JOHNSTOWN —
After watching his team give up 10 runs in a loss to New Orleans last year, Toledo manager Dale Gray decided that he’d build his AAABA Tournament squad around pitching.
It didn’t take long for him to see the strategy pay off.
Alex Radon pitched six solid innings and Dylan Vogt got Toledo out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth as the Monarchs beat defending champion New Orleans 6-4 in a first-round game at Fichtner Field on Monday.
“We really didn’t have the depth of pitching,” Gray said of last year’s team. “That was our first time here. We said, ‘Hey, we’re going to shore up our pitching and we’re going to put together a team that will be very competitive for this tournament.’ ”
The Monarchs were more than just competitive on Monday. They banged out 13 hits
– including three bunt singles
– and never trailed New Orleans. Ryan Ford had three hits and reached base in all five of his plate appearances while Jack Scanlon and Daniel Russell each drove in a pair of runs.
Scanlon hit an RBI double and Kurt Farmer added a run-scoring single to give Toledo a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
New Orleans looked poised to answer in the bottom of the first, with runners on first and third with one out, but Radon struck out Scott Fabre, who was called for interfering with Toledo catcher Anthony DeMarco’s ability to throw to second base, resulting in an inning-ending double play.
Toledo manufactured a run in the fourth. Elliot Searer reached on a bunt single, stole second and went to third when catcher Chad Gough-Fortenberry’s throw sailed into center field.
Radon set down 10 in a row before hitting Joe Broussard to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning.
“As I settled in I started to find my stuff and get in a groove,” Radon said.
A walk and two Toledo errors allowed Broussard to score the Boosters’ first run.
The Monarchs extended their lead to 5-1 in the sixth when Russell – Toledo’s No. 9 hitter – hit a two-run single to right.
Broussard’s infield single drove in a run off Radon in the sixth and Harold Toscano’s RBI single off Mike Moyer in the seventh brought New Orleans within two runs.
Toledo reliever Logan Brunkenhoefer, who got the final out in the seventh, walked Gough-Fortenberry and Fabre to start the eighth, then hit Broussard to load the bases.
Vogt quickly quelled the rally by getting Ryan Pursell to hit a ground ball to Ford, who stepped on second for one out and threw on to first for a second. Vogt then struck out Alex Prestenback to end the threat with Toledo leading 5-4.
“Coming in against the defending champs, I could tell there was some blood running through the veins, but you just have to tell yourself to relax and just do what you’ve got to do,” Vogt said.
Toledo got an insurance run in the top of the ninth, as Seth Willoughby doubled and scored on Scanlon’s base hit, and Vogt shut down New Orleans in the bottom of the ninth for the save.
“Hopefully this carries on throughout the tournament, and I’m thinking it will,” Vogt said of Toledo’s strong start. “We’ve got a good pitching staff, we’ve got a good offense and defense. Everything’s just coming together right now.”
New Orleans lost its opener last year before reeling off six straight victories on its way to its 13th AAABA championship, but that wasn’t much comfort to manager Bill Babin on Monday.
“We’re not in panic mode, but we need to be very urgent, I can tell you that,” he said. “When you’re in the losers bracket, it’s very tough to come back.”
New Orleans will face Zanesville in an elimination game today while Toledo plays Buffalo.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Toledo reliever Dylan Vogt delivers a pitch against New Orleans on Monday afternoon at Point Stadium. Vogt got the save in the Monarchs’ 6-4 victory. Eric Knopsnyder
Discussion
Toledo topples New Orleans
- Sports
-
-
Pirates pick up fourth straight victory
There were times earlier in his career when James McDonald would run into trouble and innings would slow to a crawl. Even worse, runners would disappear, and not in a good way.
Too much thinking. Not enough attacking. -
AAABA League will open after busy offseason
The AAABA League opens on Tuesday at Point Stadium with two new, but familiar managers, a new but familiar sponsor, an expanded interleague schedule and two new franchises committed to the 2013 season.
A lot of activity took place during the offseason, including the AAABA national committee’s vote to expand the age limit to 21 years old beginning in 2013. -
AAABA League Preview
A look at this season's Johnstown AAABA League:
-
2012 AAABA League schedule
A look at this season's schedule:
-
2011 AAABA in Review
A look back at the 2011 AAABA season:
-
Sympathetic Pirates add to Cubs’ slide
Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates can relate to what the Chicago Cubs are going through.
Perhaps more than anyone, they know what it feels like to be on an extended losing streak
– 12 in a row, in the Cubs’ case. -
Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
Paige Lumley was on an emotional roller coaster and seeing silver on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Richland senior had state record jumps twice during the triple jump competition, but ended up with a silver–medal leap of 40 feet,
1¾ inches.
Defending state champion, second-seeded junior Lanae Newsome of Brookville, won with a jump of 40-3½. -
Ridge’s Dull takes second with school-record time
Matt Dull finished his athletic career with his best on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Chestnut Ridge senior ran a career-best time of 38.12 to finish second in the 300 hurdles final, also setting another school record. -
Hit batsman lifts Pirates over Cubs
Matt Hague was hit by a pitch from Rafael Dolis with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 11th straight loss with a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
Hague took a 96 mph fastball from Dolis (2-4) in the back near the shoulder blade, scoring Jose Tabata and eliciting an incredulous look to the sky by the Cubs reliever. -
Generals return to defeat Sting
It’s been a dramatic month for the Johnstown Generals.
There were two postponed games that left the immediate and long-term future of the franchise in serious doubt just two weeks ago. - More Sports Headlines
-
Stanley Cup Preview: Key Matchups
Kendall: Indy 500 recap
Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7
Montero signs extension
On the Record: Anna Tunnicliffe
Highlights: History 300
NASCAR on FOX: Charlotte preview
Devils head to the Stanley Cup Finals
French Open Preview: Women's draw
French Open Preview: Men's draw
Controversial Show Offers Alternative Listening for Women During Stanley Cup Finals
Tebow Teased by Jets Teammates Over Virginity, Lolo Jones
Jets learn Sparano's offense
1st Inning: Hakeem Nicks
Tweet Talkback: Brandon Jennings
QB Kafka gaining valuable experience
Showalter and Arrieta on the loss to the Red Sox
Jenkins: 'I think I won'
D'Brickashaw Ferguson
Horrow: Steinbrenner's know what they have
