Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The White team clinched the best-of-three series Valparaiso University Fall World Series 2-0 over the Black squad on Tuesday afternoon, winning in convincing fashion 14-6 at Emory G. Bauer Field.

Will Hagel (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect H.S.) and Andrew Bain (Indianapolis, Ind./Park Tudor H.S) each had three hits for the White team, including two doubles and two RBIs for Hagel. Chris Manning (Lake Forest, Ill./El Toro H.S.) continued swinging a hot bat as he finished the game 2-for-3 with a solo homerun and three RBIs. He went 7-for-8 in the series. Tyler Weddington (Orange Park, Fla./Culver Military Academy H.S.) also chipped in a 2-for-3 day at the plate to go along with three RBIs.

Kevin Upp (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte H.S.) started for the White team and pitched a solid four innings, giving up just five hits while striking out a pair. Closer Jarad Miller (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll H.S.) looked strong as he finished the game off with a shutout inning which included two strikeouts.

It looked as if it was going to be the Black team’s day early as Tanner Vavra (Menomonie, Wis./Monomonie H.S.) stepped up to the plate in the top of the first inning and blasted a lead-off homerun to left field. However, the White squad answered in the bottom of the inning with two runs to take a 2-1 lead.

After Upp pitched a 1-2-3 second inning, the White team came to the plate and continued to put runs on the board with a four spot to take a commanding 6-1 lead.  Andy Burns (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville H.S.) and Bain singled and Manning brought them both home on a solid single to left field. A walk by Hagel combined with a successful sacrifice bunt by Steven Scoby (Delton, Mich./Delton Kellogg H.S.) brought freshman Spencer Mahoney (LaGrange, Park, Ill./Lyons Township H.S.) to the plate. He then delivered with a two-run single.  

In a losing effort, the Black team was once again led by Vavra who finished the day 4-for-5 with three runs scored. John Loeffler (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville H.S.) was impressive at the plate as well as he had a 3-for 3 day, including a towering two run homer over the centerfield wall in the fifth inning. Freshman Kyle Schneider (Mishawaka, Ind./Penn H.S.) also had a three hit day with a double.

The Crusaders have now concluded their fall season and will set their sights on the 2012 season. The season starts on Friday, Feb. 17, in Murray, Ky. when they play a three-game series with Murray State University.