Pittsfield Dukes defeat
US Baseball National Team 5-2
By: Michael Radomski
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (Tuesday,
June 17, 2008) - The Pittsfield Dukes defeated the U.S. Baseball
National Team 5-2 at Wahconah Park on Tuesday afternoon.
The two teams were scheduled to play Monday night but the contest
was postponed due to inclement weather.
Team USA held the early lead when Blake Smith (California) hit an
RBI single, scoring Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton) to take
the 1-0 lead off Dukes starter Louie Bernardini.
USA starter Bryan Morgado (Tennessee) held the Dukes scoreless in
the first inning but really struggled in the second against
Pittsfield.
Jayson Langfels (Eastern Kentucky) reached on an error by third
baseman Derek Dietrich (Georgia Tech), and Morgado hit the next
batter Jake Rosenbeck (Buffalo). With two on and no one out, J.T.
Musso (BYU) dropped down a bunt but Morgado bobbled it for an
infield single. With the bases loaded, Perry Silverman (Canisius)
drilled a two-run double off of the left-center field wall to give
Pittsfield the 2-1 lead.
Craig Hertler (San Jose State) then followed with an RBI infield
single, and Tyler Stampone (William & Mary) would complete the 4-run
inning with an RBI groundout.
With the 4-1 lead, the Dukes gave other members of the staff an
opportunity to face the toughest collegiate hitters in the country.
The Dukes bullpen would hold the difference as 5 Pittsfield pitchers
would hold the US National Team to just one run on three hits over
the final 7 innings.
The U.S. National team would add a run in the top of the sixth
inning on a Blake Smith RBI single to left but he was thrown out
trying to leg it into a double.
More fine defense was seen by Kentrail Davis (Tennessee) when he
made a diving catch in left field in the 5th inning on Chris
Edmondson (Le Moyne). Davis hustled towards the line and dove
parallel to the grass for the grab right by the line.
The U.S. National team will now travel down to Torrington, CT to
play the Torrington Twisters of the NECBL at 7 PM.
The Pittsfield Dukes will now host the North Adams SteepleCats
tomorrow in the second of six games in the Battle of the Berkshires.
The game will take place Wednesday night at Wahconah Park at 7 PM.
Wednesday night will also be Pittsfield History of Baseball night at
Wahconah Park. The Dukes players will be wearing 1791 hats in honor
of the first written notice of baseball in America.
Amherst College vs. Williams college baseball hats will also be sold
commemorating the first ever collegiate baseball, played right here
in Pittsfield.
Tickets are still available by calling 413 447 3853 or by stopping
by the Dukes box office at 105 Wahconah Street.
