The Observer, April 18, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 25
Keefe, Crilley jumpstart baseball's recent success
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It appears the learning curve has finally started to bend the Spartan baseball team's way. This marks their second week of playing .500 or better baseball. While their pitching is still suspect at times, the offense is becoming much more consistent. The overall 3-2 record this past week was due in large part to the bats of sophomore rightfielder Phil Keefe, and freshman third baseman/DH Steve Crilley. Over the past five games, Keefe has gone 11-for-20 at the plate with five runs and seven RBI, while Crilley knocked in six RBI, scored five runs, and went 9-for-19 at the plate.
April 15 vs. Grove City College
W, 4-3
The performance that really stood out on Tuesday came from senior righthander Kevin Haley. Putting in seven and one- third innings of work, Haley surrendered only five hits and two earned runs, while striking out five batters. Aron Kale gave another solid performance, allowing only one more run in just under two innings and picking up his first save of the season. The Spartan offense came out to a fast start, scoring three runs in the first. The bottom of the inning was highlighted by Crilley and Keefe doubles, with Keefe picking up all three RBI. Case Western added one more run in the fifth, then called it a day offensively. The only runs relinquished were in the seventh when Haley was tiring, and in the ninth when Kale had a brief miscue. He rebounded quickly, however, and struck out the final batter of the game.
April 10 doubleheader vs. Thiel College
Game 1: L, 5-17 Game 2: W, 11-10
Things did not start well for the Spartans on this road-trip to Greenville, Pa. In the early game, Case struck first with one run coming off the combination of a Crilley double and a Cory Pecoraro single. Thiel threw their counter in the bottom half of the inning by knocking in two runs and continued to rock the Spartan's pitchers in this blowout. Thiel scored runs in every single inning with big production in the second and sixth innings in which they scored five and six runs, respectively. Case tacked on another run in the second and two in the sixth, but couldn't keep up with the Tomcats.
The late game also proved to be action packed with both teams scoring in double figures. Case Western struck first once again, scoring one run in the first, this time thanks to some quality base-running by Mullins and leftfielder Zach Hall. The third inning proved to be the Spartans' best of the day, however. The Spartans batted around their lineup, recorded five hits, and scored eight runs. It was sparked by another Crilley double and Mullins' second homerun in two days. In the fourth and fifth innings Thiel began to heat up and scored nine total runs. Ahead by one going into the sixth, the Spartans swapped runs with Thiel and remained ahead for the rest of the game.
April 9 doubleheader vs. Hiram College
Game 1: L, 7-8 Game 2: W, 15-14
Both games were decided by one run; however, that run was in Hiram's favor in the first game. After taking advantage of some poor Hiram defense, Keefe and Steve Bills put the Spartans ahead by two in the top of the second. Hiram got one back in the bottom of the inning due in large part to back-to-back walks. Case Western's lead remained intact until they let up a three-run shot in the bottom of the fifth to give the Terriers a two-run lead. Then in the top of the seventh, the Spartans thundered back, ripping off five clutch runs to give them a 7-5 lead. Unfortunately, Hiram had heroics of its own, scoring three runs in the bottom half of the inning to seal the game.
The second game was a high-scoring affair for both teams. In the first three innings, the team went almost run-for-run, leaving the score tied at eight leading into the fourth. The Spartans were the benefactors of terrible pitching, as they scored four more runs in the fourth due to of walks, a Kevin Train hit-by-pitch, and timely hits. In the sixth the Spartans looked to run away with the game; a Chad Mullins three-run homerun gave the team a seven-run lead. Hiram made it a game, though, putting six runs on the board off of Chip Dean in the bottom of the sixth inning.
