CHATHAM TAKES FIRST GAME IN PAIR WITH ICC
05-17-09 - The top two teams in the Patroon Conference, Ichabod Crane and Chatham squared off in the first of a two-game series in Chatham on Thursday. The Riders came in with a 12-2 league record to match up with Chatham who entered the game with a 14-0 league record. Both teams had their ace on the hill for what turned out to be a classic matchup. Josh Ingham took the ball for the Riders, and Brian Gauthier for the Panthers.
In the top of the first, Ingham reached on a two-out single. He moved up to second on a passed ball but was stranded there when Derek Horn flew out to center to end the threat. In the bottom of the frame, Chatham had Brian Gauthier reach on a one-out walk and then go first to third on a botched pickoff attempt. Joe Cozzolino walked, and Ryen Boehme lifted a fly ball to right to score Gauthier and give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. From that point to the bottom of the fifth, no one on either team was able to get beyond first base until Chatham's Cole Gleason drove a one-out double over the head of Phil Basile. Ingham stranded him there and kept the score at 1-0.
In the top of the sixth with two outs, Ingham drew a two-out walk, and Derek Horn drove a ball to the left-center field fence to score Ingham and tie the game at 1-1. With one out, Brian Gauthier dropped a single into center field and then stole second. He moved to third on an error handling the throw. Ryen Boehme was hit by a pitch and, with an 0-1 count, stole second base. Ichabod threw through to second, and Brian Gauthier stole home, narrowly beating the throw with a headfirst slide. This gave Chatham the lead 2-1. In the top of the seventh, Gauthier got a fly out and two strikeouts to secure the win for the Panthers.
Ingham went the distance for the Riders striking out 3, walking 2, hitting a batter, and scattering 3 hits. Gauthier also threw a complete game allowing 2 hits, walking 3, and striking out 10. Offensively for Ichabod, Josh Ingham had a single and a run; Derek Horn had the RBI double. For Chatham, Brian Gauthier had a single, 2 runs, and 2 stolen bases; Joe Cozzolino had a single; Ryen Boehme a sac fly; and Cole Gleason a double.
"From my viewpoint, it was a great game to be a part of. That is how you want them all to be played. Both pitchers threw the ball well, worked quickly, and were around the plate. Brian seems to get better every time he takes the mound for us. Not only did his arm keep us in the game, but his aggressive base-running helped win it. Brian capitalized on both throwing errors they made by taking the extra base, and they led to our only two runs. We also did a good job of having good at-bats against Josh and making him throw extra pitches. Even though the conditions weren't optimal, we did a good job of playing defense. Anytime you beat Ichabod, it is a good win, because they always play solid baseball," reported Chatham coach Scott Steltz.
