Pitcher's hitless string ends, defense erases mistakes

After 20-plus innings, the Falcons' Clay Kollenbaum surrenders two harmless hits.

By DOUG KATES
Published March 22, 2007

SEMINOLE - Clay Kollenbaum's streak of 20-plus innings without allowing a hit finally came to an end Wednesday night, but Dunedin was still able to post a 4-0 shutout over Seminole.

Kollenbaum (4-1) pitched six innings, allowing two hits and seven baserunners. After the game, he admitted he threw a couple of high fastballs, which the Warhawks were able to turn into hits, but he said, overall, the defense behind him deserved credit for preserving the shutout.

"I kicked myself a little bit," Kollenbaum said. "If I walk on the mound and can throw strikes with all my pitches, I know it's going to be a tough game. I had confidence in my breaking ball the whole game. I should have thrown two breaking balls."

Even when Seminole (12-3) was able to get baserunners, the Dunedin defense took care of them. Out of the seven Warhawks baserunners, one was picked off first base, one was throw out trying to steal second base and three were eliminated on double plays. Graham Gibson and Ryan Polen got the two Seminole singles, but neither player advanced beyond first.

"We didn't have a very good defensive game (Tuesday) night," Dunedin coach Tom Hilbert said. "We kicked some balls around a little bit. Good thing is, we do it wrong one time, it's probably not going to happen again."

The Falcons (12-3) led 1-0 in the second inning. Kollenbaum had a run-producing double as part of a two-run fourth-inning rally. He also drove in Kevin Maloney on a misplayed grounder up the middle in the sixth inning. Maloney had one of three doubles for the Falcons, who had six hits overall.

[Last modified March 22, 2007, 00:37:24]