In their first ever ISC II Tournament of Champions, Rude Pac, from Sun Valley, California won one and lost one, getting outstanding pitching for 14 of the 15 innings.
In their first game of the day, veteran pitcher Mark Bennett made a lone run stand up against Kenosha, WI Earls Club, for the 1-0 win. That run came in the Rude Pac first when Javier Fierro tripled and came home to score on Troy Parker’s two-out RBI single. Click here for the box score and play-by-play.
In the nightcap, the Pac lost a tough, extra inning affair, 6-2, to the # 3 ranked New York Knights, in a game that was much closer than the final score suggests. One again, Rude Pac scored in the first inning, with Ron Mizener tripling into the left field corner and coming home to score when Javier Fierro struck out, but reached first on the catcher’s throwing error. New York tied the game in the 3rd on a monstrous solo home run to straightaway center by catcher John Rozitch, a ball that was estimated at 352 feet. Greg “Spud” Barker toughed out an aggavated heel injury to pitch five strong innings, striking out five, before giving way to Steve Morgan. Morgan shut New York out for the next two innings, with the score tied at the end of regulation. New York then put together three consecutive singles, for two runs and the lead. Morgan was relieved by Mark Bennett who surrendered Rozitch’s second home run off the game, a three run shot that put the game out of reach.
New York pitcher Bill Hillhouse tied the ISC II record with 20 strikeouts in the game. Click here for the box score and play-by-play.