FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
(HAARLEM, The Netherlands) – A four-run second and a seven-run third propelled the USA Baseball National Team to an 11-0, seven-inning victory over the Dutch Caribbean National Team in Tuesday’s pool-play action at the 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week at Pim Mullier Stadium. Team USA improved to 3-0 at the event and 10-0 on the season with the victory.
Tuesday’s victory over the Dutch Caribbean squad also assured Team USA of a spot in the semifinals of the Haarlem Baseball Week. The top four teams from pool play advance to the semifinals, which are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday.
Two walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases to start the second inning. Ryan Jackson (Miami-FL; Miami Springs, Fla.) scored the first run with a sacrifice fly to right. After Blake Smith (California; Modesto, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Josh Fellhauer (Cal State Fullerton; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) cleared the bases with a three-run double down the right-field line.
Team USA sent 12 batters to the plate in the third inning, which consisted of six hits, two hit batsmen and a walk. Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton; Cororna, Calif.) and Micah Gibbs (LSU; Pflugerville, Texas) had two hits each in the seven-run third. Colon’s second was a two-run single down the left-field line, while Gibbs’ second was an RBI single up the middle that capped the inning. Smith also had a two-run single in the inning.
The other two runs scored when Matt den Dekker (Florida; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and when Jackson drew a bases-loaded walk.
Starter Andrew Oliver (Oklahoma State; Vermillion, Ohio) worked only 3.0 innings and, therefore, did not factor in the decision. He scattered two hits and three walks with four strikeouts. A.J. Griffin (San Diego; El Cajon, Calif.) allowed one hit and no walks with two strikeouts over the final 4.0 innings for the victory.
Dutch Caribbean starter Raymond Martis took the loss after allowing eight runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts over 2.1 innings. He also hit four batters and was called for one balk.
Colon, Fellhauer, Gibbs and Smith all had two-hit games. Fellhauer had three RBI, while Colon, Jackson and Smith had two RBI each. Gibbs, Smith and Ryan Lipkin (San Francisco; Vacaville, Calif.) each scored three runs.
The USA Baseball National Team returns to action Wednesday, facing The Netherlands as pool play continues at the Haarlem Baseball Week. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT at Pim Mullier Stadium.
