BlueSox bats stifled in debut
West Virginia's roster was depleted, but Jarod Messer had plenty in his tank.
The right-hander from Malone (Ohio) College pitched a five-hit shutout and did not allow a fly ball to the outfield Thursday night, leading the Miners to a 4-0 victory over the Butler BlueSox.
Messer threw 128 pitches, striking out 11 in spoiling the BlueSox' season opener before approximately 1,100 at Pullman Park.
“Their guy pitched an outstanding game. My hat's off to him,” Butler manager Anthony Rebyanski said. “I've always believed a great starting pitcher will beat a great hitting lineup.
“And I believe we have a great hitting lineup.”
Three of the BlueSox' five hits were infield singles. The other two were ground balls that got through holes.
As far as a fly ball finding an outfielder's glove or landing on the grass? There were none.
“We had a little flare that their second baseman caught (leading off the second inning) and that was it,” Rebyanski said. “There's an adjustment period going on here.
“New team, new atmosphere, new supporters ... everything's new to these guys. We'll be fine.”
BlueSox starter Brad Duffy, from Mercyhurst College, threw 85 pitches in five innings and struck out eight. He wasn't hit hard, either, but the Miners put together a three-run second inning.
A leadoff walk and hit-and-run single were followed by a solid single to right by Blake Roberts to plate the game's first run. A bunt single by Shayne Miller and infield single by Elijah Smurthwaite plated two more.
Miller and Smurthwaite — the No.'s 8 and 9 hitters in West Virginia's lineup — combined for four singles, a double and two RBI.
“We got the breaks tonight and they didn't,” Miners manager Tim Epling said. “It was that kind of game.”
The BlueSox managed just two baserunners in the first seven innings. Their best chance to score occurred in the eighth.
Butler graduate and University of Pittsburgh shortstop Evan Oswald beat out an infield hit and Freeport graduate Ryan Siegel walked. With one out, Brian Lares singled off the diving first baseman's glove.
As the ball trickled toward the second baseman, Oswald tried to score from second. He was thrown out by Smurthwaite to preserve the shutout.“We got a bounce on that play,” Epling admitted. “If they score there, something may have gotten started.“I hadn't seen our pitcher in a game before tonight. That performance was an unexpected surprise.”The Miners had only 14 players available as much of their roster hasn't completed the collegiate season.“We had Messer on a pitch count, but by inning, not for the whole game,” Epling said. “He never threw a ton of pitches in one inning.”Messer threw as many as 20 pitches in a frame only twice.“He was keeping the ball down and getting ahead of hitters,” Oswald said. “The kid was tough. I tip my cap to him.“It takes a few games to get used to the switch-over (to wooden bats), though. We're gonna score our share of runs.”<B>Notes: </B>The BlueSox unveiled their new mascot, the Blue Sox Ox. ... SkyDive Pennsylvania members Cecil Smith, Bill Jozwiak and Craig Cushing parachuted onto the field with the game ball. ... The Butler Junior ROTC presented the colors and Butler City American Legion baseball manager Jerry Piroch performed the natuional anthem.<B>W.Va. Miners 030 001 000 — 4 9 0Butler BlueSox 000 000 000 — 0 5 1W:</B> Jarod Messer 9IP (11K, 1BB). <B>L:</B> Brad Duffy 5IP (8K, 1BB).<B>West Virginia (1-0):</B> Paul Rambaud 2-1B RBI, Grey Stafford 1B 2-R, Blake Roberts 1B RBI, Shayne Miller 2B 1B 2-RBI, Elijah Smurthwaite 3-1B<B>BlueSox (0-0):</B> Matt Berezo 2-1B, Shayne Houck 1B, Evan Oswald 1B, Brian Zares 1B<B>Friday:</B> Butler at Lorain County
