News

Titans Split 1st Division Series Against Lower Columbia

Posted: 4/11/2012 5:45:00 PM

In the first weekend of Western Division League play, the Titans took on the Red Devils of Lower Columbia College, who they faced last year in the playoffs. Spring weather made things difficult for scheduling with games originally scheduled for March 31 and April 1. The weather pushed the first doubleheader to April 2 at Tacoma’s Minnitti Field and the second doubleheader being April 9 at David Story Field in Longview.

Game 1 paired Tacoma’s ace Matt Bell on the mound facing LCC starter Stuart Fewel. Tacoma’s JJ Nazzaro led the game off with a single and stole 2nd base, later scoring on a pass ball to give TCC an early 1-0 lead. That would be the only run TCC’s Matt Bell needed. Bell cruised through the LCC lineup going 8 innings, allowing only 5 hits and no walks. He totaled 12 strikes out in the game and at one point 6 in row and 9 out of 10 hitters. Nazzaro the currently NWAACC leader in batting average went 3-4 and scored one of TCC’s 5 runs. Erich Armstrong, playing great defense at first base, also went 3-4. Tacoma took game #1 of the series 5-0.

The 2nd game of the doubleheader started off with LCC scoring early with a run in the 1st and 2nd inning. Garrett Picha didn’t have his best outing but battled and kept the game within reach for the Tacoma offense. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Nazzaro crossed the plate to cut the lead to 2-1 after 3 innings. The Red Devils clawed one run in the 5th and another in the 6th inning to make it 4-1 after the 6th inning. Picha pitched 7 innings, scattering 10 hits, while allowing 4 runs. In the bottom of the 7th inning Tacoma’s bats came to life. Marcus Hinkle drew a 10 pitch leadoff walk, followed by a LCC error to get some runners on base for the Titans. After an RBI grounded out made it 4-2, Garrett DeGallier hit a 3-1 pitch over the right field fence to tie the score 4-4 sending the game into extra innings. Tim Dean came out of the bullpen to relieve Picha. After each team failed to score in the 8th, in the top of the 9th the Red Devils got three singles in a row to load the bases with no outs. Dean then got a shallow pop up and then a strike out to the next 2 batters. As it appeared the Titans may get out of the inning without giving up a run, a pass ball snuck by the catcher giving LCC a 5-4 lead. Going into the bottom of the 9th, Nazzaro drew another leadoff walk, advancing to second base via a pass ball. Seth Heck would move him to 3rd, with DeGallier hitting a sac fly to tie the game 5-5. As it looked like the game may go into the 10th, Tacoma’s RBI leader Stephan Adams hit a walk off, no-doubt home run over the left field fence after battling in a 7 pitch at bat. The home win help the Titans sweep LCC at home in the 1st day of the series. Nazzaro scored 3 runs and DeGallier went 2-4 with 4 RBI’s.

With the 2nd day of the double header against LCC being a week later than planned, the pitching match ups where changed. Ace Matt Bell got the nod again against the Red Devils looking for another repeat performance as he had in Game 1 of the series. TCC got on the board 1st by a Stephan Adams RBI single in the opening inning. But Bell struggled most of the for his standards. A sloppy 1st inning with 2 walks and a wild pitch allowed LCC to take a 2-1 lead. Another run in the bottom of the second inning for LCC pushed the lead to 3-1. In the 4th inning, the Titans chased Red Devil starter Doug Christie as they hit him hard. They had 4 singles and scored 2 runs to tie the game 3-3. Bell battled going 5 innings to keep the game close. Tayler Saucedo and Talon Sisley combined to go 3 innings out of the bullpen allowing one unearned run. JJ Nazzaro had a 3 hit day with a run scored and an RBI. DeGallier went 2-3 and Trey Cochran’s bat came alive going 2-3 with a run scored and a walk. Stuart Fewel of Lower Columbia was the deciding factor to this game going 5.2 innings pitched from the bullpen allowing no runs and notching the win for LCC 5-3.

Game 4 of the series was a hard fought game on both sides. The Titan bats hit the ball hard, but struggled to get the hit with base runners on and couldn’t get a run on the board. Tacoma left 8 runners on base in this 8 inning game which went into extra innings much like game 2 did. TCC’s starting pitcher Ryan Skoubo went 7 innings only allowing 1 hit which came with 1 out in the bottom of the 7th inning. Brandon Boyle for LCC, went all 8 innings not allowing a run. In the Bottom of the 8th, TCC reliever Talon Sisley allowed a 2 out single to score the game’s only run and give LCC the game 1-0. Both teams swept at home in the series.

“It was a tale of 2 days. We swept at our place and they swept at their place,” said Head Coach Ryan Mummert. “We had our opportunities in games 3 and 4, but just couldn’t come up with that key hit, or make the defensive play we needed. And to win games on the road against a quality opponent like that, you have to get make that play when available. All we can do know is come back and get ready for this week.”

Tacoma takes on Skagit Valley College this week while they are on their League Bye week.