By Lori Brown
GRAHAMSVILLE — May 11, 2010 — There was plenty of offense when the Tri-Valley Bears hosted the Sullivan West Bulldogs on Thursday afternoon in a non-league baseball game.
The teams combined for nearly 30 runs as SW recorded a 19-10 victory over T-V.
SW (9-4) started strong by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning.
Jeremy DeGori singled to bring home Lucas Bauer and Mark Tesseyman. Moments later, DeGori scored as Austin Sauer slammed a two-run home run.
SW starting pitcher Ryan Alsdorf didn’t allow a baserunner in the bottom of the first.
The Bulldogs took a 5-0 lead in the top of the second as Mike Durkin scored on a single by DeGori.
Some great hits during the top of the third helped SW score eight more runs to take a commanding 13-0 lead.
The Bulldogs scored four runs on one multi-error play. Later in the frame, DeGori tripled to center field to bring home Tesseyman.
Sauer slammed a ball into deep center field which bounced once and went over the fence for a ground-rule double, allowing DeGori to cross home plate.
The Bears then called a timeout to switch pitchers. Starter Joseph Mickelson went into the infield, while Tyler Lopez took over on the mound.
After the Bulldogs scored two more runs, Lopez recorded a strikeout and catcher Steve McInerney caught a foul ball to end the inning.
T-V (8-4-1) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. With bases loaded and one out, Mickelson singled to score Greg Swarthout.
The Bulldogs added a run in the top of the fourth as Alsdorf scored on an overthrow at third base.
Tyler TerBush came into pitch for the Bears to start the top of the fifth.
With bases loaded, Alsdorf ripped a double to right field, which allowed Jim O’Connor, Durkin and Cruz Burgos to cross home plate.
Alsdorf then scored when Tesseyman slammed a line drive to left field.
In the bottom of the fifth, T-V’s Erik Raymond singled and continued on to second base due to an error. Raymond’s base hit brought home Dan Byrne and Joseph Mickelson.
Justin Zaccari then entered the game as a relief pitcher for the Bulldogs.
With bases loaded and one out, McInerney hit a single to deep right field to score Jesse Brown. TerBush hit a ball to the outfield and due to lack of communication between the SW outfielders, the ball wasn’t caught and Raymond came in to score. Swarthout brought home Peter DiMilia with a base hit to reduce the SW advantage to 18-6.
The Bulldogs recorded their final run of the game in the top of the sixth as Mark Michel scored on a sacrifice fly by O’Connor.
SW could have added more runs, but TerBush recorded a strikeout with the bases loaded to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, T-V loaded the bases with no outs. TerBush, Swarthout and Bobby Beale each had an RBI single as the Bears closed their deficit to 19-9.
Moments later, Swarthout crossed home plate for T-V’s final run of the day.
“Ryan Alsdorf pitched well and did a nice job,” SW Coach Kurt Scheibe Jr. said. “Our defense for the first four innings was good. The last three innings were frustrating to watch. The dropped balls and errors in field are mistakes we can’t have.
“Offensively, we hit the ball really well, and scored runs in every inning but one,” he added.
Alsdorf and Sauer each finished the game with three RBIs to lead the Bulldogs’ offense.
“Sullivan West is well coached and came in playing good,” T-V Coach John Rusin said. “They are fundamentally sound and they hit the ball. We made mistakes which opened up the game for them.
“Collectively, we had heart and didn’t quit,” Rusin continued. “Our seniors are excellent leaders. We stayed focused and hustled throughout the game.”