100-inning game huge success: Pinstripe wins in blowout fashion
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.- Outfielder Zach Bricknell (pictured) and infielder Mike Medori had huge offensive days to help the pinstripe squad win in blowout fashion over the gray team 52-31 in the annual Young Harris College baseball 100-inning fundraising game.
More importantly, the Mountain Lions received a great deal of support and encouragement from parents, friends, and fans, and would like to express their thanks to all those who supported the event and the continued success of Young Harris baseball.
"This is a great opportunity for our players to relax. I enjoy watching players compete while playing a position that they might not normally play." said YHC baseball coach Rick Robinson continued, "I think the pitchers have the most fun since they never get to hit. This is our only fundraiser of the year and again this year we received unbelievable support for this game from parents, fans, and supports of the baseball program."
Offensively, Bricknell (7 hits, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 runs, 7 RBI) and Medori (9 hits, 4 2B, 7 runs, 6 RBI) led the pinstripe squad, who put up seven runs in the 42nd inning and five more in the 85th to extend their lead to 15 runs and what proved to be an insurmountable deficit for the gray squad. Bricknell was named 100-inning game Most Valuable Player, barely outslugging Medori for MVP honors.
Other members of the pinstripe team that had productive offensive days were: LHP William Leatherwood (4 hits, 7 RBI), LHP Brice Merritt (5 hits, 6 runs, 4 RBI), RHP James Mills (5 hits, 5 runs, 4 RBI), RHP Adam Moore (7 hits, 2 HR, 3 RBI) and RHP Clint Ogle (5 hits, 5 runs).
Team captain of the pinstripe squad and senior Sean Kelly had this to say about his team's effort: "Offensively, we were inconsistent early but had some key hits late from David Atwood in the 67th inning and Adam Moore in the 85th, to go along with Bricknell and Medori's big offensive days."
This year's game marks the fifth and final 100-inning game for Kelly, who holds the following 100-inning game career records: most at-bats (203), most hits (39), most doubles (19), most RBI (29), most strikeouts (68), best career average with at least 200 at-bats (.192), most innings played (500), most defensive assists (59), and most defensive putouts (97).
Outfielder Trey Rogers led the way offensively for the gray team, with 6 hits, 2 2B, 1 HR, 8 runs, and 3 RBI. Catcher Spencer Thomas also had a productive day, with 7 hits, one of those being a home run. First baseman Brady McCarter added 2 massive home runs and sophomore RHP Oliver Pratt added 2 hits and made several outstanding plays to go along with his five errors at third base in the losing effort.
Play of the game went to right-handed pitcher Tyler Isbell, who's behind-the-back glove flip to second base to start a 4-6-3 double play made Robinson and the Young Harris baseball faithful in attendance think back to the glove brilliance of former infielder and coach Matt Henson ('05) when he donned the Mountain Lion pinstripes.
Gray team captain Josh Rudnik (2 hits), who struggled offensively and has now been team captain of the losing squad the last two years had this to say about the game: "We put up a pretty good fight early, but fell too far behind toward the end of the game. We just couldn't put it together in the end."
Notable superlatives from the 100-Inning Game are:
Best Hitting Pitcher: Brice Merritt, James Mills, and Clint Ogle
Best Fielding Pitcher: James Mills
Best swing from wrong side of the player: Oliver Pratt
Most times getting ball hit over head: Clint Ogle
Most Unique Batting Stance(s): Travis Donahoo (2nd year in a row)
Most Frustrated Hitting Pitcher: Tyler Isbell (2nd year in a row)
Mr. Clutch: Taylor Topping
Best Swing (without making contact): Hunter Cochran
Worst Swing (without making contact): Baron Roberts
Most Impressive Defensive Performance(s): Sean Kelly and Zeke Gribble
Most foul balls: Adam Moore and David Atwood
Warning track power: Mike Medori
First run scored: Cody Beck
First run batted in: Oliver Pratt
100-Inning Game First ever Hall of Fame Inductee: Sean Kelly
The Mountain Lions begin their 2012 season on the road against the Florida Southern College Feb. 3-4 in Lakeland, Fla., followed by the home opener against Tusculum College at Zell B. Miller Field Feb. 7.
