MAY 5, 2006
KING'S BASEBALL POSTS EPIC 2-1 VICTORY OVER DESALES IN 15 INNINGS
(Giovannoli Brilliant in 13 Inning Pitching Performance)
http://athletics.desales.edu/
QUAKERTOWN -- Vince Budzyn
drove in the winning run with a single up the middle as the King's
College baseball team posted epic 2-1 victory in 15 innings over
six-time defending champion DeSales University in the opening round of
the Freedom Conference Tournament Friday at Quakertown Memorial Park.
With the victory, second-seeded King's moves on to face fourth-seeded
Drew Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in a second-round pairing in the
double-elimination event. Drew was a 5-4 upset winner over top-seeded
FDU-Florham in the other first-round matchup.
In what will go down as one of greatest games in Freedom Conference
history, the game was reminiscent of two championship prize fighters
exchanging blows and chances. The game featured everything from stellar
defensive plays, to critical miscues, to clutch pitching at key moments.
None, however, stood as tall as the brilliant performance by King's
junior pitcher Paul Giovannoli (pictured) who allowed a solo home run to Andrew
Heard on the very first pitch of the game, but rebounded to pitch 13
gut-wrenching, blue-collar innings when the Monarchs needed him most.
After Heard's home run, Giovannoli faced 50 batters and tossed 12
consecutive shutout innings. Despite giving way to Rob Medlock after
yielding a leadoff double to Scott Matejicka in the 14th inning
and getting a no-decision, Giovannoli's effort proved inspirational to his
teammates who finally triumph in the 15th inning.
Medlock would lead off the inning with a single to left field. After
Jeremy Faust was ruled on on an attempted sacrifice bunt when officials
he made contact with the ball out of the batters box, Josh Faust singled
to centerfield to give King's runners at first and second with one out.
Budzyn then came to bat and his ground ball up the middle was deflected
by DeSales' diving shortstop Greg Treat. Medlock would round third base
as Treat attempted to retrieve the ball and the Monarch senior would
beat the throw home to put a sudden end to the four-hour marathon.
The game proved to be a pitching dual between Giovannoli and DeSales
starter J.T. Brotsky. With King's trailing 1-0 in the sixth inning, the
Monarchs would finally reach the scoring column when Caleb Calarco
singled to centerfield and moved to second on a bunt from Matt Livoy.
Nick Sorino then delivered a clutch two-out single to centerfield to
plate Calarco with the game tying run.
Each team made its share of key defensive plays, but none came bigger
than Calarco's tremendous catch in the 13th. With DeSales runners on
second and third with two out and Giovannoli still pitching, Mike Ellard
lofted a foul ball down the third base line for what appeared to be an
easy third out. But Calarco slipped on the play and fell to his
back. The Monarchs junior, while lying on his back, reached out and made
the catch a split second later to end the threat.
In the 14th, after Matejicka had doubled, DeSales pinch runner Pat
Campbell attempted to steal third base and was promptly thrown out by
Monarch catcher Jeremy Faust for the first out of the inning. Medlock,
who had entered the game in relief of Giovannoli after Matejicka's
double, retired the next two batters to end the threat.
Each team finished with 12 base hits. King's stranded 18 runners while
DeSales left 10 men on base. Calarco led King's with a 4-for-6 effort
with one run. Budzyn added two hits or the Monarchs. Matejicka led
DeSales by going 4-for-6 with two doubles while Heard added three hits.
Medlock picked up the win in relief of Giovannoli by tossing two hitless
innings and striking out two batters. Giovannoli, meanwhile, scattered
12 hits and struck out eight batters while walking none.
Jon Chapman took the loss in relief for DeSales, which used five
pitchers in the contest. Brotosky pitched seven innings and allowed six
hits and one earned run while striking out four.
