The Rams defeat Hudson 9-4 to stay perfect in Class 4A, District 10.
By GREG AUMAN
Published March 24, 2004
NEW PORT RICHEY - On the road against the defending conference champions, Hudson learned Tuesday night that minimizing mistakes usually isn't enough to beat Ridgewood.
The Rams won their ninth straight, getting another strong start from junior lefty Bryan Hesse and keeping Hudson just out of striking distance in a 9-4 district win.
"It seemed like one of those games of almosts and maybes," Cobras coach Jack Ledbetter said. "(Starter Tommy) Snow threw so many borderline pitches, two inches low or breaking balls that barely missed. For Tommy that's struggling, but Ridgewood is disciplined. They don't chase.
"So almosts and maybes don't work out to anything positive."
Hudson (4-6, 1-3 in Class 4A, District 10) had a 1-0 lead after Snow tripled and scored on an error, but Ridgewood (11-1, 4-0) consistently got runners on and brought them in, scoring two runs in four consecutive innings.
Hesse (5-0) held Hudson to three hits in five innings, but the Cobras rallied in the sixth, down 7-2. Erik Burgan singled, Sam Donataccio reached on Jeff Roxby's third error, and both scored on Brandon Nourse's double to rightfield.
Reliever Jesse Guthrie came in and retired the next three batters, following with a hitless seventh for his third save. He struck out four of the seven batters he faced.
"Hesse came out and did his regular thing, and Jesse came in champing at the bit," said Rams coach Larry Beets, whose team has a full week off before traveling to Land O'Lakes on March 31. "That's the way we have to be successful."
Roxby made up for his errors with four hits and an intentional walk, scoring in the fourth and fifth and driving in one in the sixth. The Rams could have won by more but left 13 runners on base in six innings, including three innings where they left the bases loaded.
Snow (3-1) came in with a 0.64 ERA, and two of the three runs he gave up were unearned. Relievers Brandon Armstrong and Mike Georgantis combined for six walks and six runs in two-plus innings.
