon with a pitch to force in a run and Steve Cochran followed with a high chopper that went over first baseman Ryan Hege’s head to plate two runs and increase the lead to 8-4.

Cowley pulled within 8-7 on a homer by Hege and a two-run shot by Ronald Melendez in the top of the sixth. The Tigers had a chance to tie the game later in the inning as Chance Ross walked and advanced to third with two outs before Colt Loehrs grounded out to end the inning.

Spartanburg starting pitcher Marty Gantt lasted five innings on the mound and allowed 11 hits and six runs, three of which were earned. Gantt struck out seven and walked none as Pioneer pitchers combined to strike out 13 Tigers.

The Pioneers added an unearned run in the seventh off Drinnen and another unearned run in the eighth off Tyler Rosenthal to lead 10-7.

Cowley out-hit Spartanburg 13-9 but stranded 10 runners on base for the second consecutive game. Melendez went 4-for-5 with a home run and three runs batted in, while Caleb Bass, Hege, and Loehrs had two hits apiece. Andy Petz and B.J. Misialek had rough days at the plate as they combined to go 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts.

The Tigers finish the season with a record of 48-15. Cowley won 21 of its last 26 games as they made tremendous progress throughout the season. The Tigers will now look to build on their World Series appearance as they set their sights on next season.

“From where we started to where we are now is unbelievable,” Burroughs said. “We have a lot of good players coming back they are just going to need to put in the work in the fall.”