Cowboys gain a little revenge

Gaither avenges its only loss of the season, beating Sickles behind a pair of sophomore pitchers and tight defense.

By JIM REESE
Published April 6, 2005

TAMPA - Gaither took a 2-1 thriller from Sickles on Tuesday as the tying run was cut down at the plate in the final inning.

The teams entered with Sickles (11-3, 6-0) unbeaten in Class 5A, District 7 and Gaither (14-1, 4-1) close behind. Last month, the Gryphons beat Gaither ace Caleb Graham 8-2 behind Brad Clark's 11 strikeouts. While many fans expected another matchup between Clark and Graham, sophomore Chris Jones got the start for Gaither.

"We kind of thought (Gaither coach Frank Permuy) would start Jones because Caleb threw a 15-strikeout game on Friday," Sickles coach Bob Pagano said.

After Gaither went out easily in the first, the Gryphons loaded the bases in their half only to have Jones retire Luis Rodriquez on a flyball to left. On the evening, Sickles left nine runners on base.

"If I thought we'd give up only two runs in a game, I'd figure we'd win for sure," Pagano said. "But when you don't get those runners in scoring position home, you'll lose every time." Gaither opened scoring in the fifth on a two-out RBI single by second baseman Evan Ashley, scoring Jason Hamm from second. Ashley, the Cowboys' lead-off hitter, got on base all three times. Gaither leftfielder Greg Coffman drove a Clark fastball over the left-centerfield fence in the sixth to put the Cowboys up 2-0.

"The count was 2 and 1 and I was thinking fastball," Coffman said. "As soon as I saw the pitch leave his hand, I knew I was going to hit it out. It was by far the best hit I've ever had coming as it did in such a big game and against Clark no less."

Clark pitched two more scoreless innings. Jones, meanwhile, got in more trouble in the late innings. Sickles loaded the bases again in the sixth after two outs, an infield error, a walk and a hit batter. Relying on his changeup, which he considered his best pitch all night, Jones struck out designated hitter Kyle Wise to end the threat. Sickles made more noise in the seventh when an error and a hit batter put runners on first and second. Jones gave way to another sophomore, Stephen Daneman. Jared Stephenson advanced the runners with a groundout and Robbie Anston then lined a pitch to centerfield. Matt Malenda scored easily from third and what followed was the play of the game.

Racing home with the potential tying run, Mike Bletsch was nailed at the plate on a perfect one-hop throw by centerfielder Mario Duarte to catcher Braulio Pardo, who applied the tag at the last second. Daneman, after issuing a walk to Justin Zions, struck out Jason Garcia to end it.

"I was nervous when they loaded the bases on us in the first and sixth innings," Jones said. "But I just bore down even harder."

"He did everything we asked of him," Permuy said of Jones. "It's pretty remarkable that two sophomores (Jones and Daneman) won this huge game for us."

[Last modified April 6, 2005, 01:07:18]