Bulldog World Series Ends Fall Practice Season
October 18, 2010

Game 1: Team Cox 6 Team Urquhart 1
Team Cox hitters jumped on ace Kyle Swannack early with two runs on four hits to set the tone as Team Cox cruised to a 6-1 win. Nick Smith got things going with a single and was eventually driven in with a sacrifice fly by Dan Schmidt. Smith also hit a two-run blast over the scoreboard in the fourth. Jake Collier, who has given a verbal commitment to pitch next year at the University of Hawaii, broke out his old bat from his hitting days and contributed two hits, including a home run of his own, a solo shot off reliever Matt Cooper in the fifth. After a rough first inning, Collier settled down on the mound to earn the win. Scott Kuzminsky entered and faced the minimum nine batters in three innings of dominating relief work.

Game 2: Team Urquhart 3 Team Cox 1
Team Urquhart took advantage of nine walks by Team Cox pitching to even the series at 1-1. Team Urquhart chipped away putting up single runs in the first, third, and fifth innings on only three hits. The three runs were all starter Adrian Sampson needed as he faced one batter over the minimum for the win. Sampson allowed only one hit, a double to Tyler Baumgartner, and walked none in his victory. Reliever Casey Bohlmann settled down after giving up a run in his first inning of relief before retiring his final six hitters for the save.

Game 3: Team Urquhart 7 Team Cox 6
After surrendering a lead with a four-run 5th inning, Team Urquhart rallied back in miracle fashion in the bottom of the final inning, scoring four runs on five walks to win the series. With bullpen pitching faltering on both sides, Team Urquhart's Colin Hering looped a sacrifice fly deep enough to score John Wall for the win. After a brilliant relief effort in game one, Scott Kuzminsky struggled the second time around, giving up two quick runs in his first inning of work before appearing to settle down in the fifth. With a save opportunity on the line, Kuzminsky labored with control issues walking the first two hitters before yielding a single to Marc Dickerson. With the bases loaded and no outs, Team Cox elected to bring in reliever Frank Tassara, a left-handed pitcher, to face the bottom of the order left-handed hitters John Wall and Casey Bohlmann. The plan backfired as a wild pitch scored one run before two consecutive walks. Zach Aaker was then summoned to the mound; his first pitching appearance in two years. The sidearmer got two outs, but unfortunately were in the air and not on the ground, as two sacrifice flys won it for Team Urquhart. Adrian Sampson was credited with the win in a game where all relievers struggled for both teams. Tyler Manke threw three innings of no-hit ball in a no-decision.

In the losing cause, six of the seven hits for Team Cox were doubles off Team Urquhart pitching. Team Cox appeared to be on their way to victory after Sampson entered and promptly gave up back-to-back doubles to Dan Schmidt and Tyler Baumgartner and a single by Zach Aaker. Emmett Niland executed a suicide squeeze bunt earlier in the inning to give Team Cox their first run in the four-run 5th before the disastrous final inning gave Team Urquhart the win and series title. "With the series being so close between the two squads in all aspects of the game, it's a good indication of how evenly balanced our squad is," says Coach Mark Yoshino. "We'll mostly likely have a re-match in late February to prepare for our season opener. It'll be one last chance for our guys to show their true colors when the game's on the line."