Baseball
LIVE BLOG from Great American Ballpark
Date: April 10, 2008
Location: The Queen City
12:35 p.m.
It's a beautiful day for baseball in the Queen City. The hospitality provided by the Reds staff has been first-class. The Denison team arrived at the ballpark at 10:30 a.m. and was escorted to the stadium's visiting team clubhouse. Players relaxed in oversized leather chairs and watched sportscenter on the bevy of plasma televisions in the plush locker room. DU also took batting practice in the underground hitting cages. A full lunch was catered for the team and entourage and the Big Red is currently playing long-toss prepairing for today's game. The starting lineup is as follows.
1. Danny Pritz (CF)
2. Alex Horn (C)
3. Park Smith (1B)
4. Tony Christopher (RF)
5. Aidan Lucas (DH)
6. Tim LaBolt (LF)
7. Kevin Teague (3B)
8. Zach Huttie (2B)
9. Andy Johnson (SS)
The starting pitcher is #19 J.D. Wyborny
1:07 p.m.
Top of th First: Heidelberg's LB Emrhein stroked a base hit to center field for the game's first hit but JD Wyborny and Park Smith picked off Emrhein to end the inning. After the top of 1, the game is scoreless.
Bottom of the First: Danny Pritz is unfazed by his new surroundings as the center fielder laces a base hit up the middle on the first pitch from Heidelberg starter Brian Koehl ... Pritz would advance to second on a wild pitch ... with one out Park Smith drove a ball to the left-center power ally, scoring Pritz on a stand-up double ... Tony Christopher grounded out 4-3 moving Smith to third ... Aidan Lucas struck out to end the inning. After one inning, Denison 1, Heidelberg 0
1:25 p.m.
Top of the 2nd: The Burg's second batter reached on a Wyborny HBP but no damage would be done.
Bottom of the 2nd: Tim Labolt fired a shot back to the box and into centerfield to start off the inning for the Big Red ... a taylor-made 6-4-3 DP by Heidelberg and a strike out ended Denison's hopes in the second.
1:35 p.m.
Top of the 3rd: It only took 5 pitches from Wyborny to get out of the inning. A twisting stab by Park Smith at first base off the bat of Jason Lash was the highlight of inning.
Bottom of the 3rd: Bunt single by hometown favorite Andy Johnson starts off the third for Denison ... Prtiz moved Johnson to third on a ground out to short ... a flare to center by Park Smith scored Johnson and
kept him perfect at the plate (2-for-2 with 2 RBIs). After 3 innings, Denison 2, Heidelberg 0.
Top of the 4th: A single up the middle by Gar Keen would score the first run of the day for Heidelberg.
Bottom of the 4th: The Burg would turn a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning after LaBolt reached on a walk. After 4 innings, Denison 2, Heidelberg 1.
Top of the 5th: An RBI single by Jason Lash tied the game at 2-2 after Steve Decker started the inning with a single. Decker's pinch runner, Everett Thomas, moved to second on a balk by Wyborny to get into scoring position for Lash ... a single to left by Wentoworth and a bunt base hit by Andrew Buelow would load the bases with nobody out ... a big strikeout by Wyborny got the first out of the inning ... a two-run single by Cody James would end Wyborny's day. JD's line: 4 IP, 7H, 4ER, 2 BB, 2K. Taking the hill for Denison, with one out and a runner on first and second, Mike Hundley ... Hundley picked off the runner on second and induced a pop up to second for the third out of the inning. Middle of 5 Heidelberg 4, Denison 2.
Bottom of the 5th: Denison was retired in order.
Top of the 6th: On to pitch for Denison is senior and Hamilton, Ohio native, James Clear. Heidelberg is held scoreless.
Bottom of the 6th: Alex Horn reached on an error by the first baseman and Tony Christopher moved him to third on a single to left center. With one out Aidan Lucas struck out and Horn was cut down on a double steal attempt. End of the 6th: Heidelberg 4, Denison 2.
Top of the 7th. Nick Smith on to pitch for Denison. The Berg scores two more in the seventh off two RBI singles. Heidelberg 6, Denison 2.
Bottom of the 7th: Denison strands runners on first and second after a walk by Kevin Teague and a bunt single by Len Mills.
2:45 p.m.
Top of the 8th: The Berg leads off with a walk and Jason Lash, who entered the game hitting .452, blasted a drive to the 404' mark in center, over the outstretched arm of Denison's Danny Pritz. Lash would round the bases to record an inside the park home run and give the Student Princes a 8-2 lead. heading into the home half of the 8th, Heidelberg 8, Denison 2.
Bottom of the 8th: Alex Horn starts off the inning with a triple to right field ... the hot-hitting Park Smith came through again with his third RBI of the afternoon following a single through the hole at shortstop ... Tony Christopher drew a four-pitch walk ... LaBolt would drive in Smith on a ground out to shortstop. The inning ends with DU scoring two runs and cutting the lead to Heidelberg 8, Denison 4.
Top of the 9th: Aidan Lucas on to pitch for Denison. Lucas allowed one single but struck out Matt Hille to end the inning for Denison.
Bottom of the 9th: Steve Calevro on to pitch for Heidelberg. He gets two quick outs but walks Mark Mazur to keep the inning alive for Denison. On the first pitch to Alex Horn he flied out to right to end the game. FINAL SCORE: Heidelberg 8, Denison 4.