FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
The Purple team took Game 1 of the Black/Purple World Series behind the arm of Jamie Serber who tossed six solid innings allowing just one earned run. Shortstop Murray White, third baseman Hank Patterson and right fielder Eric Isler carried the offense combining for nine hits.
White led off the game with a single to right field, followed by a double by Patterson in the leftfield gap. That setup catcher Kyle Mahoney who delivered a line drive up the middle to score both runners and take an early 2-0 lead.
The Black team responded in the bottom half of the inning with a run of their own. After a groundout, three consecutive singles by shortstop Alfie Wheeler, centerfielder Bill Manion and catcher Billy Alvino, the latter scoring Wheeler on the play. A walk to Max Fulginiti loaded the bases up for first baseman Spenser Atwood. Serber got Atwood to fly out to center to end the threat.
Purple tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Designated hitter Rob Gilles got the rally started with a two-out walk. Left fielder Drew Geissenger followed with a single the left-center and a walk to first baseman Matt Schlanger to load the bases. A triple off the right field wall by Isler cleared the bases and for a 5-1 advantage. Purple tacked on one more run that inning when Isler was able to score on a throwing error by Wheeler. In the fifth inning, Geissenger started the inning by reaching on an error and advancing to second base on the play. He advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Schlanger and later scored on a wild pitch.
The Black squad mounted a small comeback in the fifth and sixth innings getting the game to within one run. With one out, Manion singled to left followed up by Alvino reaching when he was hit by a pitch. Fulginiti grounded out to first base, advancing the runners to third and second respectively. Atwood hit a grounder to second base, but a fielding error allowed him to reach and Manion and Alvino scored on the play.
To start the seventh designated hitter Pablo Rosario and Jeff Cowan led off with back-to-back singles followed up by a walk to Wheeler off of Mike Caldwell who came in relief for Serber. Caldwell struck out the next hitter but gave up a single to Manion plating two runs. Alvino followed suit with his second RBI single of the game to close the gap down to 7-6. Closer Jeremy Berg came in and got the next two outs to finish the inning.
Purple tacked on two insurance runs in the top half of the ninth inning. Isler began the rally with a two-out walk. Second baseman Spenser Andrews followed with a single and another walk to center fielder Cody Brown. White gave the Purple squad their three run cushion when he singled in two runs to left field. Berg closed out the game throwing 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball.
Serber picked up the win working six innings, allowing one earned run (three runs) on five hits while recording five strikeouts. Zach Scott suffered the loss tossing five innings while giving up seven runs (five earned) and registered six strikeouts. Patterson led the way for the Purple team with four hits on the day followed up by White and Isler who had three and two respectively. Isler had three RBI while Mahoney and White both had two.
For the Black team, Manion picked up four hits while Wheeler recorded three and Alvino had two. Manion and Alvino both picked up two RBI and Wheeler scored two runs.
