|
 |
|
| Chamberlain’s walk-off grand slam helps sink Warriors | 2008-02-17 |
| MARIANNA—Last season, Brett Chamberlain didn’t hit a single home run for the Wallace Govs. Ryan Reece hit eight during the entire year. But this year, Chamberlain has hit three home runs in the past three games. Reece has already hit four home runs in the Govs first seven games. | |
 Together these two sophomores helped to propel the Govs to an easy victory over the Middle Georgia Warriors Saturday night in the Fibercare Classic. It was Chamberlain’s grand slam that ended the game as Wallace clobbered Middle Georgia 16-5.The bottom of the fifth began with the Govs already leading 11-5. The first four batters reached base. Harman Watkins singled, T.J. Rivera doubled, and Daniel Torrente was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Reece then forced in a run when he walked, and the bases were still loaded. That set the stage for Chamberlain. Middle Georgia decided to make a pitching change, but that move backfired. Chamberlain deposited the ball over the fence in left center field. His grand slam ended the game by virtue of the 10-run rule. “I am seeing the ball well right now,� Chamberlain said. “When pitchers make a mistake, I am driving the baseball.� As for where this new-found power has come from, Chamberlain said, “Coach (Mackey) Sasser has been helping me out a lot. He’s showed me how to get a better swing on the ball.� This game looked like it was going to be a lopsided affair from the start. The Govs put five runs on the board in the bottom of the first, but they had a lot of help. Warrior starting pitch Charles Snipes had major control problems. In the bottom of the first alone, he threw five wild pitches and had a passed ball. And the Govs took advantage. For example, Watkins led off with a single to center field. He was wild pitched to second base, wild pitched to third, and scored on yet another wild pitch—all with the number two hitter still at the plate. The Govs added their other four runs courtesy of a two RBI single by Anthony Kopacz and a two RBI single by Jonathan Eaves. The Govs added another run in the bottom of the second. After Chris Sasser doubled down the left field line to open the inning, he scored on a sacrifice fly by Rivera. That gave Wallace a 6-0 lead. That lead seemed comfortable at the time. But thanks to a couple of mental and physical errors, the Warriors got right back in the game in the fourth. The Govs misplaced a couple of pop fly balls, and had a throw error. Combined with four walks and only two hits in the inning, the Warriors scored five runs. That cut the lead to a single run, 6-5. But the Govs wasted no time in getting those five runs back. Rivera and Torrente hit back-to-back RBI doubles. Reece belted his two run homer in this ended, and the scoring was capped off by Eaves RBI double. “I’d been working in the batting cage a lot during the off season,� Reece said of his home run streak. It’s paying off now. I’m seeing the ball well.� As for the team getting its fifth straight win, Reece said “We’re coming together offensively and defensively. Plus, the team is playing with a lot more intensity.� After dropping their first two games of the season, Wallace is now 5-2. Despite a somewhat shaky outing, Andrew Hockenbury got the victory. In 3 2/3 innings, Hockenbury struck out seven. But he also had seven walks and threw 110 pitches. Joseph Braswell came on to get the save. At the time when he entered the game, the Warriors seemed to have momentum. But Braswell quickly took control of the game, and that allowed his teammates time to get the bats going. “I thought we would be a good hitting team, and the last two games have certainly showed we can be,� Sasser said of his Govs. “The main thing for us now is just not to let up.� Weather permitting, the Govs have two more games scheduled for Sunday in Marianna. On Wednesday, the Govs will host Gulf Coast, and this weekend they will host LBW in the beginning of conference play. GAME NOTES Wallace Govs bats have certainly come alive. The Govs got 16 hits Saturday night and hit two more home runs. Eight of the nine batters had at least one hit. Brett Chamberlain led the Govs hit parade. He was two-for-two with two walks a grand slam and four RBIS. The home run was third in his entire college career. Ryan Reece was two-for-three with a two-run home run, a walk, and three RBIs. T.J. Rivera was two-for-four with two doubles and two RBIs. Jonathan Eaves was three-for-three with a double, two singles, and three RBIs. Anthony Kopacz was two-for-three with two RBIs. Harman Watkins was two-for-three with a walk. Nathaniel Frazier is Sports Information Director for Wallace College Baseball. He can be reached at NFrazier@DothanEagle.com . | |
| © Wallace Community College |
