| Zach Keeler's single scored two and sent Frostburg into the Pool A winners bracket finale. d3photography.com photo by Larry Radloff |
Postgame news conferences
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By Jim Dixon
D3baseball.com
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - Zach Keeler lined a two-run two-out single to center for the winning margin as Frostburg State figured out the Ramapo offense and survived first game jitters for a 3-1 win in Game 1 of the 2015 NCAA Division III World Series from Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wis.
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"The first couple innings were similar to the Regional Championship game where we got a couple of rocky innings," said Frostburg State coach Guy Robertson. "Once the tide turned in the fifth, sixth innings, the guys settled down. The guys had a little more sense of urgency and then Zach just clutched up for us.
Frostburg opened the sixth with an error on Ramapo's second baseman Joe Venturino. Ricky Castro, the recipient of the Roadrunners largess, moved to second on a groundout. Ramapo intentionally walked Ricky Brady and both moved up on a wild pitch in the dirt, before Keeler singled in both runs for the winning margin.
"He was pitching outside all day so I knew what would be coming,"said Keeler. "I knew it was a big situation. I just looked for a pitch in my spot and got it and took it the other way."
Frostburg State opened the scoring in the first. Castro and Zach Weiss had two consecutive hits to put runners on first and second base. Nick Walker single through the right side gave the Bobcats a 1-0 lead.
"Any time you score first, you relax a little bit and feel like things are going well," said Robertson. " It allows the rest of the hitters as they come up and guys the second time around to relax. We have been very good when we have scored first."
| Rafael Dela Cruz moved to third and would score the Roadrunners' only run of the day on an Frostburg error. d3photography.com photo by Larry Radloff |
Ramapo would answer back in the second. Rafael Dela Cruz was hit by the Frostburg starter Greg Schneider and a wild pitch moved him into scoring position. Ryan Rinsky's single to left was misplayed by Jamaal Windom. allowing Dela Cruz to score.
"It was enormous to answer," said Ramapo head coach Rick Martin. "The idea that we held them to a run and then came back was very important."
Both teams put runners on in the third and fourth innings but all would remain on base when the final outs were recorded. In the third, Chris Werr' double appeared to score Venturino but was ruled a ground rule double and Venturino had to return to third where he was stranded by the Frostburg defense.
"That was a heartbreaker," said Martin. That would have been a huge factor for us if we had scored that run."
In the fifth, the pitching would take over, recording the games first one-two-three innings for both teams. Frostburg would continue the pace but Ramapo, would see trouble in the final innings with the only damage coming in the sixth inning.
Venturino led all hitters with three hits (3-for-4). Castro and Brady each had two hits for the Bobcats. Castro scored twice and Keeler drove in two.
Greg Schneider allowed six hits and a run in seven innings for his ninth win. He walked three and struck out four. Nick Huff finished the game with two innings of no-hit ball with a strikeout in his fifth save of the season.
"At first nothing was working, they had my number," said Schneider. "My pitching coach said a few words to me between innings and I went out there and gave it my best."
Walker Larson took the loss with a complete game effort. He allowed three runs (one earned) on nine hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
"What a day so far," said Robertson. "To get the first one out of the way makes it easier and special. We will take the day for what it is and we will enjoy it."
We are not here to be spectators," said Martin. "We are here to win baseball games. If we are going, I want to be dragged out of here."