Raiders not rusty despite long layoff

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August 12, 2008

By SAMUEL LEGG The Tribune-Democrat Tue Aug 12, 2008, 12:11 AM EDT

Washington didn’t show any rust on Day 1 of the 64th AAABA Tournament following an extended layoff.

The McLean Raiders marched out to an early lead and never trailed in an 8-3 upper-bracket victory over New York at UPJ’s George R. Walter Field.

The Raiders scored two in the first inning and punched four more runs across the plate in the second.

Washington manager Eric Smith acknowledged it was gratifying to get an early lead.

“Especially coming off after a two-week rest,” Smith said. “A lot of these guys went home and haven’t picked up a bat or fielded a ground ball ... but most important, we got a W.”

Daniel Lopez walked and scored on a single by Wade Kirkland (2-for-5) off New York starter Kyle Dempsey. Chris Duffy promptly doubled home Kirkland for a 2-0 lead after one.

Lopez, Kirkland, Zach Maggard and Cassidy McDaniel each singled and scored in the second. Greg Bachman and Brandon Padula each drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Bachman finished with a pair of RBIs.

Cortlandt, about 30 miles north of New York City in West Chester County, made it 6-1 after four innings and trimmed the Raiders’ lead to three runs through five.

Thomas Gilled walked and crossed home in the top of the fourth, and Michael O’Hanlon and Tommy Brennan scored the next at-bat. Dempsey had the lone hit of the fifth inning and Richie DePonto walked to force in Brennan.

“The kids stayed in it,” New York manager Tom Brennan said. “They played well, no errors. We just needed a couple more clutch hits.

“Our pitchers threw strikes, they had a couple hit batters. But other than that, we would have been right in the game.”

Washington added two insurance runs in the home half of the seventh for a five-run lead.

Padula was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a Cassidy McDaniel single. Maggard singled and scored on a wild pitch.

McDaniel had a pair of singles and a double to left.

“He was 3-for-4 with an RBI,” Smith said of his designated hitter. “He did a good job for us.”

Washington left-hander Brett Williams started and lasted 42⁄3 innings. Williams allowed three runs on three hits and struck out seven before he was lifted in the fifth in favor of Michael Manfro. Manfro pitched 31⁄3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win and Tyler Sanders tossed a near-perfect ninth, allowing a walk.

Ryan Elsasser had two of New York’s five hits.

Washington will face Baltimore in the winner’s bracket while New York gets Livonia in the loser’s pool.

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Raiders not rusty despite long layoff

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