Stockton, Calif.---The USA Softball Men’s National Team completed a five-game series sweep of the North American All-Stars on Saturday night as it began its preparation for the upcoming ISF Men’s World Championship in Christchurch, New Zealand.
In the five game series the USA Men posted two shutouts, out hit its opponent 46-17 and outscored the All-Stars 38-10. Doug Middleton (Blue Springs, Mo.) picked up two shutout wins over the weekend while allowing just one hit in nine innings of work.
At the plate, Adam LaLonde (Cheboygan, Mich.) led all hitters with a .545 (6-for-11) batting average. Don Garvey (Greenville, Wisc.), who hit .385 over the weekend, posted a team high six RBI in the Series.
Game One
On Friday night in game one of the series, the U.S. pitching core of Doug Middleton (Blue Springs, MO), Doug Gillis (Novi, Mich.) and Travis Price (Santa Ana, Calif.) combined to no-hit the North American All-Stars. Middleton picked up the win after throwing four complete shutout innings, striking out seven and walking two. Gillis and Price split the final three innings each allowing a walk but keeping the no-hitter intact.
Todd Schultz (Williamston, Mich.), making his first national team appearance since 1999, led the way for the U.S. offensively going 3-for-4 with a triple, a home run and one RBI. Mike Dryer (Blue Springs, Mo.) and Tom Owen (Ankeny, Iowa) each recorded two hits and two RBI in the game.
Game Two
The U.S. had to rally in game two of the series falling behind 4-2 after the first three innings. The North American All-Stars tagged U.S. starter Travis Price (Santa Ana, Calif.) for four runs on six hits including two home runs in the first three frames.
In the fifth the U.S. offense exploded for five runs on four hits to take the lead for good. Chris DeLarwelle (Appleton, Wis.) led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second after Chad Boom (Barnesville, Minn.) was hit-by-a-pitch. A single by Tom Owen (Ankeny, Iowa) loaded the bases for Adam LaLonde (Cheboygan, Mich.) who delivered with a two RBI single to left field. National team rookie Don Garvey (Greenville, Wis.) plated the final three runs of the inning with a blast to right center to clear the bases.
After taking the lead, Price shutdown the All-Star arsenal the final four innings to pick up his first career victory with the USA program. In the game he allowed four runs on four hits while striking out two as the U.S. posted the 8-4 win.
DeLarwelle and Garvey each posted two hits in the game while Garvey plated four RBI.
Game Three
In the second game of the morning double-header the U.S. continued to pound the North American All-Star pitching scoring nine runs on 10 hits to post a 9-3 win and take a 3-0 lead in the series.
Joe Morales (El Paso, TX) and Steve Schott (Kelso, Mo.) drove in the first two runs of the game in the second inning with an RBI single and RBI double respectively.
The All-Stars knotted the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third after some costly miscues by the U.S. defense.
Once again with the game close the U.S. flexed its offensive muscle and scored four runs in the fourth to put the game out of reach. Don Garvey (Greenville, Wis.) led off with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Adam LaLonde (Cheboygan, Mich.). A bunt single by Morales scored Garvey and put LaLonde on third. A fielders’ choice by Schott saw LaLonde get gunned down at the plate but left two runners on. Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph, Mo.) tripled to center field to score two runs and extend the U.S. lead. A fielding error on a Ross Dey (Sedalia, Mo.) grounder allowed Miljavac to score from third for the final run of the inning.
Home runs by Todd Garcia in the fifth inning and Mike Dryer (Blue Springs, Mo.) gave the U.S. its final margin of victory.
LaLonde posted three hits in the game, while Schott and Morales recorded two a piece. Dryer, Miljavac and Morales contributed two RBI in the game.
Doug Gillis (Novi, Mich.) picked up his first win of the series after allowing three runs on seven hits and posting a Series high 13 strikeouts.
Game Four
The U.S. needed some late inning heroics to survive a late seventh inning rally by the North American All-Stars. Leading comfortably 2-0 heading into the seventh inning, U.S. starting pitcher Michael White (Eugene, Ore.) was tagged for three runs on two hits and needed his offense to rally back for the win.
Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning and the heart of the line-up coming to bat, the U.S. responded in a big way. Chris DeLarwelle (Appleton, Wis.) led off with a triple to right field and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mike Dryer (Blue Springs, Mich.) to tie the game at 3-3. Chad Boom (Barnesville, Minn.) provided with final fireworks of the game with a walk-off home run to deep left field to give the U.S. a 4-3 win.
Boom and Don Garvey (Greenville, Wis.) were the only two U.S. players to post two hits in the game.
White picked up the win after fanning 10 batters in the complete game shutout.
Game Five
In the final game of the Series, the U.S. built upon its emotional comeback in game four to defeat the North American All-Stars 7-0 and complete the five game sweep. Doug Middelton (Blue Springs, Mo.) was once again masterful in the circle picking up his second shutout win of the Series after allowing just two hits and fanning 12. Travis Price (Santa Ana, Calif.) struckout five of the six batters he faced in the final two innings of relief.
The All-Stars kept the U.S. off the board until the bottom of the fourth inning. Kyle Magnusson (Salt Lake City, Utah) led off the inning with a single up the middle and scored on an RBI single by Tom Owen (Ankeny, Iowa).
Three defensive miscues coupled with a two walks allowed the U.S. to score four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and extend its lead to 5-0.
Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph, Mo.) and Todd Garcia (Woodbridge, Calif.) drove in the final runs of the game in the sixth inning for the final margin of victory.
< Back to previous page