Gameday Game Recap

(recap by Mike Larson - Concordia SID assistant)

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.-- The Port Charlotte baseball complex became the grounds for a Holy confrontation between Catholic University (Washington, D.C.) and Concordia College. Concordia took a page out of Catholic’s playbook and justified their game by works and not just faith, pummeling the Cardinals with baseball’s Holy trinity: hitting, pitching, and defense. Catholic made a bid for resurrection by scoring three runs in the 9th, but the Cobbers came away with the 9-5 victory.

The victory pushes the Cobbers' spring record to 3-1 and drops the Cardinals mark to 3-5 on the season.

The setting for the game could not have been more perfect. The weather was so nice the fans and players should’ve been singing “this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” The game was layed in 80-degree temperature, no clouds and an occasional cool gentle breeze.

Continuing with the theme of the trip, left-hander Zach Johnson gave Concordia its fourth straight solid pitching performance, thanks in large part to the defense. The first two innings alone saw four outstanding catches; two by shortstop Billy DeNet and one apiece for rightfielder Brian Knoblauch and leftfielder Scott Schumacher. Both of DeNet’s catches were over-the-shoulder sliding catches staring straight into the bright Florida sun.

Johnson threw six strong innings allowing only two runs, scattering six hits with only one walk and struck out two. He was relieved in the seventh inning after allowing the leadoff hitter to reach on a single. Brian Schumacher moved from thirdbase to the pitching mound and announced his presence with authority, striking out the first batter he faced.

The familiarity with finally playing outside, as the Cobbers were playing there fourth game in three days, was all it took to awake the Cobber bats from their winter hibernation. Pounding out 13 hits, Concordia took control of the game and never let up.

The Cobbers first run came in the bottom of the third inning. Leadoff batter Kyle Johnson crushed two pitches well beyond the wall in left, but both well foul. After the second long-strike, Catholic pitcher Kevin Sweeney didn’t throw Johnson another pitch in the strike zone, giving Johnson a lead-off walk. Johnson, not known for his speed, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Erick Sykora’s single down the left field line knocked in Johnson to give the Cobbers the lead, which they never surrendered.

Concordia broke the game open the next inning when DeNet ripped a line drive up the middle that the centerfielder lost in the sun. The hit plated Ryan Emter and Scott Halupczok.

Brian Schumacher’s two-RBI triple down the right field line in the seventh inning proved to be the final blow to the Cardinals. Schumacher finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored, 2 RBI’s, 1 double, 1 triple and recorded the save. Cobber #3-hitter Chris Klabo broke out of his spring-funk going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Concordia batted .325 on the day and did not committ an error

The Cobbers have an off day tomorrow and resume play on Thursday when they play Rose Hulman at 11:00am and York at 2:30am.