Making a statement By Darren Vaughan The Daily Times Article Launched: 08/02/2008 01:16:00 AM MDT
East Cobb (Ga.) Yankees' Jarrett Didrick (5) is... (Lucas Ian Coshenet/The Daily Times)«1»FARMINGTON — Friday's nightcap between the East Cobb (Ga.) Yankees and Midland (Ohio) Redskins at Ricketts Park was supposed to be an epic showdown in a rematch of the 2007 Connie Mack World Series championship game. Thanks to the pitching of Buck Farmer and clutch hitting by Jarrett Didrick, East Cobb made the contest rather anti-climactic. Farmer threw five dazzling innings of three-hit shutout ball and Didrick hit a third-inning grand slam to power the Yankees to a 9-3 win.
"Buck did a good job, and then we got the big hit from Dido,'" Yankees coach James Beavers said. "Once we got that big hit, it gave us some confidence and gave us some room to breathe a little bit."
Didrick struck the big blow with his team up 2-0 in the third. After Midland starter Walker Kelly loaded the bases with two outs, he was replaced by righty Austin Wood. Wood made the mistake of putting his first pitch of the evening right in Didrick's wheelhouse, and the Yanks' No. 8 hitter responded by blasting the offering well over the wall in left center and onto Vine Avenue for a 6-0 lead. "The ball was up around my eyes, but I was able to go get it," Didrick said. "I had a feeling it was gone. I knew the ball carried a little more here."
Despite the Redskins' best efforts, they never really recovered from Didrick's grand slam. East Cobb's Jason Stolz added to the Yankees' advantage in the fifth inning with a solo home run to center, and Midland's three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth wasn't nearly enough for the Redskins to avoid Sunday's elimination game against the loser of today's noon contest between the Connecticut Bombers and Llaneros 21.
"I think everyone was just a little nervous," said Midland first baseman Eric Hosmer, who was 0-for-2 at the plate and walked twice. "They took advantage of our mistakes. They're a great hitting team."
The Redskins struggled in all facets of the game, making costly errors on the basepaths, striking out 11 times and struggling to make key defensive plays. As a result, Midland used five pitchers, none lasting longer than Kelly's 2 2-3 innings, as they tried to slow the Yankees' onslaught.
Meanwhile, the Yankees were nothing short of spectacular in the field. Catcher Spencer Kieboom picked Josh Richmond off of first base in the first inning, while right fielder Evan Martin and center fielder Johnathan Taylor each had outfield assists.
"You've got to give some credit to our defense," Beavers said. "We made some great relay throws — I don't think we made a bad relay throw all night. We were able to get runners out in close plays at different bases, and that got us out of some innings and some threats."
Despite the rough opening night loss, Hosmer said Friday's game could serve as a valuable learning experience for the players who were playing their first CMWS game.
"If we win Sunday, we get a bye and we're right there in the final six," Hosmer said. "We just have to bounce back. (Midland) did this in '04 when they lost the first game and came all the way back."
In the winning dugout, Didrick felt his team made a big statement with their big win over the Redskins — one he hopes will help propel his team deep into the tournament.
"I think we've got the pitching to do it this year," Didrick said. "This team has better hitting and pitching than last year."
The Yankees face the Florida Legends on Monday at 5:15 p.m. in what promises to be another intriguing contest. East Cobb (Ga.) Yankees 9, Midland (Ohio) Redskins 3
Walker Kelly? Austin Wood? Playing for a team out of Ohio?? I thought Connie Mack had participation rules?
These two are likely considered guest players. Every team can add two from outside the home district to their roster, and two more from their region if they advance to Farmington.
"There are two kinds of people in this game: those who are humble and those who are about to be." Clint Hurdle
Posts: 1687 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: January 22, 2006
Actually it is an international team. Players are housed on a compound on their field complex. Yes you can add 2 players that are taken from other rosters of other teams.
Posts: 4192 | Location: Canada | Registered: October 13, 2005
Eric Hosmer - KC Royals 1st rd 08 #3 overall Matt Harvey 07 Nathan Karns 05 Cameren Maybin 03/04 Zack Greinke 02 Shelley Duncan 98 Corey Patterson 97-98 Chris Duncan 99 Mark Mulder 96 Aaron Cook 95-96-97 Jay Payton 91 Mike Matheny 89 David Bell 87-88-89-90 Ken Griffey Jr. 85-86-87 Barry Larkin 81-82 Jim Leyritz 80-81-82 Roger McDowell 77-78-79
When the Mustangs played them in June they had 24 players who had signed with D-1 Programs from 13 different states.
"I'll remember this for the rest of my life," Lackie said. "I've never pitched in front of a crowd like this. This was unbelievable."
"This is so awesome," Lackie said. "This is one of the coolest baseball moments I've had. I saw that he missed it and I just threw up my hands. Everything was just in my chest — it was awesome."
Chills and tears! Great memories! Congrats to Matt and OP!
"Do what is right, no matter the circumstance."
Posts: 1397 | Location: South Denton Co., Texas | Registered: January 12, 2006
Caleb Merck pitched a great game that night and kept the host team in the game. He threw several pitches that night in the mid 90's. Matt came in and did a great job getting the last two outs. What a way to end your high school career! It was an awesome experience that I will never forget either.
Now, off to college for hopefully many more just like it.
Thank you all,
OP
"You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time"
